Shortline Sammie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wsabo Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Howard since you seem to know people at SCMB I
> > wonder if you can ask them about plans to
> repaint
> > the engine.
> > I understand that a paint job is very expensive
> > and priority would go to keeping the engine in
> > good working order and properly maintaining the
> > right away to avoid derailments.
> > However a company's public image is priceless.
> > A lot of people see an engine covered in
> graffiti
> > as a blight or public nusiance and they might
> > assume that the company is poorly run or
> doesn't
> > care about it's property.
> > Iowa Pacific/SCMB badly needs to restore its
> image
> > in the community.
> > The problems with not paying employees and
> other
> > negative issues won't go away with a coat of
> new
> > paint.
> > Having a nicely painted engine also won't make
> all
> > the oposition to use of the line go away but it
> is
> > something that needs to be done soon.
>
> A decent paint job on the 89 would run $20,000 to
> $25,000...don't think Mr. Ellis image would
> improve much with shiny paint on a locomotive when
> he owes as much to as many people as I understand
> he does.
>
> Dick Samuels

Yup.

Reminds me of what a UP Mechanical Department guy told me after they stopped painting locomotive and freight car trucks silver. "Nobody gives a rat's ass except the train buffs."