Hmmmm... I've learned from prior embarassing posts not to 'assume' that something is NOT prototypical... or prototypical. I have many Rio Grande books and have never seen a scheme like this for ANY hopper or gondola owned by Rio Grande. I can only assume this is a mistake... but... let me just suppose its not since there's a prototype for almost anythimg it seems...:tb-confused:
I am sure that I have no idea if it is prototypical. I can't imagine even a marketing department coming up with a scheme like that. It must be a paint shop error; I certainly would believe that. I'll copy this thread to the DRGW forum. You can keep an eye out for some possible answers there.
Flash... It is more likely that the advertising department at Athearn has somehow... erred on their artwork... at least I hope that it's only their artwork thats wrong. I'd hate to see the actual cars decorated like this if it is NOT an artwork error and NOT prototypical... which I'm 99.9% 'assuming' it is NOT prototypical. BTW... I also don't believe this version of 3 bay hopper is totally prototypical for Rio Grande... but... I'm willing to accept it as-is. The 'flying D' on the other hand... seems a little too far-fetched for me... go figure . As noted on this website (Thanks Jim Eager)... the Grande DID have 500 42' rib-side 70 Ton hoppers (with 10 ribs). Just maybe... this hopper is not so far off... and with 500 possibilities... who knows for sure about potential paint scheme variants over the numerous years in service :tb-shocked:. http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/other_cars/drgw_cars/drgw01-59.htm
There have been some prior cases where the original artwork included or did not include some lettering. The product was delivered complete. I suspect that is what is happening here and that corrected artwork will be posted fairly soon. Heck a recent document we received from one mfr. included info that only showed up after opening the item with our web software and then using copy & paste. That info showed they are announcing a new loco later this year that should be very well received by many modelers to replicate trains that have been missing.
It's a mistake! The flying "d" as noted here appears to be a mistake. The flying "d" shows up on pre-speed lettering and speed lettering on the pre-SP merger paint schemes. There may have been some freight cars that got the earlier treatment. To say it may have appeared on freight cars as it does on the locomotive pictured here. I've been researching such after originally reading this post. Still it makes no sense in this application with just a single flying "d". I suspect this is part of the complete name and the artwork hasn't been finished on this coal hopper. I've seen oddities like this show up on freight cars. Just not this oddity.
Oooooooo nice GP30 shot. Looks real familiar... seems I saw some of them on my layout today... hauling some of Athearns previously released 70 ton hoppers.
