Milwaukee_F40C wrote:The F40PH model was factory painted that way by Life-Like, along with the BN E9 scheme. Looks like they were trying to cover all the Chicago commuter lines with the closest model they had. I imagine not many Nortran models were sold outside their territory.F40C: Thanks for the Life-Like link to the F40 page. Interesting road names and color schemes.
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Also two semi-separate agencies split the F40C order. The North and Northwest Suburban Mass Transit Districts.
I will mention each F40 photo:
1-Amtrak 229 in its as-delivered color scheme. The beginning of a more then 200 strong fleet.
The best color scheme was the equal parts striping that would follow which would be Amtrak's
image of the 1980s.
2-BN 9937 in the E8/9 color scheme. This could be a prototype for a Metra BN Heritage unit.
3-Caltrain 80s color scheme. The "red dot" scheme to follow was and is better.
4-Canadian National color scheme. VIA could have been used on the front end similar to the
original color scheme that had both CN and VIA on locomotives.
5-GO Transit 513. Accurate original scheme. There were only six of these (numbered 510-515)
which were eventually sold to Amtrak (renumbered 410-415) in the late 1980s.
6-MBTA 1004 in original color scheme. Their original F40s saw many years of service.
7-Metra F40 (number unreadable) "Kane County": Simple 80s bright visible color scheme.
8-NJT 4116: Good early NJT color scheme. Their F40s were the first new units that NJT bought
for service after the agency was created.
9-Nortran #53. This scheme could have used a large Nortran logo on the hood otherwise it is
just too plain. I agree that there is something lacking here.
10-Rock Island "Rock" 3105 - Good color scheme using Rock Island's last image. This again
could have been a prototype for a RI heritage unit. The red and yellow were better colors...
11-RTA #101. Arguably one of the best F40 color schemes. These colors are what a RTA
Heritage locomotive should have. The #100 should have gotten its original colors permanently.
12-Santa Fe Warbonnet: One of the classic color schemes for any railroad. This is what ATSF
F40s would have looked like if they continued to run passenger trains further into the 70s.
The 90s revival of this color scheme on all locomotives reminded many how good it was.
13-Union Pacific "We Can Handle It" scheme. Good colors had UP bought F40s for their
business train back in the 80s.
14-Prototype picture of Amtrak #210 in its as-delivered color scheme. The scanner code block
and the numberboards help identify this photo. These always looked good...
Going back to topic: An RTA Heritage unit permanently in RTA colors as #100 should have been
would be one way of reminding today's Metra enthusiasts and riders what they originally were
under RTA as they made improvements in the late 1970s/early 1980s and how they evolved to
form Metra. Keeping one unit in the original Metra color scheme adding the caption "Metropolitan
Rail" should also be considered.
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS