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Warbonnets to be seen

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  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Warbonnets to be seen
Posted by dknelson on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 6:03 PM

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

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 313 posts
Posted by croteaudd on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 11:06 AM

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.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
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Posted by jeffhergert on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 2:29 PM

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

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
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Posted by Ulrich on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 2:56 PM

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. 

  • Member since
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  • From: US
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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 3:43 PM

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.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
  • 2,308 posts
Posted by Paul of Covington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 10:36 PM

   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.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,515 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, July 6, 2024 10:11 AM
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

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