Norfolk Southern AC44C6M No. 4002 in the railroad’s latest “mane” paint scheme, a “Roanoke prototype” mane with a Tuscan Red stripe.
Norfolk Southern
ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern has released an image of the latest version of its prototype “mane” paint scheme: a mane with a Tuscan Red stripe behind the cab. According to a NS Facebook post, the scheme is known as the Roanoke prototype. The locomotive wearing the new colors is NS AC44C6M No. 4002. GE built the locomotive as standard cab D9-40C No. 8789. NS’s East End Shop in Roanoke, Va., rebuilt the locomotive and workers in NS’s Juniata Shops in Altoona repainted the engine.
The blue cab with yellow lining reminds me of Sonic the Hedgehog, and the black cab with red lining reminds me of Sonic’s rival, Shadow the Hedgehog.
I have never understood the hatred of the so-called “vomit bonnet”. I thought it was a very attractive scheme. Certainly better than the Schemes BNSF went with that pay homage to NONE of its heritage.
I think NS went off the reservation with this one.
Well, back to the old drawing board. And, DON’T FORGET YOUR HORSE!
No comment.
I’ll go along with Jerry on staying away from the BNSF paint scheme and, believe me, the Vomit Bonnet scheme was even worse.
Ack! Don’t even go near BNSF’s paint scheme. That is the absolute worst paint scheme in railroad history. Looks like a bunch of bloomin’ pumpkins. After all these years I cannot believe that they killed off one of the greatest railroad paint liveries in history, the Warbonnet, for that mess. I’d rather NS keep it black than do something that awful.
It’s not working for me. Bring back the tuscan red paint, maybe with black or cream accents.
You do realize that NS is known as the Thoroughbred, and Thoroughbred horses have manes…not that hard to follow the dots, though it could use a little more flattening out and being tapered towards the back more.
I give NS a lot of credit for experimenting, but this one…..ummm, NO! And I first saw flames as well before reading the copy. But a least they are willing to experiment; I’m thinking they liked the positive response to their Heritage units and are hoping to present a more dynamic image than all black. Keeping trying, please! You are also giving photographers more units to hunt for!
Dunno why, but I think the gloss black of NYC’s freight engines looked fine. The NS black reminds me of Obama’s “Beast”. Tuscan red? Yuck! Again, a throwback to un-lamented PRR (N&W’s owner). More SOU green & white would be okay, if they could spring for some gold striping, but the “Sonic Hedgehog” thingie is nowhere, unless you are enamoured with ‘Skil’ saws..
The black and white contrast is more visible than all black, which is preferable from a safety standpoint, but the so-called “mane” looks to me like a circular saw. Keep trying, guys.
This is a step in the right direction for Norfolk Southern from the bland black scheme. NS should follow the fine example of BNSF to make their locomotives colourful and attractive. Tuscan red trimmed in brighter red and gold stripes with a band of silver mist would be an ideal colour scheme.
I like it! While the NS all-black isn’t as funereal looking as the Penn Central basic black, they could use some splashes of color to make things interesting. A little corporate showboating never hurt anyone.
This mane isn’t quite ready for the main. A whispy windblown look carried a bit further back might work. Imagine how boring the UP flag would be if it didn’t show the wind. This saw tooth look doesn’t cut it.
Make the mane all black and you’re on to something!
As much as I like tuxedo black- it’s by far the primary color in my own wardrobe- you do need some variety. I happen to like it, even with the circular saw blade pattern.
I’m officially starting a rumor that NS has asked Ian Anderson to warm up his flute; Jethro Tull will be performing “Heavy Horses” at the Roanoke and Juniata Shops. 😉
It looks cool, but I have to agree with Don Oltmann, it DOES remind one of “Sonic the Hedgehog”, maybe they could call it the “Hedgehog” paint scheme?
I’m going on a limb,but the white rear section is the original Norfolk and Southern.The black and white being the modern NS,and the tuscan being the pennsy side of the conrail split up.
Edward Kandl: the headlights in the nose IS the flaring nose and they can create fiery eyes by bringing back the Conrail marker lights lol
How are these AC conversions working out and what’s the timeline for the conversion program?
How many units is NS converting and with they have DPU?
I kind of like it, perhaps the entire horse head on the side of the cab instead of just the mane would look even cooler.
I thought it was flames the first one I saw, I found it appealing and I am sure lots of folks will too!
Nah, we’ve got the Taggers to do the freight cars. It saves the railroad paint shops money.