Union Pacific Railroad's latest locomotive paint scheme has, in my opinion (and I know you all care about my opinion!), one major flaw: The railroad has decided to eliminate the elegant "Winged Medallion" nose logo, reintroduced in May 2000, and instead now uses the corporation's standard medallion. While I am pleased to say goodbye to the large American flag on the locomotives' long hood (I personally find it tacky to use the American flag as a corporate symbol), and I am not thrilled to see the lightning stripe disappear, switching away from the classic "Winged Medallion" on the locomotives' noses is not an improvement, as it not only looked great but was also a nice throwback to the classic styling found on UP's passenger locomotives in the 1940s up until the beginning of Amtrak in 1971. With it no longer in use, the railroad has lost a stylish tie to its past. And the noses no longer have any pizazz to them. With BNSF having done away with the colorful red and silver Santa Fe "Warbonnet" scheme (dubbed "Superfleet" upon its return), the UP was to be applauded for keeping the retro-flame alive. And I am not eager to see what replaced the Kansas City Southern's "Retro Belle" paint scheme once the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger is approved. Why can we no longer have nice things? (Anaheim, California – February 5, 2023)
