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New KCS / KCSM paint scheme - first photos

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New KCS / KCSM paint scheme - first photos
Posted by egmurphy on Saturday, March 17, 2007 10:17 AM

For several months it has been reported that KCS (and its Mexican subsidiary KCSdeM) would paint their new locomotives in a new paint scheme reminiscent of the old Southern Belle, (and virtually identical to the new scheme they recently initiated on their other subsidiary, the Panama Canal Railway Company.  The locomotives were delivered from the manufacturers in primer only, and are to be painted in the KCSdeM shops in Mexico.

The first unit in the new paint scheme rolled out of the San Luis Potosí shops on Thursday, and we now have photos of the first unit thanks to Juan Viladrosa.  You can see shots of the locomotive at:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=20641

 

Regards

Ed

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Posted by Datafever on Saturday, March 17, 2007 10:39 AM
Now that is a festively colored unit!  Captain [4:-)]
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Posted by Andrew Falconer on Saturday, March 17, 2007 5:20 PM

The Locomotive and Caboose schemes are excellent for application on an O Scale 3-Rail Model.

Andrew

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Posted by egmurphy on Saturday, March 17, 2007 5:45 PM
 Andrew Falconer wrote:

The Locomotive and Caboose schemes are excellent for application on an O Scale 3-Rail Model.

Andrew

The caboose is a special mobile display unit decorated for "Alto Total" (Total Stop), which is a safety program similar to "Operation Lifesaver".  Sorry it doesn't agree with you.

Ed

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Posted by railfanespee4449 on Saturday, March 17, 2007 7:14 PM
SWEET!
Call me crazy, but I LIKE Zito yellow. RAILFANESPEE4449
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Posted by penncentral2002 on Saturday, March 17, 2007 9:45 PM
Very eyecatching.  I really like it.
Zack http://penncentral2002.rrpicturearchives.net/
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Posted by videomaker on Saturday, March 17, 2007 10:26 PM
I agree as well, Went out railfanning today but only saw 2  in red/gray, one was a 70 ace
 penncentral2002 wrote:
Very eyecatching.  I really like it.
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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, March 17, 2007 10:28 PM

Is the circus coming to town? 

I'm sorry, but that is UGLY. And it was painted in Mexico - another insult to this country. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by egmurphy on Saturday, March 17, 2007 10:58 PM
 zugmann wrote:

Is the circus coming to town? 

I'm sorry, but that is UGLY. And it was painted in Mexico - another insult to this country. 

Well, KCSdeM is a Mexican railroad.  I guess I'm a bit confused as to why the fact that their locomotive was painted in Mexico is an insult to anyone.

Regards

Ed

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, March 17, 2007 11:09 PM
Even if the subsidary RR is mexican, the parent RR is still American. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 17, 2007 11:12 PM
 egmurphy wrote:
Well, KCSdeM is a Mexican railroad.  I guess I'm a bit confused as to why the fact that their locomotive was painted in Mexico is an insult to anyone.

Regards

Ed

Lots of hair splitting here.  As far as I'm concerned is an American rail operating within Mexico.

And I'm not crazy about the color choice either.

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Posted by RRKen on Saturday, March 17, 2007 11:13 PM
I thought KCS owned them outright.  
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Posted by railroad65 on Sunday, March 18, 2007 8:31 AM
Are all the head lights on the ES44AC's long hood that low or is this just for this road/order?
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Posted by KCSfan on Sunday, March 18, 2007 11:19 AM
 egmurphy wrote:

For several months it has been reported that KCS (and its Mexican subsidiary KCSdeM) would paint their new locomotives in a new paint scheme reminiscent of the old Southern Belle, (and virtually identical to the new scheme they recently initiated on their other subsidiary, the Panama Canal Railway Company.  The locomotives were delivered from the manufacturers in primer only, and are to be painted in the KCSdeM shops in Mexico.

The first unit in the new paint scheme rolled out of the San Luis Potosí shops on Thursday, and we now have photos of the first unit thanks to Juan Viladrosa.  You can see shots of the locomotive at:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=20641

 Hi Ed,

Thanks so much for posting. I was beginning to think the new color scheme was just a rumor. San Luis Potosi did great job and I'm gonna be looking for that engine to show up in Shreveport. I'd love to see her on the point of the Lazaro Cardenas-Atlanta intermodal.

Mark

 

 

Regards

Ed

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Posted by coborn35 on Sunday, March 18, 2007 12:10 PM
 egmurphy wrote:
 zugmann wrote:

Is the circus coming to town? 

I'm sorry, but that is UGLY. And it was painted in Mexico - another insult to this country. 

Well, KCSdeM is a Mexican railroad.  I guess I'm a bit confused as to why the fact that their locomotive was painted in Mexico is an insult to anyone.

Regards

Ed

I belive he is referring to the fact that in the US alot of our stuff is not made in America, and now there is one more thing not made here. It also takes away jobs from our painters in the US.

 

I love that paint scheme. Better than any scheme any Class 1 has out there today. They dont look like circus colors AT ALL. 

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 18, 2007 1:17 PM

 coborn35 wrote:
I love that paint scheme. Better than any scheme any Class 1 has out there today. They dont look like circus colors AT ALL. 

A major Class I in the US doesn't move tonnage by paint schemes.

Thats been pointed out numerous times on this site.  I see no reason to get worked up over paint.

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, March 18, 2007 1:20 PM

I'm just old fashioned, I guess.

 

I like simple, classy paint schemes.  That circus scheme may look good on some premier passenger train pulled by cowled units, but it looks plain silly pulling rusty, beat up freight cars.

