BNSF Paint Scheme

[Doc Murdock]

This probably has been brought up a mulitude of times but what does anyone think of the Halloween orange paint sheme on BNSF engines?

I feel like going over with a bag and say "trick or treat". I wonder what kind of reaction I would get from the BNSF crews or their railway cops. 

 

[Mookie]

Doc - I think you and I are the only ones on the forum and possibly in the world that think the Ugly Orange paint scheme stinks.  Of all the colors in the spectrum, what made them come up with "Shriek Orange" is beyond me. 

And I don't want to hear that it is to be noticed.  I see NS every so often and it never fails to get my attention. 

Cheap I can understand - they really did get what they paid for.....

Mook!

[UP 829]

Train watching on the Q-Racetrack is becoming a GE Pumpkin Parade, with Warbonnets and even the Heritage green SD70mac's being a much welcomed sight. I haven't seen a Bluebonnet all summer. I've noticed quite a few coal trains with an ES44AC paired with an SD70mac.

Last Friday morning I was in 'just one more train mode' when the Pacer Stack train came through with 8 newer UP units on the head end. This is a UP run-through that normally has 2 or 3 UP SD70M's, but this lashup seemed to have just about 1 of everything, although only 2 or 3 were running. I've also been seeing what I suspect is a CN run-through, usually with a BNSF unit in front of 2 CN units.

IMHO the SantaFe Warbonnet is so well known, I'm amazed BNSF didn't stick with it or something closer to it.

[traintownofcowee]

I think BNSF should do what UP did and create some heritage units.

I think its a great idea that railroad's are preserving their heritage.

[JSGreen]

 I haven't seen a Bluebonnet all summer.

Is this what you mean by "Blue Bonnet"?

[Goober]

Doc - I think you and I are the only ones on the forum and possibly in the world that think the Ugly Orange paint scheme stinks.  Of all the colors in the spectrum, what made them come up with "Shriek Orange" is beyond me. 

And I don't want to hear that it is to be noticed.  I see NS every so often and it never fails to get my attention. 

Cheap I can understand - they really did get what they paid for.....

Mook!

 

Me three, I would rather have the Heritage green than the bumpkin color!!

for the War Bonnet also!!

[Ishmael]

I agree on the ugliness of the orange. However we're stuck with it, probably for our lifetime. Unless we want to chip in and pay to repaint all of BNSF's units.

I couldn't download the photo of the bluebonnet, but if it's the gold and blue warbonnets, I think they look very good. And they must rainwash very well because most of them I see are clean looking. And I can see the BNSF from my back porch.

This was discussed on another thread, and someone pointed out the cost of repaint jobs. That's why I said we're stuck with them.

[SALfan]

The new BNSF pumpkin swoosh scheme is butt-ugly, comparable to KCS's gray dip jobs.  I liked the dark bluish-green w/white band (Grinstein green?) better.  Even Cascade green is better.  Can't believe a RR with the rights to the Santa Fe warbonnet or bluebonnet schemes had the dismal lack of taste to use the pumpkin scheme. 

[Anonymous]

I wish they had used the Warbonnet! That's one of the best paint schemes ever!

[Doc Murdock]

I agree with Goober. Bring back the Heritage green colour scheme. That Halloween orange is a bit harsh on the eyes.

[route_rock]

  Have no fear the knee jerk BNSF will repaint them some other color or drop the swoosh for some other logo.

   I am tempted to send a note to Matt Rose reminding him Orange and green was Rocky the goats scheme and the gods of railroading forbid that be used on them Sani Flush boys units!!

  Bring back the Q's Black Birds! Blue Gn's or Mandarin Friscos!!!But please oh please drop the ugly orange.

[SchemerBob]

Orange happens to be my favorite color...

That said, I think that the BNSF paint scheme is very sharp, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Remember, these units are not all orange - if they were, I would agree that they would look somewhat strange. It's the yellow and black/green with the orange that makes the paint scheme. Let's face it - Orange, yellow and black IS the BNSF, just like black & white is the Norfolk Southern. It's their paint scheme, and it is very neat, because it's unique from all the others.

Frankly I wonder how anybody can see one of those shiny new ES44's or SD70ACe's in BNSF Heritage III and not think "what a sharp locomotive!"

Take a look at this, and say "this paint scheme is ugly". I can't do it, and I can't believe other people can!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=144185&nseq=244

[Cris_261]

BNSF's orange and black scheme is the perfect set up for merger with the Bessemer & Lake Erie.

I thought the orange and green scheme wasn't that bad, but black paint must be cheaper than green. My main gripe is that swoosh logo. It looks acceptable on a locomotive's flanks, but not on the front end. And it does not look good on rail cars. The road should have stuck with the Santa Fe-style oval hearald with BNSF initials in the middle to put on the front end of their locomotives.  

[WSOR 3801]

You guys and gals are all confused.  It is the MILW Heritage scheme.  Yellow for the after 1955 passenger trains, and the gray is from the 1940s FTs and E6s and E7s, before the orange-black-maroon.

