It seems that BNSF is trying to focus on it's current image, rather than
it's past. A few months ago they ran a series of commercials during the
financial shows on CNN, CNBC, etc. to drum up investor/customer/government
interest. In the 'new' world of technology and dotcom's, the railroads are
trying to look cutting edge. It would send a confusing message to focus on
the BNSF image and show how modern they are, then paint the fleet in a bunch
of obsolete paint schemes. With so many shippers complaining about poor
service, how would it look to them to have the railroad spending time and
money on preservation rather than improving service. Today's corporations
are run by accountants and if it doesn't (directly) boost the bottom line -
it doesn't happen. I have to look no further than my city limits to see how
true that is!
What about liability issues. Remember the NP Alco involved in a grade
crossing accident. It got repainted BN green, and then the courts had the BN
repaint it NP black and gold to recreate the accident. It went to the
scrappers in NP colors. You just never know what will happen - especially in
today's world.
Recently I was researching Maytag's ownership of the Rock Island logos.
While talking to one of their Trademark and Patent attorney's, he summed it
up perfectly: "...there is no more corporate sentiment..."
I do thank BNSF for their recent efforts at the Fullerton Railroad days, and
don't deny they are actively presenting the BNSF image. It's not that I
wouldn't appreciate seeing a Q 4-6-4 pounding down the ROW, the BNSF
repainting a GP30 in red/gray, or the UP painting a GP38-2 Rock blue/white -
I just don't expect it anytime soon.
Jeff Worones
Las Vegas, NV
> Last year Dave Lotz and I talked to the BNSF in regard to just repainting
> two
> of there loco's for the Q's anniversary, we wanted to have them in Chicago
>
> for the BRHS fall meet after that they could have used them for employee
> special's. We were told by the big shots that they were not interested in
> there heritage and if they have to do it for one then they would have to
> do
> it for all the predecessor roads. The Frisco was celebrating an
> anniversary
> also last year and the BNSF made sure to let us know that they were only
> interested in making money and not interested in railfans. When 1522 broke
>
> down Mr. Krebs was over heard to say that if the BNSF owned that #$%@!#$
> loco
> he would have had it cut up on the spot. We had a lot of inside help and
> it
> still did no good, I think if you want to see a Q loco run again your best
>
> bet is to talk to one of the museum's that have one already running. The
> BNSF
> is NOT HUMAN and they are nothing more than a corporate machine.
>
> John Lee
> St.Louis,MO.
>
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