What color are VIA's P42 locomotives?

Hi !

I was looking at VIA's pictures on Railpictures.net


This picture shows the VIA 916 as a blue painted locomotive.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 844&nseq=8

And this picture shows the same unit as a mostly green locomotive
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 577&nseq=5
( Other Unit but mostly the same? )
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 385&nseq=7

What color are they ?? Blue, Green ?? Both??
Thanks !

The official colour of the P42's is called Pantone 316 which is a dark blue/green. Since the metallic paint used has a mix of blue and green flecks, the locos can look anywhere from bright green to dark blue and anywhere in between depending on angles and lighting. This is especially noticable in photographs whereas their appearance is mostly blue to the human eye.

And they hope to apply this color scheme of the P42's to the F40s as funds become available.

jp1822 wrote:And they hope to apply this color scheme of the P42's to the F40s as funds become available.

This scheme is being applied to the F40's after the full rebuild program which just began with 6400.

Kind of a shame - The F40's looked so good in their factory paint. Via continued to add stuff like "CANADA" and kool-aid guys, as well as bug shields and third headlights.

Like This:

The color was definitively changed on the P42 . The first VIA P42 had a changing color from green to blue like one said avove , they are repainting them to a more regular blue ( not changing like the other one ) . I don't know when it began but I would say one year ago I started to see these blue units . Maybe somebody will have a more acurate answer .
This is from my observation of passing units .

big bird wrote:The color was definitively changed on the P42 . The first VIA P42 had a changing color from green to blue like one said avove , they are repainting them to a more regular blue ( not changing like the other one ) . I don't know when it began but I would say one year ago I started to see these blue units . Maybe somebody will have a more acurate answer .
This is from my observation of passing units .

Ok, here is my opinion on it (I may be wrong, correct me if I can).

I do think, as you noted, that the colour has been changed more to the blue, rather than a shifting blue/green. I was told in fact, by a hobby shop owner, that (according to whatever sources he had), VIA had done to paint batches, some in the green/blue, and others in the blue. Over time, they were all being painted to the blue (this seems a little pointless though...). You can tell on some of the units, that part has been repainted (usually the nose), as you can see a shift in colour from one part to the next...example: http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=236528&nseq=28 <-- Look especially under the side window to see colour change)

One thing I do know, is that number 917 was recently repainted into a more distinctly green/blue colour, more like what is now on 6400. Notice something in this picture particularly...http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=224266&nseq=1 You can see that 917 and 918 are clearly not the same colour...there is no way in this case an issue of viewing angles/light conditions.

Here;s the definitive proof for this....First, 917 looking scrappy...http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=155447&nseq=3 dated, Aug 15, 2006.

Later, July 5, 2008....http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=252934&nseq=0

Also, the earlier picture with 918 was taken on Feb. 21, 2008.

So, my take....initially, some or all were blue/green, while they have now shifted more towards blue. Newly repainted units though, are more likely to look like 917, in the more green/blue, like we see on 6400 as well.

Oh VIA, why couldn't you just pick one, definite colour and stick to it?!?!

And, of course, as if that wasn't enough, they had to add in 902....http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=14134&nseq=9 The extra blue stripe....why only on one unit? Don't ask me...

Hope that maybe helps someone with something. If anyone knows more, I'd love to be corrected or clarified!

Oh, another thing I meant add...

Some sensible people might ask, "these units were just bought and painted in 2001. How could they possibly be repainted already?" Well, if you take a look at any of them, you can tell that somebody picked a paint that doesn't stick so well...

Proof that they're regularly repainted... Here's 920 in 2007: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 757&nseq=4 As you can see, it's already had a bit of a patch-up job on the front.

Then, in 2008....http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 709&nseq=0 In fresh new paint...quite blue looking.

As you can see here, the earlier paint was more of a green/blue...http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 871&nseq=9

This one too (might be a bit of a lighting issue, but still, it's definitely a darker colour....) http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 36&nseq=19

Alright, I think that's enough from me...although I suppose I should say that, perhaps my earlier comment was not entirely true...917 got new paint this year in more of a green....but 920 clearly got more of a blue...SO CONFUSING!!

Cheers!

Darn, I said that was all for me, but I just found one more great contrast.

Look at this:

908 in 2002, less than a year after repainting: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 95&nseq=11 Quite greenish.

908 in 2008, in another fresh paint job: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 97&nseq=33 Quite blue.

You decide.

Have any of you thought of the possibility that maybe certain units got blue while some got green? I know that makes no sense but its a thought. I wish they would pick a color already that looks like one color.

Thanks for your research Timberley !!!! One picture tells all , the one double heading elephant style : one blue , one green !!! The lighting is the same for both !
I hope somebody well connected with VIA will come up with an answer , how can I sleep now !

I'm glad to hear I helped a bit! I've been onto this for quite a few years now, and it just continues to bother me. I only meant to give a brief opinion last night, but then I just kept finding more and more stuff and I couldn't stop!

Oh if only I had ties to VIA insiders...but heck, they might not even know what's going on!

I think the blue with the yellow sets a better tone for the locomotive then that green. On a rail fans point of view it gives us some verity, instead of seeing the same paint job on every P42DC VIA has.

ya variety is nice.. but I swear they did this just to mess with our heads. even the modelers are bitching because no one can find the exact color to paint there locomotive. Word of mouth even athearn's and Hobby craft when they did the limited run of P42 for VIA rail they argued about the color. its a conspiracy! LOL

I actually prefer the blue......... I can model that.

I can tell more longer about the Via's P42
we have at VIA rail 21 P42dc in all
the common color is blue,like this one


3 of them are with a difference

the first one..
The VIA 917 P42 is exeptionnaly in green,the only one like that


the VIA 902 P42 is bleu,but at the botton of the body,get a blue line,just over the yellow line,also the only one with this scheme


and finally,the 904,the only one to get a third light,when the view is very bad,they use it to get more visibility


a little history with these engines..
originaly,VIA rail were ordering some F59PHI,but when they was about to get the livery,VIA rail get another offer,for 21 P42DC for a lower price,and brand new.
Finaly,Via Rail owned the 21 P42DC locomotives,and the 11 F59PHI were sold for a little price too,for tha AMT,the Montreal Commuter trains..

could we imagine this engine in VIA paint scheme?


I get all VIA's p42 DC in picture,so if somebody need info about one of these,I get get the info for the appearence of it

Recently,VIA rail send the 6402 at CAD Rail company,at Lachine,this engine just about to quit the company to made some raod tsts,is an F40PH3,with the renaissance paint scheme and with the full cab,than,no more back gap behind the engine,the back door will be right over the end of the engine..
The engine type will be
GPA30c

so if someones are beside the Alexandria sub ONT,you must see it passing by pretty soon..