shadyjay wrote:Granted, I have not yet seen one of the new paint CTRail units person (yet), but it doesn't look "too" bad. I think it would look better if they moved the CTRail on the cab to the end of the logo on the hood and made it larger, and put the road number on the cab.
I still like the McGinnis colors/logo better. But perhaps this was done because the original project website nhhsrail.com had (stock?) images of a modern train. Perhaps ConnDOT wanted to strike a new image for this line and its services as a whole, not just relocate standard SLE trainsets over to the new line. A fresh coat of McGinnis paint would've looked sharp, though, especially on the P40s.
I'm almost convinced that enough of a possible multiple personnel change at CDOT over the years since 2006 -when the decision was made to re-paint/touch up the MAFERSAs using the "NH" logo on one end- has a great deal to do with it. Whoever is in charge right now likely has/had no use for continuing to reuse the now 60-year old "McGinnis scheme". And on top of that the "NH" logo doesn't adequately brand the non-MNRR commuter rail ops in 2018; I remember when I was younger being baffled that the name "Shore Line East" wasn't stamped on the equipment. The "CT
rail" branding -while not perfect- is concise, snappy, and looks great on the trains themselves. Let's not forget that the NH livery (incl. logos) becoming the public image of CDOT rail operations came about only because Joe Trifono and others petitioned CDOT and Conrail to have even just one FL-9 repainted. As explained here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/nyre ... ected.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I will say as someone who grew up with the McGinnis scheme at the turn of the 21st century I feel a change in the livery is warranted for the rebuilt GP40-2Hs and *hopefully soon to be rebuilt* P40s and any future Chargers though I would like the basic principle of using red black and white retained, which they indeed have with the 6694. Some Alpert-era white pinstripes would add just enough extra color/flavor to the CT
rail livery and really add a nice touch. As for the MBB cars.............. I'll leave that alone.