Steam & Excursion > Another 3751 image I liked

By W.P. Armstrong in 2010 in California.

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Since it seems we must have a P-42 behind (almost) every steam locomotive that runs these days, can't we have them run backwards? Wouldn't this reduce the impact on photos? Maybe paint the diesel like a baggage car?

Ed

You gonna supply the paint and labor to paint it and then return it to Amtrak (blah) colors? A great idea if someone else takes care of all the actual details, I guess. Maybe Amtrak will buy an old E-8 or 9 B-unit body or kitbash two baggage car bodies and miraculously adapt same to slide right over a Genesis unit with nothing but Velcro strips to hold it in place. Paint as desired and you're good to go! I'm not jumpin' in a foxhole. Fire away!

Michael Perkins

All that's missing are a few old woody station wagons and the Beach boys music. Thanks for the share.

Man I miss the sunshine,
Karl - in the Great Wet North

Todd Clark and I threw around the idea of using movie paint to put a black temporary coat on diesels trailing the steam locomotive. Can you imagine what those Amtrak units would look like in black with large silver numbers, like a Santa Fe tender? Anyway, the "movie paint"--Johnson's wax and food coloring--is not the big deal. The expensive part comes afterward, when you water-blast the paint off. The relatively-simple job is compounded by the fact that the locomotives have picked up a patina of diesel exhaust and grime which, under EPA rules, makes the peeled-paint hazardous waste, and removal and proper disposal sends the cost of the project through the roof. If we have a lottery winner who wants to subsidize such a project...

In a small way, at least those Genesis locos look like box cars anyways. This day in age we need to be thankful for what we have. A steam locomotive pulling a diesel is far better than just a diesel...

Posted from Android

Spend a little more than movie paint. Get it wrapped to look like an RPO.

It would be nice for a photo charter type special to have the 3751 by its self,but for excursions like the ones run to San Diego, its imperative that the Amtrack units go along

Running it backwards would sure keep the windows clean, wouldn't it?

Spikes, it's a great photo and thanks for posting it.

When you don't see the blue face it may not be so bad. Or is it?

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Haruo, you are right! Facing the Amtrak backwards makes a difference. Nice photo, by the way.

Put a B unit or two behind it painted like the passenger cars like the Clinchfield did.