NE933
Conductor
Starting with the new rolling stock on order (ACS locomotives and Viewliner II cars), drop the dark teal and use a deep indigo. It's brighter, more cheerful yet still professional in appearance.
Change the candy apple red with something a tad more crimson. It keeps the bright accent like a well dressed man, and solidifies the conveyance of power and solidness amongst adversity.
As for the white, use it minimally. White is white, and most (incl. me) want the colors of the flag to have ties into Amtrak's appearance.
Now for the design, or shape. Loose the "Shamu" scheme; I love the Sea World whale, but this scheme has been in use since 2000 and for me, it evokes lots of bad memories with 9/11, finance and budget meltdowns that almost ended the railroad, as well as personal setbacks. As an opinion that I can offer: trains designs that are multicolored look great with the smart use of a linear arrangement, with perhaps some embellishments such as the 'Acela blob' to offset the severeness of all lines and pinstripes with softer shapes that don't resemble polka dots.
The exact shape and placement of these lines will need to fall under the work of a good designer that will dress up the new rolling stock, then the older ones as they get cycled, in such a way so that the trains don't seem so dour and drab. The present Acela blob thing is silly, admitted, but it's far more cheerful than it's Superliner and Amfleet counterparts. Keep the blobs in much smaller form and use lines to accentuate the high speed; the lines can morph from the main 'blob' on the locomotives, since they are intended to connote the swooshing air when the trains do their thing. Main blob is great, the other ones so randomly thrown in need to be miniturized.
Anyone care to use their computer pens to have a little constructive fun with some ideas?!
Change the candy apple red with something a tad more crimson. It keeps the bright accent like a well dressed man, and solidifies the conveyance of power and solidness amongst adversity.
As for the white, use it minimally. White is white, and most (incl. me) want the colors of the flag to have ties into Amtrak's appearance.
Now for the design, or shape. Loose the "Shamu" scheme; I love the Sea World whale, but this scheme has been in use since 2000 and for me, it evokes lots of bad memories with 9/11, finance and budget meltdowns that almost ended the railroad, as well as personal setbacks. As an opinion that I can offer: trains designs that are multicolored look great with the smart use of a linear arrangement, with perhaps some embellishments such as the 'Acela blob' to offset the severeness of all lines and pinstripes with softer shapes that don't resemble polka dots.
The exact shape and placement of these lines will need to fall under the work of a good designer that will dress up the new rolling stock, then the older ones as they get cycled, in such a way so that the trains don't seem so dour and drab. The present Acela blob thing is silly, admitted, but it's far more cheerful than it's Superliner and Amfleet counterparts. Keep the blobs in much smaller form and use lines to accentuate the high speed; the lines can morph from the main 'blob' on the locomotives, since they are intended to connote the swooshing air when the trains do their thing. Main blob is great, the other ones so randomly thrown in need to be miniturized.
Anyone care to use their computer pens to have a little constructive fun with some ideas?!