It is now the year of AD 2023, and it's going to be a big year for Amtrak. It's gotten me thinking about the new ALC-42 locomotives that are going to become more common on the rails. They started off by wearing a very nice paint scheme that is known as Phase VI (6). Originally, Phase 6 was only used for passenger cars. That classic silver with the red, white, and blue stripes? That was Phase VI. But from what I've seen, only NINE locomotives have been given the fancy Phase VI scheme. The brand new ALC-42 locomotives were shipped with the new paint scheme, but only #300 and #302-308 have the Phase VI scheme (301 is an exception as it has a special "Day One" paint scheme). There was also one P42, #108, to wear Phase VI as a special 50th anniversary scheme. Here are reference photos of how these locomotives look like in the really nice Phase VI paint scheme. Quite a beautiful paint scheme if you ask me! It's nice and simple, and fits very nicely on the ALC-42 especially, with the nice touch of a chevron at the back. Despite it being referred to as Phase VI, it is very different from what the passenger cars look like. Only eight of the new charger locomotives get this fancy solid blue design with the red front. The large majority of these ALC-42s will be wearing a brand new Phase VII paint scheme. Here's what that looks like: I'm a fan of the design, with the white stripes and different shades of blue. It's all neat stuff. But why so soon after Phase VI? The ALC-42 is the only locomotive to wear Phase VI (with the exception of Amtrak 108), and those things are really new! It seems very strange to go into Phase 7 so quickly. Really, I'm just here to ask, why did Phase 6 get replaced so quickly?
I get you’re taking a swing at Amtrak, but I don’t fully get how a new paint scheme would affect taxes in any way, since these aren’t repaints, but rather how they’re painted fresh out of the factory.
The waste isn't in the actual painting, but in the money thrown at designers/artists and market strategists etc. What might look simply like a slight change in colour and a different line here and there could end up costing millions of dollars before a single brush is dipped in paint, not to mention changing advertising/signage etc.
Let me guess this is due to the designers being paid to get the latest paint colors for Amtrak. ALE 42s with the Americanised Railjet ÖBB cabcar should be in Phase VI 2021 paint as seen on the concept art rather than Phase VII. If added in game ALC-42 will need three paints. 300 302-308 Phase VI 309 and up Phase VII Day One 301.
