Orseno is retiring after 44 years in railroading and first worked for the Rock Island in the 1970s.
Locomotive No. 425 was unveiled in Chicago on Tuesday and is expected to be put into service on the Rock Island District between Chicago and Joliet this week. The locomotive was already scheduled for repainting when Metra officials decided to honor Orseno with the red-and-yellow paint. Orseno’s name has been added to the front of the locomotive.
“Before he heads off into the next chapter, we wanted to be able to show Don what he’s meant to Metra and the railroad industry,” says incoming CEO and Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “There was no better way to honor a man who has devoted so much of his life to the railroad.”
The red-and-yellow color scheme was designed by Philip Weibler and placed in service on the Rock Island in 1969. Metra also consulted Electro-Motive Diesel, now Progress Rail, which manufactured the first locomotives featuring this color scheme, on the exact color specifications.
This engine’s traction motor failed during my commute, stranding all us passengers at 103rd. Wish they would have spent the money on maintenance than on paint.
Sorry. I didn’t mean to post this. If I remember correctly, the last time the New York MTA did something like this was the naming an engine for Long Island Rail Road President Francis Gabreski.
Nice job. Real class. Real Class. If I remember correctly,
A very first class response by METRA’s Board and employees to a real railroader committed to improving the operation, cost efficiency, and customer experience everyday he was on the railroad.
Lacking the promised state infusion of funding over multiple, back-to-back years, Orseno had the respect of the Board and unions to deploy Plan B–to successfully re-hab bi-levels and motive power to extend their life. Ben Heineman would have certainly approved of Mr. Orseno.
they wanted to do something nice and historical? Should have used Rock Island red, silver and black, these are TRUE Rock Island colors!
Simply beautiful. How about one honoring each of the pre-Metra Chicago commuter roads?
Joseph, I fondly remember The Rock!
I might have changed the striping a bit to make it look a bit more like a Rock Island E unit in the red/yellow “speed lettering” scheme, but keep in mind first and foremost it’s a richly-deserved tribute to Don Orseno, a railroader’s railroader. Men like him are becoming few and far between.
It should be the new scheme for the entire fleet!
I like it.
Why is that when they paint anything in an old paint scheme it looks better than the contemporary paint scheme of today?! There is a lesson here!
WOW! Just in time for Christmas too; one neat heritage paint job. Thanks Metra. Remember the Rock!
Nicely done!!!
I agree with Jim Norton. The new liveries look like the came from large RVs.
Too bad it doesn’t actually say “Rock Island”!
A pretty slick livery!