The Forgotten Santa Fe Color Scheme?

With all do respect, Mike, I sure hope that this version is not done in the future. Next to a Warbonnet, it is pure ugly. I realize that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but I sure don't like this one.

 

Go Yellow Warbonnets (a set you have).

That was an experimental scheme for their FT units in the 50's.  I recall reading that not many units were painted in this scheme and those that were, were quickly repainted.

 

Perhaps someone over on the real trains forum could provide more information.

 

Regards, Greg

Lionel did something very very close to that.  It's product number 6-18117.  A quick search of an auction site will result in pictures.

 

Stu

Never been done Mike as far as I know but despite Brian not liking this scheme I believe it would be a striking ABA set to have. 

 

Of course everything next to the red and silver looks drab But hey if they build It I will buy In Legacy of course.

 

 

There's a reason it's forgotten...

 

Rusty

I don't think good with the yellow paint where ever they could find a place to put it.

I like the 193 best. A striking dark blue with just the SF logo of yellow.

I think this paint job by Lionel is pretty sweet. I would buy one.

The Blues were freight engines that had been converted and painted as passenger units for helper service over Raton.  They were moved back to freight service in 1951 and some were painted all blue.  Cinthia Priest's "The Santa Fe Diesel" has some photos of them in service.

 

Allan

To me, this color paint scheme seemed to be used in dusty areas and on units which are over worked!

Cheaper in using less paint colors.

Ralph

Hello Tom M...........

 

I AGREE, I just bought ABA set last month. I bought it new in the box and had to replace the 2 bad armatures (bend shaft) nevertheless I loved the colors. It is now my favorite F-3's.

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,20678,2003,200

Tiffany

 

Exactly!! That's the way I feel.  It's the bold contrast of the yellow nose against all that deep blue paint.  So cool looking.  Brian, I know you're a man of impeccable taste -- as evidenced by the gorgeous layout you have -- but I sure hope someone does this someday.     It's no substitute for a warbonnet or yellowbonnet, to be sure.  But I do think it would look great in O.

That is the long established Santa Fe freight color scheme, and NOT the scheme the original poster is discussing.

I doubt anyone would ever make them just because it was experimental, didn't last long, and only 4 or 6 sets were painted that way. It has got to be one of the easiest paint jobs to do yourself, and Microscale has the decals. I thought about doing a set myself, just because I want one of all the SF paint jobs.

I have that ABBA set and it's sweet.

 

Mike

"Exactly!! That's the way I feel.  It's the bold contrast of the yellow nose against all that deep blue paint.  So cool looking.  Brian, I know you're a man of impeccable taste -- as evidenced by the gorgeous layout you have -- but I sure hope someone does this someday.     It's no substitute for a warbonnet or yellowbonnet, to be sure.  But I do think it would look great in"

 

Since it is you Mike, I hope they make this set for you. As it was used for freight service, it would not fit in for me anyway.

I love the blue warbonnet scheme that was used for freight.  The one I can't stand is the yellow version.  Of course, the red passenger version is the best in my opinion.

 

Art

 

 Marx flavored version.

 

 Steve

 

 

 

See?  It would be a win/win for both of us!    

 

As as you said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  

Mike buy a set of the new Sunset FT's and I'll paint 'em for ya

Hello Steve.........

 

Did you paint that yourself ?  It REALLY looks good !!!!!!

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

 

 

Yes I painted it and used Microscale decals.

Steve

Very nice. Dark blue with just the yellow "cigar band" and stripe up the nose has an all business - look

Steve, I agree with Tiffany that your diesels look fine.     Love those Marx E7s, whether factory or custom.  Looks like you slid somebody else's running gear under the powered unit, eh?

Mike, I think I saw a Varney H0 version of this back when I was a kid. I remember thinking it looked mighty plain compared to the Lionel Warbonnet.

What about this one

 

 

 Tom, I have this set on the Forum, For Sale section. And...yes they are gorgeous. My email is in the "ad" Thanks. 

 

PTC, as a die-hard Santa Fe nut I must say I agree with you 100%.  It is jugly.

 

I would say this one is ULGY HGLY.  

Wonder what the story is behind this one?

 

Not exactly my favorite;

 

 

These last two, Gold nose and Green nose, are both neat 'EXTREEE' oddities.

Thank you Matt and Papa, for posting.

Ralph 

PHOTOSHOP!

 

Just like this one:

 

Rusty

And only lasted for a few weeks.

 

Rusty

It was an ill-fated attempt, during the Korean War, to save a few bucks on paint.  The railroad didn't like it and abandoned it after painting only a small number of units.  I don't like it either and would personally not ever spend money on a unit in this scheme.  It's one of the forgettable moments in Santa Fe history.

