User:Intelati/Warbonnet

Santa Fe #681 in Sealy Texas, June 2001

The Warbonnet paint scheme, designed by Leland Knickerbocker, was used by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway railroad. First applied to the Super Chief in 1937, it was used exclusively on the passenger Diesel locomotives. When passenger service ended on the AT&SF with the establishment of Amtrak in 1971, the Warbonnet scheme disappeared from the line for almost 20 years. From 1989 to the merger with Burlington Northern, ATSF used the Warbonnet on all new locomotives. After the merger, the Warbonnet was continued with "BNSF" replacing "Santa Fe".

Early Years

During the passenger years, ATSF used the paint scheme for its passenger locomotives. In a little over a year, the EMC E1 (a new and improved streamlined locomotive) would be pulling the Super Chief and other passenger consists, resplendent in the now-famous Warbonnet paint scheme devised by Leland Knickerbocker of the GM Art and Color Section. Its design is protected under U.S. patent D106,920, granted on November 9, 1937. It is reminiscent of a Native American ceremonial headdress. The scheme consisted of a red "bonnet" which wrapped around the front of the unit and was bordered by a yellow stripe and black pinstripe. The extent of the bonnet varied according to the locomotive model, and was largely determined by the shape and length of the carbody. The remainder of the unit was either painted silver or was composed of stainless-steel panels.

All units wore a nose emblem consisting of an elongated yellow "Circle and Cross" emblem with integral "tabs" on the nose and the sides, outlined and accented with black pinstripes, with variances according to the locomotive model. "SANTA FE" was displayed on the horizontal limb of the cross in black, Art Deco-style lettering. This emblem has come to be known as the "cigar band" due to its resemblance to the same. On all but the "Erie-built" units (which were essentially run as a demonstrator set), U28CGs, U30CGs, and FP45s, a three-part yellow and black stripe ran up the nose behind the band.

[[:File:ATSF 358 GE U28CG San Diego CA 1968.jpg|thumb|150px|A GE U28CG displays a variation in the standard Warbonnet passenger scheme. Note that the "Santa Fe" logotype is displayed in large, red "billboard"-style letters and the lack of yellow and black striping.]] A "Circle and Cross" motif (consisting of a yellow field, with red quadrants, outlined in black) was painted around the side windows on "as-delivered" E1 units. Similar designs were added to E3s, E6s, the DL109/110 locomotive set, and ATSF 1A after it was rebuilt and repainted. The sides of the units typically bore the words "SANTA FE" in black, 5"– or 9"–high extra extended Railroad Roman letters, as well as the "Indian Head" logo , with a few notable exceptions.

Railway identity on diesel locomotives in passenger service:

Locomotive Type	"Indian Head"	"Circle and Cross"	"Santa Fe"	Logotype	Starting Year	Comments
ATSF 1	Yes	Yes*	Yes	No	1937	"Circle and Cross" added to No. 1 after rebuild in May 1938
EMC E1, E3, & E6	Yes*	Yes	Yes	No	1937	"Indian Head" added to B units at a later date
ALCO DL109/110	Yes*	Yes	Yes	No	1941	No "Indian Head" on B unit
EMD FT	Yes*	No	Yes	No	1945	"Indian Head" added to B units at a later date
ALCO PA / PB	Yes*	No	Yes	No	1946	"Indian Head" added to B units at a later date
EMD F3	Yes*	No	Yes	No	1946	"Indian Head" on B units only
FM Erie-built	Yes*	No	Yes*	No	1947	"Indian Head" and "SANTA FE" on A units only
EMD F7	Yes*	No	Yes*	No	1949	"Indian Head" on B units only; "SANTA FE" added in 1954
EMD E8	Yes*	No	Yes	No	1952	"Indian Head" on B units only
GE U28CG	No	No	No	Yes	1966	"Santa Fe" logotype in large, red "billboard"-style letters
GE U30CG	No	No	Yes*	No	1967	5"–high non-extended "SANTA FE" letters
EMD FP45	No	No	Yes*	No	1967	9"–high "SANTA FE" letters

In later years, Santa Fe adapted the scheme to its gas-electric "doodlebug" units . The standard for all of Santa Fe's passenger locomotives, the Warbonnet is considered by many to be the most recognized corporate logo in the railroad industry. Early in the Amtrak Era, Santa Fe embarked on a program to paint over the red bonnet on its F units that were still engaged in hauling passenger consists with yellow (also called Yellowbonnets) or dark blue (nicknamed Bluebonnets), as it no longer wanted to project the image of a passenger carrier.

Resurrection and "Super Fleet"

In June, 1989, Santa Fe resurrected the Warbonnet and applied the scheme in a modified fashion to two EMD FP45 units, #5992 and #5998 (this time, displaying "Santa Fe" in large, "billboard"-style red letters across the side). The units were re-designated as #101 and #102 and reentered service on July 4, 1989 as part of the new "Super Fleet" (the first Santa Fe units to be so decorated for freight service). The six remaining FP45 units were thereafter similarly repainted and renumbered. From that point forward, all new locomotives wore red and silver, and many retained this scheme after the Burlington Northern Santa Fe merger: some with "BNSF" displayed across their sides.

For the initial deliveries of factory-new "Super Fleet" equipment, the Santa Fe took delivery of the EMD GP60M, GP60B and General Electric B40-8W, which made the Santa Fe the only US Class I railroad to operate new 4-axle (B-B) freight locomotives equipped with the North American Safety Cab. These units were intended for high-speed intermodal service, but, toward the final days of the Santa Fe, could be found working local trains and branchline assignments.

Yellowbonnet

ATSF's Yellow bonnet paint scheme

From 1972 to 1996, and even on into the BNSF era, the company adopted a new paint scheme often known among railfans as the Yellowbonnet, which placed more yellow on the locomotives (reminiscent of the company's retired Warbonnet scheme); the goal again was to ensure higher visibility at grade crossings. The truck assemblies, previously colored black, now received silver paint.

Experimental paint schemes

Several experimental and commemorative paint schemes emerged during the Santa Fe's diesel era. One combination was developed and partially implemented in anticipation of a merger between the parent companies of the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific (SP) railroads in 1984. The red, yellow, and black paint scheme (with large red block letters "SF" on the sides and ends of the units) of the proposed Southern Pacific Santa Fe Railroad (SPSF) has come to be somewhat derisively known among railfans as the Kodachrome livery, due to the similarity in colors to the boxes containing slide film sold by the Eastman Kodak Company under the same name (Kodachrome film was one of the preferred brands in use by railfans). A common joke among railfans is that "SPSF" really stands for "Shouldn't Paint So Fast." Though the merger application was subsequently denied by the ICC, locomotives bearing this color scheme can still be found occasionally in lease service.

External Links

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