This is getting ugly... and I am not talking about the silver trim

I was afraid this discussion would get ugly and it looks like my fears have been realized. I am going to once again state my view of this issue and then move on to other things. The paint on 489 is wrong and as "Chile John" says, it looks like crap. Personally, I see no justification to paint it in this fashion-- it adds nothing and detracts from the overall appearance and purpose of the locomotive. Like it or not, the C&TS is and was a museum meant to preserve a part of the D&RGW narrow gauge. It is not an amusement park or carnival ride nor is it Disneyland. That is why SHPO puts strict controls on what happens on the railroad and that is why many of us worked to save it and why we continue to support it. Yes, as John Bush has stated, there were many variations in lettering and the standard diagrams were not always followed. However, the scheme on 489 or the scheme on the boxcar I posted have no basis in history. These schemes are simply the products of someones imagination and I cannot think of any justification for them. These incorrect schemes contribute nothing as opposed to a historically correct scheme. I am as happy as the next person to see this equipment restored and returned to service. However, is it really that difficult to paint and letter the equipment correctly? As for developing some written guidelines or standards-- is it really that difficult to do? There are probably thousands of photographs out there in all sorts of books that show how the equipment was painted and lettered. Bill Kepner mentioned how he and his Friends crew wore out a Narrow Gauge Pictorial book on cabooses as they completed their splendid restoration of 0579. To me, this restoration is evidence of what can be done by doing a little homework. I just don't see why it cannot be done with other projects and equipment.

And am I the only one that feels this way?-- No, I am not. I have received more than a few supportive emails from people who have been following this discussion but are not willing to post here and wade into this mess.