#1 - Norfolk Southern
#2 - Southern
#3 - Norfolk & Western
#4 - Santa Fe/BNSF
#5 - Chessie System
This is only slightly off target for the subject of this question, but, have you ever noticed that in the days before Amtrak, when railroads ran their own passenger trains, those trains that generally ran west of Chicago were ever so much brighter and more attractive than those that ran east? Examples in the East: NYC=dark gray, Pennsy=dark maroon, Erie=dark green, even the B&O was primarily a dark blue. West of Chicago: Santa Fe= bright red, yellow, silver; Chicago and Northwestern=yellow and green; Milwaukee Road=orange and maroon; Union Pacific=yellow and gray with red stripe; Northern Pacific=dark and light green with white stripe; Great Northern=Orange and brownish green; Rock Island=two tone red with silver.
Other roads all looked bright and inviting, going West, but most Eastern roads were much more foreboding. I've often wondered just what it was about the management of those railroads that caused such noticeable differences in what image that the railroads projected to the riding public. Why the differences?
(My own preference goes with the brighter colored lines, specifically the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago and Northwestern.)
Paul Fischer
I like variety so here are ones I run on my "City of Big Shoulders" layout.
Chicago Based (or Close): CB&Q, Chicago & Great Western, CTA, Milwaukee Road, Rock Island, C&NW
Came to Chicago: B&O, C&O, Canadian National, Chessie, Great Northern, Nickel Plate Road, NYC, Pennsy, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific
Originally Posted by fisch330:
This is only slightly off target for the subject of this question, but, have you ever noticed that in the days before Amtrak, when railroads ran their own passenger trains, those trains that generally ran west of Chicago were ever so much brighter and more attractive than those that ran east? Examples in the East: NYC=dark gray, Pennsy=dark maroon, Erie=dark green, even the B&O was primarily a dark blue. West of Chicago: Santa Fe= bright red, yellow, silver; Chicago and Northwestern=yellow and green; Milwaukee Road=orange and maroon; Union Pacific=yellow and gray with red stripe; Northern Pacific=dark and light green with white stripe; Great Northern=Orange and brownish green; Rock Island=two tone red with silver.
Other roads all looked bright and inviting, going West, but most Eastern roads were much more foreboding. I've often wondered just what it was about the management of those railroads that caused such noticeable differences in what image that the railroads projected to the riding public. Why the differences?
(My own preference goes with the brighter colored lines, specifically the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago and Northwestern.)
Paul Fischer
As rolling "billboards", the different schemes are pretty much inline with the type of image the road names chose to push. "Steering" perception with color like the casinos do, is no new trick. Dark colors(esp green) and gold's "say" "well established" and "valued", Red, and silver, "a warning" to get with the "new", or be left behind. etc.
I have to wonder how much weathering, seasons, and terrain of different regions played a part in the final decisions.
Mainly Southern Pacific. But, I have a few others. Matt
