The return of Amtrak's Phase III?

Mgoldman · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:14 pm

In celebration of Amtrak's 40th anniversary, it seems we will see at least one engine in "heritage" Phase III paint sometime soon.

At least, that's what's being said by someone over at Railroad Forums:
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/sho ... hp?t=34853

Nice to see the Red, White and Blue back in the US.
It's - what's the word? Patriotic.

Anyone have further details or confirmation?

/Mitch

Newriver400 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 5:58 am

Well, the photo seems to confirm the post. Cool! I thought the first paint schemes on the P40's looked really snazzy, though the fading stripe at the back end left a little to be desired. Perhaps we'll get back to the arrow for a logo - always thought it was fairly decent and better than the Acela wave. Longevity in corporate image has a certain panache.

Cornelius Beaver at CP is a good example, though they have foregone him on recent locomotives account the expense of the logo decal. They could have simplified it like the ones on the freight cars instead of the full blown golden beaver. UP's shield is another in the railroad business. The cigar band and the ATSF inspired BNSF logo are other examples. The new BNSF logo kinda sucks. CSX has no personality at all. NS's speed stripes are actually really great, but it's no Green Light, tuxedo, gold and tuscan, or Precision Transportation. At least their locomotives look like locomotives - black is timeless for freight engines.

BTW, the opinions expressed are not to be construed as throwing any one under the bus, just a commentary on advertising and corporate identities vis-a-vis the look and class of railroads past. Let the stones fly...

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:10 am

I'd like to see a return of the "bloody nose" and the "pointless arrow." Maybe haul a train of special equipment which air conditioning or heat malfunctions with surly on board staff. Well, I guess not all nostalgia is good....

filmteknik · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:38 pm

Time for a roster of extant passenger cars which have visited planet Amtrak but were never HEP'd.

Steve

Gary Gray · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:49 pm

It sounds like we need to find an SDP40F and existing cars with purple upholstery...........

filmteknik · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:14 pm

Hopefully the two SDP's owned by EMD will be preserved. That would bring the total to 3 including the one in Portland, OR. It would be entirely possible to recreate the photo in December 1975 TRAINS (the annual motive power survey) showing SDP40F 576 and E9B 471 as they "hustle North Coast Hiawatha across Wisconsin."

Steve