This can't be a real 100% steamer...it's diesel/electric powered...isn't it??

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... -2012.html

Video here:

http://www.complex.com/style/2012/03/vi ... shion-week

Definitely not a real boiler and cylinders or carriage, but WAY above-average detail work on the wheels, etc.

"Jacobs told reporters backstage that the steam engine had been “hand-built from scratch by the Vuitton team." -- http://www.streamwoman.com/louis-vuitto ... show-2012/ (with more video)

Incredible. They built THAT for a fashion show. Makes that 'Hell on Wheels' 4-4-0 look like absolute CRAP!!

Stephen

Rather sad that the train looks better than the fashions it introduced. Gorgeous set work.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Well, if we could get people to pay $2,000 for an excursion experience or $10 million for Reading 2100 just by applying a certain person's logo or name on it, we'd be doing some spectacular things as well.

Me, I just don't feel right trying to take advantage of that obvious flaw in human nature and character.

Well, I don't see why one can't do that. Generally though, there just isn't a practical way to make a decent marketing/business case for such a pitch. If somebody painted the 2100 up in that Louis Vitton paint job and wanted to barnstorm up and down the east and west coast with a brace of heavyweights, wouldn't you turn out to see it go by?

Between liability fears, and railroad management wanting to manage at the mininum, I just can't see that happening--though 10 million for such a program really isn't that much for a (non-internet) media buy anymore.

Hardest part of making any technology relevant (I work with letterpress printing equipment) is making it a win win for all the other stakeholders in the game. Same problem as when working with OPM (other people's money--or machinery).

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Warren Buffett could buy the 2100 and alernate paint schemes between the multitude of brands Berkshire Hathaway owns; http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/subs/sublinks.html

Stephen

(putting on helmet, taking cover)

Why would Mr. Buffet be interested in that engine when he already owns an oil burner in Havre, Montana. (4-8-4 # 2584) I believe that it is still owned by BNSF.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Those 80" drivers would look pretty sweet going across the west.

Just my opinion,

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

So why would Mr. Buffet be interested in a Northern when he could have a Berkshire....? I'm just sayin'....

I know some guys in Indiana that would probably be glad to paint "Hathaway" on the side of their Berkshire in exchange for financial support.......:)

I think any national steam excursion would work best in a marketing campaign of either trucks or some mid-level consumer goods, ideally either foods or clothing/jewelery. Remember Disney did a barnstorming train program (cars only) for it's version of "A Christmas Carol" (IIRC). Biggest problem with using a steam engine is intergrating the dynamic of a locomotive into the marketing and then convincing/paying off the railroads you want to run on.

Still, it could be done fairly easily with a number of extant engines and a certain number of operating organizations (that have already proven themselves to the big class 1's). Consider that this sort of program goes back to the Rexall Train, with the Freedom Train being the first post steam era effort at the same.

Maybe Ross Rowland could chime in on what it might take in today's environment, with regard to the Yellow Ribbon Express campaign.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Works for me.

Tyra Banks' next challenge for the models on "America's Next Top Model"--go to a steam railway and make railroading positively exude glamour and sexiness......

Wait, maybe that's a job for "Project Runway"........... I don't watch enough telly to know anymore.

No, it's Project Rail-Way....

A while ago in the topic below
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28566&hilit=Breast+Cancer&start=75
Ross was going to check with Mary Kay Cosmetics about corporate support of the paint scheme on the Yellow Ribbon Express locomotive.