New Union Pacific Commemorative Locomotive

Ohh boy.....I think I prefer the big boy or 844.

Sure makes you wonder who comes up with such styling designs.

That is one UGLY paint job!

Hot take:

Besides the heritage paint schemes UP did for railroads it's merged with every other paint scheme UP has applied to locomotives is awful. Stick with yellow and gray UP. You don't need anything else.

Also NS did the heritage paint schemes much better. They actually look like previous roads paint schemes, not a stylized version like UP ended up doing.

I for one like the design, and calling it a heritage locomotive is a bit off when the PR publication itself calls it a "Commemorative Locomotive". It was created to make a message and earn brownie points and it'll do that pretty well if its color scheme catches the eye of any curious person.

Thank you for the correction (heritage v. commemorative).  I fixed the title.

I too like the design.  As with all custom railroad paint jobs, the designs are subjective, and I respect that.  It is interesting and eye catching. I am sure many will be following it around the system just like the other units.

Aesthetics change with exposure.    I, for one, like the scheme and is welcome relief from UP's monotonous yellow scheme.

The PR announcement had some attendant articles, one of which was about a UP engineer, Recruiter and spouse going to visit an elderly, impoverished lady who waved to railroad crews, every day, every train, in Mcgehee, AR. Turned out she was alone, and the only human contact she had to look forward to, was UP train crews.  They visited her, found she had very little and arranged for a Habitat for Humanity rebuild of her home.  Heartwarming story which restores a little faith in the decency of Americans.

Apparently you guys don't see the hidden message here:

The yellow/orange portion of that emblem is without question a female torso.  No joke.

They probably spent $100,000 coming up with this.

Mannyrock

Female torso?  If so, Picasso must have done the art work !!

The color mix, to my taste, is very pleasing.

While there is a corporate PR focus to this locomotive, I believe that UP is making some bold artistic choices with their last few custom paint engines. The color is eye catching. I wish that other railroads would continue to take chances with paint. CSX has made what really is a minimal effort in custom paint compared to other railroads. NS has nothing new in the last few years. BNSF, nothing significant. CN is making some moves forward and CP did the military schemes.
Ultimately, it is great to see continued chances being taken by some railroads.

Railroads are in the business of making money, not applying slick paint jobs to locomotives to reflect the changing times. I hope the other railroads do not follow suit and stick with their original colors and designs.

As a private business, UP can apply any scheme it wants to any locomotive it wants whether or not you agree with the message.  I wonder if the new MTH or Lionel will offer this in O scale?  It is certain to be offered in HO and N.

I believe these paint jobs are essential to business today. The image they create around a company or product can make a big difference for the bottom line. This has been occurring in the US for decades now. Coca Cola is a prime example.

I wish BNSF would make a significant move in this area. While their current scheme is eye catching compared to NS and CSX, some new ideas would be welcome.

I have mixed feelings on the paint scheme, and I understand the motivations behind it. But I'm hoping this isn't another situation of "wokeness" creeping in.

If MTH part deux or Atlas produces it in Proto-3/2 with scale wheels I'll probably order one. The concept art seems to indicate the locomotive is an SD70M.

Can anyone decode the verbiage on the side of the locomotive ?     (ben.......bridges.......conah, etc)

I want to say those are the (last) names of the group members responsible for repainting the locomotive. That’s what I thought I read in the place where I first saw this engine mentioned. But now I can’t find that posting so I am not sure.

Mark, those are the abbreviations or names of some of the Employee Resource Groups at UP.

BEN is Black Employees Network, VETS for military veterans, National Guard and Reservists, CONAH is Council of Native American Heritage.

Railway Age had a well written article that explains this paint scheme well.

We are One paint scheme

I would purchase a model of it.  It is a nice splash of color and would pair well with my UP GE at my operating club. 

I would order a 2-rail version if it is produced.  I am not sure who would do a 2-rail version now that MTH is mostly gone.  Perhaps a special run by the new MTH?  NH Joe

@Mannyrock posted:

Apparently you guys don't see the hidden message here:

The yellow/orange portion of that emblem is without question a female torso.  No joke.

They probably spent $100,000 coming up with this.

Mannyrock

I see a stylized heart instead of a torso.  To each their own.

In any case, I think that the overall scheme is very attractive.  As I said earlier, I will order a 2-rail version if someone makes it.  NH Joe

@GG1 4877 posted:

I wonder if the new MTH or Lionel will offer this in O scale?  It is certain to be offered in HO and N.

The prototype appears to be an SD70M.  Lionel does not have an SD70M tooling.  MTH (now Atlas) however, does.

-Brian

Token liberal here.  I applaud whatever it is that they are doing, but no self-respecting locomotive should have to endure that.  Yuk!  Opinion!

Ross and Jonathan, thank you both for the info and clarification of the paint scheme and the explanation of the acronyms.

Jonathan, thanks for the link. It seems to me the loco is for internal employee appreciation, not advertising. No one outside UP would understand the acronyms.

I work for a huge multinational myself, and we have all the same employee resource groups I think. Different names, but same groups. I even belong to one of them for veterans.

I'm going to have to turn in my progressive member card on this one.

To each his own, but that is one ugly engine.  "Art" just keeps getting uglier by the decade.

Stupid

The paint scheme communicates effectively the idea that “We Are One” from white to black and every shade and hue in-between. It’s not about wokeness but awareness. The design is meant to attract attention on a real track from a distance, not a19” model running on a close loop on a home or club layout. It’s meant to boost company unity and it’s not permanent marker.

UP does go to Galveston.  The train station is about 1.5 miles from Aston Villa, where General Order 3 was proclaimed, stating slavery was over. 

If you are going to do it, start at Galveston, then later in the day, Houston.

They have the money to do this, but it took them forever to come up with a plan to clean up the old SP tie plant site in the Englewood Yard atea of Houston, which is next to a lower income area of African Americians.

Up bought SP in 1996.

Is this an isolated case?

Is this a divetsion of attention?

I do not consider it as art, like UP’s flag design.  It is a good representation of the We Are One color scheme.

I prefer the UP "rail beast" creation, reference "rail beast" You Tube video.

@das boot posted:

I prefer the UP "rail beast" creation, reference "rail beast" You Tube video.

That was vandalism.  Pure and simple.  Even though the locomotive was in storage, the UP painted it out as soon as they found out.

Rusty

There are not enough descriptive adjectives to describe it. Ugly Fugally comes to mine, YUCK!

.

Wow! ... that commemorative engine is ugly.  But, UP also also runs steam locomotives ... they definitely do their own thing among the big railroads.

I have a visceral hatred of graffiti and for those criminals that do it, but ... dang! ...

@das boot posted:

I prefer the UP "rail beast" creation, reference "rail beast" You Tube video.

Every corporation has the same agenda - profit.

My goal when starting this thread was to stay focused on the new paint job. It is different, and while it has a purpose, Union Pacific agendas aside, I was really only looking for likes and dislikes.
Can we all try and stay focused on the paint and design, not the PR and politics?  Thanks all.

@Carl Peduzzi posted:

....Can we all try and stay focused on the paint and design, not the PR and politics?  Thanks all.

That design was painted that way for a purpose.  Without understanding the why, it could be considered ugly.  For many people, understanding the why makes it beautiful no matter what it looks like.

Might be better to ask "Could they have come up with a better design to support We Are One?"

Ron,

You very eloquently captured the nature of this conversation.  Thank you for such a well written and concise summary.

@das boot posted:

I prefer the UP "rail beast" creation, reference "rail beast" You Tube video.

Not gonna lie I always thought that was some cool work by the person who painted it.