[silicon212]

It would look much, much better if they replaced the yellow with red.

[Mookie]

I have given this a little thought and wonder if maybe this "orange" is as close to Armour Yellow as they can get without actually using it. 

Big Brother Jealousy?

If so, I am still not impressed!

[eolafan]

This past Sunday afternoon some of us foamers were fanning out at the BNSF Eola Yard and the U-Man stopped by to chat with us for a moment or two.  He was a young guy in his late twenties or so and he actually (perhaps mockingly) apologized for the "crummy looking motors" they are currently using to do yard work (at that moment a EMD leaser along with a BNSF GP30 and an old ATSF GP40-2 were doing the work in front of us)...all I had to say to him was not to apologize in that "any train is a good train"...he agreed and went on his way.

[CShaveRR]

Right idea, wrong railroad.

BNSF is painting its units orange and black in anticipation of their being bought by and merged into the Indiana Harbor Belt.

Ya heard it here first!

[eolafan]

Right idea, wrong railroad.

BNSF is painting its units orange and black in anticipation of their being bought by and merged into the Indiana Harbor Belt.

Ya heard it here first!

Good one Carl, nothing that bizarre would surprise me these days, nothing at all.

[route_rock]

  Snickers snorts guffaws!!! Hmm IHB huh? Makes sense Carl as lately GALIHB crews say they have been getting in quick!Their DS and crews are happy to see us! Plus closer than trying to merge with the B&LE!!

  So does this mean all our power ill be getting them fancy screens in our side windows?

[Anonymous]

This past Sunday afternoon some of us foamers were fanning out at the BNSF Eola Yard and the U-Man stopped by to chat with us for a moment or two.  He was a young guy in his late twenties or so and he actually (perhaps mockingly) apologized for the "crummy looking motors" they are currently using to do yard work (at that moment a EMD leaser along with a BNSF GP30 and an old ATSF GP40-2 were doing the work in front of us)...all I had to say to him was not to apologize in that "any train is a good train"...he agreed and went on his way.

The only 4-axle 40 series the ATSF ever owned was the x-EMD leaser GP40 they inherited with the TP&W purchase. Which was subsequently de-rated to a GP35, then wrecked in 1988.

[Murphy Siding]

Doc - I think you and I are the only ones on the forum and possibly in the world that think the Ugly Orange paint scheme stinks.  Of all the colors in the spectrum, what made them come up with "Shriek Orange" is beyond me. 

And I don't want to hear that it is to be noticed.  I see NS every so often and it never fails to get my attention. 

Cheap I can understand - they really did get what they paid for.....

Mook!

  I think the orange thing is mostly on the mainline.  Out here in off-the-beaten-path country, most of our BNSF locomotives have a distinctive paint scheme: The bottom 2/3rds is painted in a shade of faded out Cascade Green.  The upper 1/3rd is done in a flat,soot black.  Then, someone takes a 12' tall paint brush, and delicately *weathers* the paint job.  They're really impressive.  When BNSF starts a heritage locomotive program, all they'll have to do is run one of the local engines through the wash rack. 

[route_rock]

  Hmmm that explains why we are getting a wash rack in Galesburg.

[Anonymous]

Take a look at this, and say "this paint scheme is ugly". I can't do it, and I can't believe other people can!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=144185&nseq=244

Well, the loco nose is ugly..............

[SchemerBob]

Take a look at this, and say "this paint scheme is ugly". I can't do it, and I can't believe other people can!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=144185&nseq=244

Well, the loco nose is ugly..............

Not that again....

Maybe the BNSF should just leave all of their locomotives in primer gray? Would that make all of you guys happy?

[NightrainAFD1987]

I actually like the orange locos

 

*dives into fire retardant shed*

[nssr9169]

Or they could just revert to the old Gn colors or the np colors now those were classy, but when the new ac traction locos cost around 2 million a pop youd think they bould put in a nice coat of paint.

[Lord Atmo]

I actually like the orange locos

 

*dives into fire retardant shed*

yeah! me too! sure beats armour yellow any day of the week! 

[SchemerBob]

I actually like the orange locos

 

*dives into fire retardant shed*

I think I'll come with you...

[Andrew Falconer]

The BNSF Bright Orange color scheme for Locomotives is right for the Southern States and it stands out in the Northern States.

CP has already taken Deep Red and Bright Red.

UP has already taken Yellow.

CN uses an Orange-Red

CSX uses Yellow

NS uses Black & White.

That leaves BNSF to stand out using Orange with Black & Yellow markings. The BNSF color scheme is similar to the Genesee & Wyoming color choices. 

Should BNSF actually combine NP Gold and Santa Fe Silver in a new paint scheme to satisfy all interested in the BNSF? It would be hard to have Gold and Silver on the same loco body without seperation usiing Red Stripes in a flourishing manner.

Andrew