UP SD70M's

[Anonymous]

Hey guys and gals, I just want to know how people feel about UP's recently delivered 1000 SD70M's. I, for one, am already tired of seeing them. I don't think the paint scheme fits the unit well and (in my opinion, of course)think that the units are just plain unattractive. I know many disagree. I just want to know your thoughts on this unit...

[Anonymous]

Gee you aren't trying to start an argument here, are you?

Personally I like the units in general. But then I like both EMD and GE, so I guess I am in the minority in the GE or nothing era....

I know that they are performing a bang up job and have been getting great reviews from crews.

I suppose the only bone I have to pick with them is that they belong to UP, which is not my favorite railroad by a long shot.

[Anonymous]

I'm not tired of them. I did wi***hat the UP would have adopted the paint scheme (Not the colors) that CNW used on their DASH 9's and AC's.

[Anonymous]

Why, what do you want UP SD70M's to look like?

[Mookie]

it is better than BNSF's ack orange/green

[eolafan]

I for one think they look really good, especially with the winged UP shield on the nose. However, I can appreciate your feeling of getting tired of them after a while, cause that's the way I am starting to feel about the BNSF Dash-9 units I see ALL THE TIME here. Not to sound like I am not patriotic (cause I really am) but the flag on the units flanks really doesn't do anything much for me, and I thought it would after seeing pictures in TRAINS mag. but not so great "in the flesh" so to speak.

[Anonymous]

Get used to it folks, there are a half dozen or so big roads now and two locomotive builders, who currently build only a few models. The days of diversity are gone. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Guess that's why Classic Trains has taken off so well.

[Mookie]

I don't have a problem with the colors that are out there, but Orange? Everyone's favorite color!

[oltmannd]

I like the UP SD70Ms. The locomotive design is farily clean without a lot of lumps, humps and bumps. The winged herald on the nose is the classiest in North America. I'm not to fond of the giant waving flag on the sides. It's just too big and overshadows the fact that the locomotive is the Union Pacific's, not the USA's. Better to put the "Union Pacific - Building America" where the flag is and a smaller flag further back on the long hood or on the cab. I wonder what UP will do in a few years when that flag decal is fading and the rest of the paint is still good. I think it would be disrepectful to be running around with a faded flag.

-Don

[Anonymous]

I liked the lightening strip on the CNW units and how it was laid out. I think the UP units would have looked sharp using the same scheme but with the gray where the green was laid out on the CNW wide nose units.

[Anonymous]

Funny you should say that. I agree however one day the sun hit the side of a consist with those flag barring units just right after a rain shower and it was probably the most beautiful railroad sight I have ever seen.

[Anonymous]

It worked for the Western Pacific's Zephyrs, as well as the GN's Empire Builder. Both are amongst the best trains to have ever been created.

[Anonymous]

As a conductor for UP I love them,good ride and lots room,way better than ac4400 and dash9dc in the way they ride. The GEs are always hunting for the rail at about 40 to 50 miles per hour.

[eolafan]

Now there's a response and opinion from the "practical" side while most of us foamers are literally looking at things from an esthetic viewpoint (i.e. the American flag, the winged shield on the nose, etc.). Perhaps some of our UP operating crew friends who read this forum can alert managment to those esthetic viewpoints (if they did not care at all they would paint all the units flat black and forget about it).

[Anonymous]

You are right there. The Santa Fe Red/Silver/Yallow, Is the better.

[Mookie]

I wi***hey would have kept the colors they had when they were still BN

[eolafan]

Jenny, the way I look at the locomotive paint color issue is "to each his/her own". I know that almost every scheme looks great when it is "different" and that sure applied to the BN green and white when it was new, also the tiger striped scheme, the white faced scheme, etc. I remember how neat we thought the Heritage color scheme was when it was new a few years ago, and I think it is still good looking when the units are clean, but I am also starting to go "Ho Humm" when I see yet another Heritage II scheme Dash 9 rolling through my town. I am also partial to the "Executive" green, cream and red scheme of the original SD70MAC units. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Bottom line is this, whatever the color scheme you may or may not like, they all are great as long as we are there to see them in hot railroading trackside action, but we all tend to tire of the same old thing (except Burger King Whoppers with cheese, large fries and a Diet Coke...if the diet thing makes any sense at all, and it problably doesn't). End of my speech.

[Anonymous]

James
since I typically deal with the insides only I don't get to say much about the outside. However, I think the UP SD70M's look great!

[eolafan]

Don, I agree with you to a point. I think the proportions of an SD70M are really good and the units look good to the eye (kind of like the GP60 looks in a four axle unit), and the basic UP paint scheme is a classic (especially since they started usinng the winged shield again on the nose), but the great big American flag is overpowering. Like somebody else said elsewhere in this forum, the old "Building America" logo with a smaller flag on the sides of the units would likely look better, but frankly I'm splitting hairs here and basicially agree with you about the SD70 looking really great, all in all.

[Anonymous]

I COMPLETLETY AGREE!!!! I model UP and have thanked my luck stars I do so in 1996!!! The worst thing about it buddy, is that this 'scheme' is going to be it from now on. When every older unit comes in for an overhaul, it is going to have 'that scheme' painted on it! In my opinion, Why fix something that is not BROKE? I love UP, but feel this is a bit of an UNPOPULAR step in the wrong direction!!