 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 18, 2007 1:27 PM

Believe it or not...you know who has a really attractive paint scheme?

PanAm Railways (formerly Guilford)

http://www.panamrailways.com

 

 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, March 18, 2007 1:31 PM
 Harry_Runyon wrote:

Believe it or not...you know who has a really attractive paint scheme?

PanAm Railways (formerly Guilford)

http://www.panamrailways.com

That looks really Conrail-ish!

 

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 18, 2007 2:19 PM
 Murphy Siding wrote:
 Harry_Runyon wrote:

Believe it or not...you know who has a really attractive paint scheme?

PanAm Railways (formerly Guilford)

http://www.panamrailways.com

That looks really Conrail-ish!

 

 

It really looks nice doesn't it?????

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, March 18, 2007 2:28 PM

Simple blue always looks good on locomotives. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by penncentral2002 on Sunday, March 18, 2007 3:10 PM
 zugmann wrote:

Simple blue always looks good on locomotives. 

Agree with that too - the Conrail paint scheme was always one of my favorites.  I've become quite fond of the new CSX dark blue with yellow nose "Dark Future" scheme as well.

Hardly a surprise they are painting the KCSM locomotives in Mexico - American companies have long had overseas subsidiaries - since KCSM was originally a Mexican company, they would have had Mexican shops and for a variety of reasons (local goodwill, employee morale) they would have wanted to have the new paint scheme debut down there.  Maybe subsequent locomotives will be painted at the factory - but remember that when companies get taken over by foreign investors (which is the situation with TFM becoming KCSM), the foreign investors know that they have to make allowances to the country that formerly owned the property (see also Daimler Chrysler).

Zack http://penncentral2002.rrpicturearchives.net/
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Posted by beaulieu on Sunday, March 18, 2007 3:34 PM
 penncentral2002 wrote:
 zugmann wrote:

Simple blue always looks good on locomotives. 

Agree with that too - the Conrail paint scheme was always one of my favorites.  I've become quite fond of the new CSX dark blue with yellow nose "Dark Future" scheme as well.

Hardly a surprise they are painting the KCSM locomotives in Mexico - American companies have long had overseas subsidiaries - since KCSM was originally a Mexican company, they would have had Mexican shops and for a variety of reasons (local goodwill, employee morale) they would have wanted to have the new paint scheme debut down there.  Maybe subsequent locomotives will be painted at the factory - but remember that when companies get taken over by foreign investors (which is the situation with TFM becoming KCSM), the foreign investors know that they have to make allowances to the country that formerly owned the property (see also Daimler Chrysler).

The two KCS locomotives for the big press extravaganza are being painted by MAC in Kansas City.  

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Posted by coborn35 on Sunday, March 18, 2007 5:53 PM
 Murray wrote:

 coborn35 wrote:
I love that paint scheme. Better than any scheme any Class 1 has out there today. They dont look like circus colors AT ALL. 

A major Class I in the US doesn't move tonnage by paint schemes.

Thats been pointed out numerous times on this site.  I see no reason to get worked up over paint.

Trust me , Im the last person you need to tell that to. I was just refering to the "clown" post. I do take it back, there are some better paint schemes, but none as catchy. 

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, March 18, 2007 7:34 PM

I still stand by my circus name.   Now all we need to do is fill the cab with managers... 

 

I'll give you a minute to think about that one.  

 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 18, 2007 7:54 PM

 coborn35 wrote:
Trust me buddy, Im the last person you need to tell that to. 

Oh?  You work for a major Class I do you? 

Which one?

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Posted by SchemerBob on Sunday, March 18, 2007 8:10 PM
 zugmann wrote:

I'm just old fashioned, I guess.

 

I like simple, classy paint schemes.  That circus scheme may look good on some premier passenger train pulled by cowled units, but it looks plain silly pulling rusty, beat up freight cars.

 

Not old fashioned at all. I partly agree with your opinion. After all, the UP's Katy, Southern Pacific and D&RGW heritage engine's paint (that are on freight locomotives) were also loosly based on passenger schemes. I didn't like them at first, but I do now. I think this paint scheme will grow on us once we see it enough. Let me tell you, it does looks much better than the bland silver & red that KCS/TFM has been running for years!

Long live the BNSF .... AND its paint scheme. SchemerBob
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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, March 18, 2007 9:10 PM
     I have to believe that anything that's different is good for me.  In my part of the world, I've seen exactly 1 KCS locomotive-on a grain train, with the only NS locomotive I've ever seen.  With luck, maybe the next KCS locomotive I see will be painted differently.  I can only hope.Smile [:)]

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Harbinger on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 1:29 PM

In a time of doom and gloom reporting over the latest derailment or terrorist threat or threat from congress, whats wrong with a little good publicity.  Each of us has our own favorite flag, active or fallen.  I just happen to be basking in the joy that it is my favorite road that is getting the good publicity.  If the stunt garners a little good will and nostalgia from the community, so much the better.  Bob pointed out the UP heritage units.  What about bringing back the Rocket paint scheme or Lightning stripes.  Wouldn't the fans of those roads be happy to see them come back?  Granted, I like the KCS Gray Ghost scheme and have no sadness over the demise of the White Knight, but the Belle has always my favorite so I welcome its return (without trashing anybody else's paint scheme).

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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 1:58 PM

Well, we will look for it here, since most of the class ones go through here at one time or another.  I will definitely have to wear my sunglasses that day if it is very sunny, but at least with the advance warning, I will know what I am looking at from a distance! 

Thanx for the pictures.

Mookie

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