This section of the Proto-Freelance Modelers Special Interest Group (P-FMSIG) area is for paint schemes that are still in development. In addition to viewing the paint scheme options, you will have the opportunity to send your opinion regarding the paint scheme directly to the owner of the railroad for his/her consideration.

Railroads with equipment in the testing area:

• Mohawk & Hudson
• Lehigh & New England

• Caboose test scheme #1 (green)
• Caboose test scheme #2 (dark red)
• Caboose test scheme #3 (medium red)

I have developed five versions which I submit here in the hope that list members might comment as to how they see the priorities and possibly clashes of compatibility with loco and appearance of the cars themselves. Each version has two drawings, one with train name for exclusively assigned cars, the other without train name for general service. To save time in this preliminary survey stage of effort, I've just used the drawing of the Budd smooth slab sided coach, regardless of the "type of car" lettering, which is there only to illustrate how that info is proposed to be placed. All versions are basically black, most with white stripes, and it is in the particulars of the striping where they differ.

I have generally decided upon the railroad identification to be the LNE "fried egg" logo on the car side under the windows near the entrance door, the train name, if any, to be on the letterboard over the windows, the car type on the letterboard over the windows near the entrance door, the car number on the letterboard over the windows at the non-vestibule end of the car, and other affiliation of the car (eg Pullman, or owned by other railroad), if any, on the car side under the windows at the non-vestibule end of the car.

The pictures below show these standard locations very obviously, in various possible combinations in order to get an eye view of how it all looks. The specific names of trains, cars, car types, car numbers, and other affiliations as shown in the pictures are purely notional without significance, there only to illustrate position and appearance. The type and location (or lack of) of striping is the main issue of uncertainty to me. I have my preferences, but still would like feedback from others before settling in on a scheme. (I reserve the right to make my own decision following getting feedback!).

While I haven't drawn it, what would people think of reducing the size and shifting the logo from below the windows to the window panel next to the entrance door, superimposed on whatever striping is used, somewhat similar to the original LNE's final FA1 scheme, the single broad "cigar band" stripe around the front of the nose?

Proposed paint schemes are as follows:

1. Cars 1101 (general service) and 1102 (train-specific) are the most compatible with the solid stripe as it leaves the rear of the A or B diesel loco units. Carrying the broad solid stripe at loco-level the full length of the car. This stripe fills only the lower part of the window panel, leaving a broad black stripe effect on the upper half of the window panel below the upper narrow white stripe, leaving both broad stripes, white and black, somewhat fragmented by the windows.
2. Cars 1103 (general service) and 1104 (train-specific)leave the solid broad white stripe at the ends for end-of-loco stripe compatibility, but in between tries to soften the broken effect due to windows which seems to be more pronounced for the broad stripe, by echoing the triple thin white stripes on the nose of the diesel A-units in the lower half of the window panel between the extreme end windows.
3. Cars 1105 (general service) and 1106 (train-specific) take 1003 and 1004 and use the narrow stripes full length of the car, replacing the broad solid white stripes at the ends. This may require that the LNE traditional FA1 scheme be modified in passenger locos like the PA or E unit to switch from broad solid white stripe back to echo the narrow stripes of the nose at the rear of the A-unit and at both ends of the B-unit in order to present continuity. Or, alternately, it may mandate running A's back-to-back to keep the narrow (but curved on loco) stripes related to narrow stripes on car ends. This would be an operational rostering restriction. Or, would a broad stripe on the loco leading to narrow stripes on the car still be acceptable?
4. Cars 1107 (general service) and 1108 (train-specific) give up on the idea of matching locomotive stripe width and height and placement, and do it the traditional way, solid contrasting white full window band on a solid black body. Looks good and simple on cars by themselves, but not compatible with locos... unless... passenger loco solid stripe at rear of A-units and at ends of B-units do a NYC-style upward lightning bolt to combine with the upper narrow white stripe, broaden the total stripe to window panel width and height position.
5. Cars 1109 (general service) and 1110 (train-specific) go the very simple all solid black with no striping. Compatibility with loco no longer an issue, or is it?

Also, I'd like your opinion on the following: How important is loco/passenger car compatibility, and the ability not to have to change the traditional scheme which will be kept on freight locos (like the lightning bolt suggestion for 1107 and 1108)?

I hope you didn't mind the long text of the history or on the paint schemes, but I felt it was necessary to have that degree of understanding of what the "new" LNE was all about in order to properly appreciate and assess the suggested paint schemes. Please share your thoughts.

To register your opinion with the owner of the LNE, fill out and submit the form below. Note that the form does not send an acknowledgement.

Joshua Moldover, Webmaster