I thoroughly agree with the previous post !

You know the NS is doing this more for railfans than to show off their heritage. Perhaps we should embrace what they are doing rather that complain to the president of the company about what they aren’t doing. I agree, seeing a Lackawanna SD-70 would be cool but the DL&W isn’t the only road left out in the NS heritage program and in the grand scheme of things the Erie was a much bigger partner as part of the EL merger.

Just my 2 cents.

SixAxleAlco

Hey I am happy with whatever schemes they choose! Just glad to have the possibility of seeing schemes I never thought possible on new engines.

Now I have a small question and its not meant to knock NS. I had thought the Erie and perhaps the Erie Lackawanna icons (the diamond corporate symbols) were owned privately now. Just as model train manufacturers have to get a licensing agreement from CSX and UP, does NS have to get permission from the owners of those corporate symbols before they use them?

And I would love to see the CNJ, Lehigh and New England and the NYO&W represented....one can dream.

It is sometimes hard to tell on the Interwebs who is engaging in good natured banter and who seriously believes their lives will be ruined if NS doesn't bend to their wishes.

Heck yeah, I want to see a CNJ unit. Heck no, I am not going to lose sleep... When I sleep I can still dream of a Blue Comet GE! :-)

I tried to spark NJ Transit's interest in a similar program several years ago. It is a tough sell. I will be happy with whatever NS does. It is a classy move.


Rob

I don't see the "real" NS on the list! Did someone mention that?

I was at a Chapter meeting last night. Interestingly enough, most of the "carping" about the N&W unit being blue rather than black or tuscan came from active or retired NS employees.

NS to railfans: We're spending a ton of money to paint 18 locomotive in heritage paint.

Railfans to NS: You guys are awful, how come your not doing XYZ paint scheme.


Maybe if they were showered with gratitude and compliments they would expand the program....

I think everyone's passion for their own lines should not be considered as ingratitude for what NS is doing.

Naturally, everyone left off the list will wonder "what about 'my' railroad" and that's part of the fun of the hobby.

Matt

From eleven years ago:
http://www.rypn.org/editorials/single.php?filename=041127031316.txt
The bottom line is that it was Bennett's locomotive, Bennett's money and Bennett's paint. That little detail did not stop one semi-organized group of fans from seriously proposing a lawsuit to compel it to be painted in 'their' preferred heritage scheme.

Say thank you NS.

Now, I want the 5 stripe green PRR passenger scheme as all of the others were down hill from there. What do you mean, "Where's my cheque book? You have to because I want it!!" (Paraphrased from a then 4 year-old...)

GME

Some of you guys need to give a closer read to what is written. The 'real' NS-that ran the Baldwin road switchers- is clearly mentioned.

Once again-NH and P&VW got replaced by CNJ and the 'old' NS. I suspect that someone at NS figured out that NS does not operate on any former NH lines. As for P&WV, I have an idea-but I ain't telling.

I think one should take heart that from the CEO right down through the upper ranks of the Mechanical Dept., there are a lot of folks who are as passionate AND knowledgable about their property and railroad history as any buff. This program is the proof of that.

I would put your complaint letters in the drawer and leave it be.

NH0401

I notice that NS still has not made their own press release. I wonder how Trains Magazine got it. Did someone leak to them or did they jump the gun?

You know, if NS was [u]really[u]going to do this correctly, they'd make some of those locomotives look like F-M Trainmasters or ALCO C636's, or big Baldwins!

:-)

Seriously, this is a great initiative from NS. It shows an interest in those who watch trains, are interested in railroad history and Americana. One can only hope 611 and 1218 will follow in a certain time frame, or is that too much to ask?

I agree that Railfans should be going out of their way to be kind to NS in this regard. It wasn't that long ago that NS was not all that friendly to folks like us. I suspect it wouldn't take very much negativity at all to nuke this program and the 21st century incarnation of the steam program. Be positive folks and enjoy whatever nuggets come our way. To those that gripe about the "snubbed" railroads on this list and keep trying to harass the NS management into running 611...baby steps, people...baby steps. A little off topic, but I think similar negativity and generally annoying behavior may be at least a part of the reason why RN 425 is back on ice. Appreciate what you are given and see it while you can.

NS does not own the NYC mark. I spent the last several months at Conrail sending hopper cars to be stenciled NYC and delivering them to CSX. NS retained ownership to all of the other marks. So I wonder if they had to secure permission from CSX to paint that unit.

I think it is cool that they are doing this and wish them well. It is a good gesture.

Going back to the DL&W, there were actually three major schemes, if you discount the short-lived 'gray ghost'. The switchers, and all of the road switchers save the Trainmasters, were black with yellow handrails. The freight F units came in one version of gray and maroon; the passenger F-3s and E units in another. The Trainmasters were delivered in the passenger scheme, and many of the freight Fs were later repainted in the passenger scheme, which was adapted by the EL. So what is, in my opinion at least, the best of the DL&W schemes lived on in the the EL days.

I was born and grew up in Lackawanna towns, and am STILL not happy about the merger; I would have rather seen DL&W and NKP merge. But thats what makes horse races-

I don't see why everyone is getting so excited. I have engines in EL, D&H, CNJ and (someday soon) LV markings rolling by my tower every day. And that doesn't even count the DL&W and NKP units on the museum trains.

What's the big deal?

Dave

P.S. The above was written with my sense of humor in overdrive.