Warbonnets to be seen

[dknelson]

I was in Galesburg IL last weekend for the annual Railroad Days -- spent lots of time on the Thirlwell bridge overlooking the BNSF yard and was surprised to see how many Warbonnets (Santa Fe paint scheme) there were in yard duty.  Some had BNSF on the side, some still said Santa Fe.  Obviosly the paint was not fresh on any of these locomotives, but if Warbonnets are a thing for you, get yourself to Galesburg soon.  I was able to get three of them in one shot.  

Even the token "display" locomotive near the Amtak Depot was a Warbonnet.

Dave Nelson

[croteaudd]

Dave Nelsen:

Believe it or not, old, faded warbonnets hardly excite me.  They are almost a disgrace to Santa Fe and Michal Haverty who reintroduced the famous paint scheme, I believe, in 1989 or 1990!  I remember back then walking up on the famous Mt. Vernon Ave. Viaduct in San Bernardino, CA, and just gawking at and admiring the first unit to be painted in the famous scheme.  It was so beautiful!  One could hardly take their eyes off it!  Such clean, sparkling warbonnets is what turns me on, now virtually only in early photos or in museum-type locations.

[jeffhergert]

A few days ago I saw a faded warbonnet, BNSF on the side, in the middle of a UP engine consist. I never saw mention of it on local Facebook railfan groups, so I think it must've slipped by those who watch for such things. 

I'm in the minority of fans when it comes to the warbonnet scheme. It's not been on my list of favorites, especially on the freight units. It looked better on the E and F units. I like the old ATSF blue and yellow, but prefer those before they started warbonnet style with those colors.

Jeff

[Ulrich]

The D&H blue and silver variation of the warbonnet scheme on their PA's looked great. I also preferred the ATSF "blues" paint scheme over the warbonnet that replaced it in 1974. 

[BaltACD]

I was sold on Santa Fe's Red & Silver warbonnet scheme when got my Lionel Trainset as a kid.

I needed money after I got married and sold off all the Lionel stuff.

[kgbw49]

No bonnets here:

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/523456/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/631898/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/550713/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/716338/

[Paul of Covington]

   I can't help it: My brain was imprinted by Santa Fe's beautiful full-page color ads in magazines back when I was about ten years old.  It's been one of my favorites ever since.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

kgbw49

No bonnets here:

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/523456/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/631898/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/550713/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/716338/

 

What?  No zebra stripes??

[kgbw49]

For those of you who remember and might be a fan of the TV show "Mr. Ed":

Wilburrrr,

A horse is a horse, of course, of course.

But a zebra can never become a horse.

Unless of course it's an iron horse

For the famous Santa Fe.

https://railpictures.net/photo/424246/

https://railpictures.net/photo/828310/

https://railpictures.net/photo/49265/

https://railpictures.net/photo/49145/

 

[kgbw49]

No bonnets passenger livery.

https://railpictures.net/photo/399919/

https://railpictures.net/photo/49151/

 

[ns145]

A BNSF Warbonnet Dash 9 made a trip west on the old Wabash back in March on NS' 255 Roadrailer train.  Looked pretty good for being close to 30 years old.  Met a BNSF local in Hannibal with a Cascade Green ex-BN EMD. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/98498023@N05/53626139950/in/pool-theautoartery/

 

 

[SD60MAC9500]

jeffhergert

I'm in the minority of fans when it comes to the warbonnet scheme. It's not been on my list of favorites, especially on the freight units. It looked better on the E and F units. I like the old ATSF blue and yellow, but prefer those before they started warbonnet style with those colors.

Jeff

 

I second that. ATSF had a winner with this one. 

[kgbw49]

It is a nice one for sure.

Looks like the shop forces at Topeka put on the Santa Fe nose logo backwards.....

Hey, the 101 nose number is on backwards also!

(I know, I know - the negative was flipped at some point during printing.)

Not bad with a cigar band, either:

https://railpictures.net/photo/808801/

https://railpictures.net/photo/792201/

https://railpictures.net/photo/788062/

https://railpictures.net/photo/599223/

https://railpictures.net/photo/594690/

https://railpictures.net/photo/594379/

https://railpictures.net/photo/550152/

 

 

[54light15]

I've read that the Santa Fe's circular motif with the cross in the middle of it is a Navajo symbol. Not sure what it means, though. 

[SD60MAC9500]

54light15

I've read that the Santa Fe's circular motif with the cross in the middle of it is a Navajo symbol. Not sure what it means, though. 

 

Could very well be a sun symbol. 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Seeing all of those F's in local freight service goes a long way in explaining why Santa Fe started the CF7 conversion program.

[tree68]

CSSHEGEWISCH

Seeing all of those F's in local freight service goes a long way in explaining why Santa Fe started the CF7 conversion program.

I remember seeing a story in Trains about a Santa Fe local crew switching on a weed covered branch line with no fewer than four F's (ABBA).  

[poop]

dknelson

I was in Galesburg IL last weekend for the annual Railroad Days -- spent lots of time on the Thirlwell bridge overlooking the BNSF yard and was surprised to see how many Warbonnets (Santa Fe paint scheme) there were in yard duty.  Some had BNSF on the side, some still said Santa Fe.  Obviosly the paint was not fresh on any of these locomotives, but if Warbonnets are a thing for you, get yourself to Galesburg soon.  I was able to get three of them in one shot.  

Even the token "display" locomotive near the Amtak Depot was a Warbonnet.

Dave Nelson

Dave Nelson, I also attended the 2024 Galesburg RR Days June 30! My 1st time here since 2005 RR Days with my late Dad (RCJ I)! Now, we had a great  time at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America "Walk Amongst the Giants" Silvis, IL shop tour, 6-29-24. WOW, they have ex BNSF (ATSF) B40-8W  #537 which BNSF donated to RRHMA. They have it primered and will be re-painted into fresh ATSF "Warbonnet" colors! YESSSS!!!!  This is the first preserved ex ATSF "Super Fleet" GE Widecab locomotive! It is working and will be used on future excursions. There we saw CP 2816 and later on this trip got the "Final Spike" train in Iowa, etc. Yes I captured ex ATSF "Warbonnet" BNSF C44-9W #673 working Galesburg yard! That one is the most faded of any there! Yup, some of the ATSF "Super Fleet" locos are now RCO yard engines. Sure is less work for them now, but maybe they will stay around longer. Very faded, but good to see. I know they looked much  better fresh, but at least they are still working in 2024!!!! "Warbonnet" BNSF C44-9W #720 on display at the Amtrak station. I am amazed they displayed an older BNSF loco! This was great to see. How long has it been since a "Warbonnet" has been on display for RR Days? I even captured ex ATSF RCO "Warbonnet" BNSF C44-9W #692 passing 720! That is cool. Galesburg has always been great! Friend "Mazon" and I did the VIP bus tour! More former ATSF "Warbonnets" parked! There were a couple BN painted engines too in the yard.  BNSF SD40-2 #1790 is used for the "Hump" but was parked in the yard by the shops for maintenance. Easy for photos! BNSF "Green" SD40-2B #302 was working the hump with a former BN "Whiteface" SD60M in BNSF "Swoosh" and former "Warbonnet" C44-9W in BNSF H2! In the yard there also was a BNSF Genset parked! Man, I thought those were gone!!!!      

 Robert Jackson (Michigan Railfan)