You're using a singular definition of Heritage. Heritage encompasses everything makes us what we are from a biological and social standpoint. While I certainly understand your desires even though I don't share them, It would be incorrect to say that they are not heritage paint schemes. They are schemes that celebrate the companies that UP gobbled up to become what it is. It is a nod to their past. My Hazel eyes are a nod to my heritage even if I don't look much like my father or mother in other respects. They are, in a sense, what if schemes. Again, there's nothing right or wrong with disliking the schemes in question, but to say they aren't "Heritage" schemes is to ignore the full definition of heritage. And Frankly, I don't think they're particularly utilitarian in design, the WP unit in particular, I think it adopts the design trends of today, the straight lines and such while using the colors and concepts of the past. I think it looks sharp. In the case of the Katy and MP, well, in both cases, the old paint schemes weren't exactly the second comming of the Warbonnet. I mean, if they painted it nothing but Jenks blue, people would think it was an EMD leaser.
Kind of like that over half a century old scheme of Armor Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray. :teeth: Sorry, I couldn't resist. At least UP put the old railroad logos on the new painted engines.
No need to resist. Of course, even they've done some tweaking what with the lightening bolt and the red reflective stripe.
Having some background in historical research, and preservation, I'm quite aware of the definition choice made. It was deliberate. And accurate. The fit is excellent. We're talking only in the narrow sense about their specific past historical paint schemes. It's their use of "Heritage" that is skewed. Via their nebulous hint at past company names, that somehow this brand new, yet completely disconnected paint is "Heritage." It is not. Boxcab E50
But it isn't completely disconnected. It uses the same color chips, the logos, the fonts are the same. As a counter example, BNSF calls their paint schemes Heritage 1 and Heritage 2. Neither is an exact duplicate of the GN scheme or any other scheme, so clearly there is a definition that these two companies have that doesn't mesh with yours. They are not historical paint schemes, but they are certainly representing UP's Heritage. And I'll say it again, the WP unit looks good, I'd take that scheme over Borg yellow and gray any day.
This discussion could certainly go on and on as I've seen elsewhere. Some like the paint schemes, some don't. Some call it "Heritage", some don't. Like em or not, at least they are something different to take pics of and we got some more on the way. Perhaps soon. We'll just have to wait and see how they turn out.
Ok, as moderator of this forum, I'm going to go ahead and lock this thread. Any future news or sightings, please feel free to start a whole new thread. Thanks guys.