Greg Scholl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Speaking of appearances, nobody has brought
> up tender lettering yet, so let me be the first to
> open up this can of worms.
>
> Some will say it should be [lettered]
Rio Grande,
> since its [sic] an historic artifact, and in this case
> being on display that would seem logical, since
> the
Rio Grande was what came through Chama
> years ago.
*
>
> Others will argue it should be Cumbres and Toltec
> since it might be considered FREE advertising to
> have that on the tender.
>
> I say if they put C&TS on the tender, then its for
> advertising. Not saying I am in favor of this, but
> if that was what was considered and there was
> no way it was going to be Rio Grande, I would
> suggest going further and making the tender a
> plain old Advertisement for the Railroad. Put a
> big arrow on it pointing toward the yard, and be
> blatant about it, STEAM TRAIN RIDE --- THIS
> WAY, or something like that. 483 will get their
> attention ... Or how about "Ride [behind] one
> of my
brothers [sisters?]"
>
> Greg
I'm with you 99%, Greg -
Except for referring to #483's K-36 siblings as "brothers", that is. As every red-blooded histörical American knows, steam locomotives - like steamships - are generally referred as being of the feminine gender (unlike diseasels, which - being utterly un-sexy - are always referred to as "it" or "those").
But I'm all for the suggestion of using #483 for a few years to help advertise the C&TS. IMHO, almost the only hope for #483 to be returned to service is for the railroad to become so successful that
she will be needed to help carry the load. As part of the nationwide "Occupy Chama" movement, tens of thousands of foamers are expected to descend on the C&TS next summer to assist with the restoration of #483 and Rotary OM, and to then help establish a snow-plow display in the center median of Terrace Avenue. (See [
ngdiscussion.net], [
ngdiscussion.net] and [
ngdiscussion.net], below, for details.)
In order to maximize visibility and widespread public recognition of the railroad's name, the following paint scheme has been proposed
:
Note that both the lettering and the logo will be created using reflective material such as Scotchlite® for optimum nighttime impact.
For an artist's depiction of the entire locomotive as it will appear in this eye-catching display, see [
ngdiscussion.net].
- El Curmudgeono de los Locas Viejas y Verdes
* (Corrected 01/21 per Hank's post, below.) Actually, it was the Denver & Rio Grande which arrived in Chama on New Year's Eve, 1880. The Rio Grande Western was merged into the Denver & Rio Grande in 1908, but the name - and tender lettering - "DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN" wasn't in use until the reorganization of 1921. About 1940 the "flying"
Rio Grande lettering was adopted and remained in use until the end of freight operations over Cumbres Pass in 1968.
Note that the Cumbres & Toltec has already existed half again as long as the the "flying" Rio Grande logo was in use, and in less than ten years the rail line from Antonito to Chama will have been operating under the legal name "Cumbres And Toltec Scenic Railroad" longer than it did as the "Denver And Rio Grande Western" ...
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2012 01:37PM by Russo Loco.