Re: PC: More on Speculative Modelling

[rastaff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

> From:          Philip.Kuhl -AT- ping.be
> Date:          Tue, 3 Mar 1998 19:45:42 GMT
> To:            penn-central -AT- smellycat.com
> Subject:       PC: More on Speculative Modelling
> Reply-to:      penn-central -AT- smellycat.com


I think the up coming merger had a lot to do with the simple paint 
used by both PRR and NYC. Why invest a lot of cash in creating a 
identidy that was going to go away soon anyway. 
The two tone NYC gray would look go on a modern locomotive. If the 
NYC was to go it alone, with the pride it took in its passenger fleet 
it very likely would have kept the two tone gray. 
Bob Stafford 

> A collective thank-you to the list as a whole!  You all are coming up with
> more nifty ideas about "what ifs" than I ever could have dreamt of -- I, for
> one, hope the ideas keep coming!
> 
> What a great idea to try to get New York State commuter authorities to bring
> back a New York Central lightning-stripe paint scheme as the Connecticut DOT
> did with the New Haven.  Who would we write to in order to ask that this be
> considered?
> 
> Now, FPL-45s in lightning stripes would be great, but had to imagine since
> NYC had already gone to the simplified medium grey/white stripe/cigar band
> emblem paint scheme on the E-7s and E-8s several years before the merger.
> If we go on the assumption that the Penn Central merger never took place,
> then "modern" NYC passenger cars pose an interesting problem:  The
> Metroliner silhouette may or may not be a reasonable prototype--maybe NOT
> because the Metroliner was a PRR/DOT project that probably would not have
> resulted in New equipment for the Central; --maybe SO because the Metroliner
> was built by Budd and Budd could easily have developed it into the new
> standard railroad passenger coach, just as was the case with Amfleet.
> Whatever the equipment, I'd like to see a NYC cigar band emblem at window
> level next to the passenger car door (as Southern Railway did in later
> years) for the same reason as did the Southern:  news photographs of
> arriving dignitaries detraining would necessarily include the emblem, thus
> giving some free publicity to the railroad.
> 
> My guess (Can anyone confirm it or refute it?) is that PC's black paint
> scheme was the result of the railroad looking for something simple and cheap
> to apply to its motive power.  Black paint can come from any number of paint
> suppliers and will still be black, whereas other colors can vary according
> to supplier.  (Look at the discussion we've had about what was PC/NYC
> green!)  A lack of striping or multi-color painting makes the paint scheme a
> lot less expensive to apply -- a consideration for cash-strapped PC.  But as
> our "modern" PC got some cash in its pockets, how might it have painted its
> motive power and why?  Personally, I can't quite see PC using a variation of
> either NYC or PRR paint schemes since it probably would have the idea of
> creating a new corporate entity, but maybe some of you have other ideas?
> 
> How about locomotive numbering series for the "new" PC power?  Sticking with
> passenger trains because they are easier for me, I figure "PCFleet" is a
> real likelihood as is the conversion to head-end power.  Thus, the steam
> heat boilers of the E units would no longer be needed and the E's would be
> progressive retired or traded in through the 1970s and 1980s.  Replacement
> power (FP-40s?) would probably be geared for passenger speeds and have a HEP
> generator, so they truly would be "passenger units." My guess is that they
> would have stayed in the 4000 series -- perhaps 4300s or 4500s to
> distinguish them from the earlier power?
> 
> How about electrification?  Through the years there has been much thought
> given to electrification of the former NYC New York-Chicago main.  Would
> that ever have come about?  If so, would it have been third-rail or overhead
> catenary (replacing, of course, the third rail between Harmon and GCT on the
> former NYC Electric Division)?  Why?
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
>