Metro-North's First Heritage Unit. Tuesday, May 23, 2023, marked the first day of revenue service for MTA Metro-North Railroad MNCW 208 (P32AC-DM, Beachball Paint Scheme, 40th Anniversary) since it was repainted. A week prior, it was released from railroad’s North White Plains shop in a commemorative “beachball” paint scheme heritage wrap in honor of its 40th anniversary. This paint scheme was used on the FL9s as well as still being present on some west of Hudson equipment. The day began with the engine facing geographic south, highly unusual for Metro-North Service. Railroad executives had photo sessions with the locomotive at both Croton Harmon and Grand Central. The engine was then returned to its normal geographic north facing position as it made its afternoon trips. MTA Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi recently announced that there would be 5 wraps honoring predecessor railroads, to include New York Central, Penn Central, and Conrail. The train is seen approaching the Bear Mountain Bridge in the evening as it returns to Grand Central Terminal.
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
