"Official" Paint scheme names

YoHo Apr 28, 2010

  1. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    OK, not really official, because I doubt ATSF actually did this, but I'm curious.

    We've gone back and forth on this on this site before.

    Generally, at our most precise, we've had the following
    Zebra Stripe
    Pin Stripe
    Warbonnet
    Yellowbonnet (F units, yellow & silver)
    Bluebonnet (F units, blue and silver
    Cub Scout (trainboard specific. refers to the 1972 yellow bonnet on blue scheme.)

    In the wider ATSF community, how is this described?

    Does Yellowbonnet refer to the Yellow over blue?

    What about the Superfleet? is it described as just being in Warbonnet.

    Personally, I'm not that picky. I'll use war bonnet to describe the '72 scheme and expect the reader to use context clues to understand what I mean.
    My attitude is that if that offends you.....well, there are pills for that. But I accept that perhaps more precision is desirable.

    The reason I ask is that I got chastised on the PNWR Yahoo group for describing one of their former ATSF GP39-2s as being in Warbonnet paint.

    The chastiser said no, that was bluebonnet (which I'd argue was incorrect no matter what)

    My response was to provide the list I provided up there as a reminder that sometimes being nitpicky can blow up in your face.

    But still I was curious. is there a ATSF Hysterical society official convention for this?
     
  2. Triplex

    Triplex TrainBoard Member

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    No idea what's "official", but I've seen the post-1972 freight scheme is often referred to as both bluebonnet and yellowbonnet.

    Super Fleet is often distinguished from warbonnet.

    I've also seen pinstripe called billboard. Or is that the blue/yellow freight F scheme that came after catwhisker but before the 1972 scheme? And if it isn't, what do you call that scheme?
     
  3. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Gah, I forgot about Cat whisker. Easy to do given the lack of ubiquitous color photos.

    Triplex, you just confirmed my primary point. The 1972 scheme really doesn't seem to have a commonly accepted name and the funky F unit schemes of the early 70s make the situation doubly problematic.

    All of which leads me back to "you can take your nitpickery and put it where the sun don't shine."

    Alas
     
  4. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    How 'bout them there Kodachromes? The doomed SP-SF merger anticipation. :tb-sad:
     
  5. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh sure, but at least everyone agrees to call them Kodachrome.
     
  6. OC Engineer JD

    OC Engineer JD Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Some people......LOL
    Warbonnet, Yellowbonnet.....whatever you call it.....it's beautiful on a locomotive. (Or should I say 'Diesel Unit'? LOL)
     
  7. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    For a while, I referred to this paint scheme as a "Tyco", in (dis)honor of the same company that made crappy model trains, some with garish schemes.
     
  8. Triplex

    Triplex TrainBoard Member

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    Kind of inappropriate. The usual incorrect Santa Fe paint scheme applied by low-end model companies was Warbonnet with no pinstripes and black trucks, like the U28CGs.
     
  9. cajon

    cajon TrainBoard Member

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    YoHo
    My comments have * in front of them.

    Generally, at our most precise, we've had the following
    Zebra Stripe
    Pin Stripe
    *AKA Book End
    Warbonnet
    Yellowbonnet (F units, yellow & silver)
    Bluebonnet (F units, blue and silver
    *These are the only true yellow & blue bonnets. Any use of these to describe the '72 Warbonnet paint scheme just don't know any better. True Santa Fe fans always just call them just Warbonnets. Period!
    Cub Scout (trainboard specific. refers to the 1972 yellow bonnet on blue scheme.)
    *Never heard this one before. Wow being 66 & still learning something new! That's what so good about these forums.

    What about the Superfleet? is it described as just being in Warbonnet.
    *We always called them just Warbonnets also w/ no regard to silver/re
    The reason I ask is that I got chastised on the PNWR Yahoo group for describing one of their former ATSF GP39-2s as being in Warbonnet paint.
    *What else can you expect from people who don't live in Santa Fe country! LOL
     
  10. Kenneth L. Anthony

    Kenneth L. Anthony TrainBoard Member

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    I did see Cat Whiskers mentioned here-- but don't forget Cigar Band.
     
  11. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    The first time I heard "Cub Scout" was back in the 70's. It was being used by Santa Fe crews running on tracks that were once the old Cane Belt line.
     
  12. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    So it isn't trainboard specific.

    Hmm, and used by Santa Fe crews.

    Well then, there you go. Even when you "know" something, it turns out there is more to learn.
     
  13. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Railfans, model railroaders have given various descriptive verbage to locomotives of the Santa Fe. Some complimentary and some less then.

    The general picture as stated by Andy J. our Cajon Friend is correct.

    You guys left out the "Covered Wagons". You'd have to be as old as me to know that. These were the early F types in numerous paint schemes.

    The one I find most offensive is the "BlueBonnet" what are we doing here making butter? Seems there is an old fairy tale where someone makes butter. Does that date me.

    There are only two of the F7's painted up with a true "BlueBonnet". To call all other ATSF locomotives in the blue pin stripe or yellow war bonnet locomotives a "BlueBonnet" is just plain wrong.

    Now, I'm not sure where the Cub Scout came from as this is relatively new to me. I guess it's ok but I do find it offensive from the Scout's perspective.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 30, 2010
  14. bnsf971

    bnsf971 TrainBoard Member

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    Here is the difference between Warbonnet and Superfleet paint, both the same locomotive in different schemes:
     

    Attached Files:

  15. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, I know there's a difference, the question is, "should" anyone care enough to use different names.

    Again, the name warbonnet is descriptive, because the curving shape of the red resembles Indian headdress. So any paint scheme that includes that shape can be rightfully called a warbonnet.
     
  16. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Apparently, if you ever wanted to derail a Yahoo trains group, ask them what they call the 1972 Santa Fe scheme.

    I'm sticking to Warbonnet or Cub Scout depending on the circumstances.
     
  17. bnsf971

    bnsf971 TrainBoard Member

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    My own personal terms are a bit more descriptive, though maybe not as official:
    Cat Whisker
    Zebra
    Warbonnet
    Pre 1972 freight
    Blue and yellow Warbonnet
    Yellow Warbonnet
    Blue Warbonnet
    Super Fleet
    Shouldn't Paint So Fast
     
  18. cajon

    cajon TrainBoard Member

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    Added a couple to your list. And what's wrong with just plain Warbonnet. Everyone knows the colors of the post '72 Warbonnets. Guess when the Super Fleet Warbonnets came out they just had to add blue & yellow in there, especially the non Santa Fe people. But to all my friends & me they are ALL Warbonnets!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 30, 2010
  19. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Foamers gotta classify.
    And let people know when you aren't precise enough.

    ;)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 1, 2010
  20. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    Actually, I'm referrring to some of the garish paint schemes (not Santa Fe-related) put out by Tyco, not the incorrectly-done ATSF passenger schemes (see-Chattanooga Choo-Choo on a so-called Alco "C430"). The only good thing I can say about the Kodachrome scheme is that Santa Fe did a much better job than SP in painting them, and they were cleaner.
     

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