With the same good luck that put me at trackside for the one and only trip of 4-6-4 3460 (Blue Goose) to the Los Angeles Division, "I was there" for this, too.

 

I was in 8th grade at St. Mary's School in Fullerton, and, after school, I walked down to the LAMTA bus station for the bus toward home.  The bus station was adjacent to the Santa Fe station, and the gold PA1 was sitting on the house track, coupled to 3 or 4 streamlined prewar Budd passenger cars with their trucks painted gold, displaying GE appliances to distributors and dealers.  I went immediately to the engine.  A Fullerton police officer tried to run me off, but, fortunately, the Assistant Trainmaster, Mr. Rose, saw me and gave me carte blanche to poke around as much as I liked.  Naturally, I missed my bus, but they ran hourly and I was only in a little trouble for coming home late.  It was worth the scolding.

 

And, Santa Fe Jim . . . the engine actually looked better in person than it does in the photo.

Going by that criteria, experimental, didn't last long, but only 1 unit produced the Pennsy S2 turbine should never had been built. But how many different Lionel versions of it have been made over the years?  LOL

 

I kinda like the look of the dark blue with minimal yellow trim. Definitely different from the ubiquitous red and silver warbonnet scheme.

Nice!  And it replaced the over rated Warbonnet!

 

And you could probably say the same about the New York Central "Century Green" E units, right?  As I understand it, the NYC only tried this on two or three diesels.  But k-Line's green diesels were popular and MTH I'll bet received more than a few orders for their Premier E-8s that were in this last catalog (well, two orders that I know of for sure...Putnam Division and me!)

 

- Mike

 

Okay, WHAT is the story behind this one???     the more I look at it, the more I find myself strangely attracted to it.  This reminds me of those hideous green baseball caps that you see teams wear in Spring Training on St. Patrick's Day!  LOL. Somebody make this!  

 

- Mike

I like the Texas Chief that ran between Houston and Chicago for 2-3 years only,

1971-1973 or so. I like the Yellow Bonnet. Amtrak bought out Santa Fe and ran that route with the Yellow Bonnet until 1973 when Santa Fe made them get rid of the Yellow Bonnet scheme.

(side bar) bought a MTH texas chief and on the box they tell of the history of the "super chief that ran between Chicago and California. The Texas chief never went to California and the super chief was the red bonnet. I sent off an email to MTH to tell their history department to get their story straight. never got a response.

 

 

Once again: PHOTOSHOP!

 

Rusty

I like it!

I like that one too. I think I like the simple solid color schemes.

This would be so easy to paint yourself, using these declas from Microscale #48-313. Just need to paint the stripe up the nose onto the top of the nose

I am with you on this one, Popi.

 

       
       


Heresy!!!

http://www.atsfrr.com/resources/BackRalph/Yellow.pdf

 

here's the article about the Texas Chief Yellow War Bonnet.

Oh, really?

 

History says different.

 

And as far as F-units are concerned, many more went to Valhalla or CF-land in Red than in yellow or blue.

 

Rusty

When I first saw that blue scheme I thought it was a "decline of the railroads" job like the final repaint of the Milwaukee Road's F units in plain black and orange. I was surprised to learn it was from the 50's, but I guess saving money during the Korean War is a rationale. Not an attractive scheme, to say the least. I only own three Santa Fe engines and that paint job would not motivate me to make it four!

 

Nice article with some good photos.  One picture showed a Santa Fe baggage car in a Bicenntenial paint scheme - in 1972!  Didn't know about that one.

Hello Rusty...............

 

How about a purple or orange war Bonnet for a change ?

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

They all look good to me,As long as it says Santa Fe I don't care what color it is,The more odd ball it is the better I like it,I like it all.

 

Fred

 

Taken by Joe McMillian in 1971, long before Photoshop existed.

 

Rusty

Late to the party, as usual - but, yeah, I like plain paint schemes, too.

 

Now, I like ATSF, a lot, but my favorite scheme tends to be the black one, with silver lettering, a tender and a smokestack.

 

I have never understood the fascination with the "Warbonnet". It's OK, I guess, but

a bit gaudy, and as a kid I would have gone for the NYC F-3's: serious-looking

diesels. I got a 2055 (Santa Fe style!) Hudson instead, and that's just fine. 

Hey!  No soup for you, Dominic.  

Tom:

 

Thanks for the information on the yellow Warbonnets. Sure a very interesting history, though brief.

Click on pic for a better look if you dare... 

 

Rusty

As a boy I liked the NYC paint scheme too, but couldn't get past my love of the warbonnet.  Lionel made it tough to decide with their early F units.

 

Art

Looks like a factory paint shop error!!!

Are you serious about this?  I'm tempted.  

I remember well when Lionel first introduced the F3 units. Almost every kid back then wanted the Sante Fe version. Over the years, this has not changed much.