Amtrak America - new LD train branding

[Amtrak172]

As a graphic designer...

I prefer the current Travelscape logo over the older Chevron logo. Namely as it's a very over-used style from the era. As for paint schemes, I like the phase Vb paint scheme currently being used on the P42s, however I dislike that it doesn't carry accross to the cars, that being said I'm not certian how one would impliment that. Personally if I were coming up with a new paint scheme & logo for this "Amtrak America" branding I would look forward & come up with something new and different, rather then revamping an old design.

The logo for Amtrak America is hideous, it looks to me like something a secertary did in MS Word, rather then something a Graphic Designer would have done; even operating under the restrictions of re-using the older Chevron logo.

peter

Is it possible for AMTZ (Amtrak Trainz Group) for you to come out with amfleet II coaches and cafés in phase IVb as well as amfleet I cafés?

 

[PerRock]

As a graphic designer...

I prefer the current Travelscape logo over the older Chevron logo. Namely as it's a very over-used style from the era. As for paint schemes, I like the phase Vb paint scheme currently being used on the P42s, however I dislike that it doesn't carry accross to the cars, that being said I'm not certian how one would impliment that. Personally if I were coming up with a new paint scheme & logo for this "Amtrak America" branding I would look forward & come up with something new and different, rather then revamping an old design.

The logo for Amtrak America is hideous, it looks to me like something a secertary did in MS Word, rather then something a Graphic Designer would have done; even operating under the restrictions of re-using the older Chevron logo.

peter

Is it possible for AMTZ (Amtrak Trainz Group) for you to come out with amfleet II coaches and cafés in phase IVb as well as amfleet I cafés?

I don't modeling (ok I'm learning) so I'm restricted to the meshes currently available. Of which there are 3: Magiclands (which are outdated & don't work in newer versions), Connyxy's which can't be redistributed, and Jefff944's which only has the one coach. I hold the rights to Jefff944s, so they're the ones I use.

peter

 

[Amtrak172]

As a graphic designer...

I prefer the current Travelscape logo over the older Chevron logo. Namely as it's a very over-used style from the era. As for paint schemes, I like the phase Vb paint scheme currently being used on the P42s, however I dislike that it doesn't carry accross to the cars, that being said I'm not certian how one would impliment that. Personally if I were coming up with a new paint scheme & logo for this "Amtrak America" branding I would look forward & come up with something new and different, rather then revamping an old design.

The logo for Amtrak America is hideous, it looks to me like something a secertary did in MS Word, rather then something a Graphic Designer would have done; even operating under the restrictions of re-using the older Chevron logo.

peter

Is it possible for AMTZ (Amtrak Trainz Group) for you to come out with amfleet II coaches and cafés in phase IVb as well as amfleet I cafés?

I don't modeling (ok I'm learning) so I'm restricted to the meshes currently available. Of which there are 3: Magiclands (which are outdated & don't work in newer versions), Connyxy's which can't be redistributed, and Jefff944's which only has the one coach. I hold the rights to Jefff944s, so they're the ones I use.

peter

The ones from Connyxy and Jefff944 amfleet II phase IVb? Where can I download them?

Amtrak172

 

[Amtrak172]

I don't known if anyone brought this up in the past but, I just recently noticed that the blue stripe on the new Viewliner II's is different than the blue stripe on the original phase III. The current Amtrak blue is the same shade of blue as the blue stripe on phase III. The blue stripe on the new Viewliner II's is a different shade of blue. Please forgive me if somebody brought this up in the past.

Amtrak172

 

[seat38a]

"AMTRAK" already is a combination of America and Trak (Play on Track) and now they are going to add "america" to the name a second time.

 

[Peter KG6LSE]

gahh it's like ATM machine or PIN Number ......... * fail *

 

[jphjaxfl]

Railroad Passenger Equipment colors were lots more interesting before Amtrak. When I was a kid, in the 1950s and 1960s, it was so interesting to arrive at a large gateway station like St. Louis or Cincinnati and see all the colors of the various passenger cars. Railroads often borrowed cars from other Railroads. I remember seeing a New Haven Car in St. Louis. Quite frankly, the Amtrak paint schemes have boaring from the beginning, but I understand the need to standardize. Airline paint schemes have become boarding too.

 

[user 1215]

As opposed to Amtrak Mexico. Will Amtrak America serve Canada?

 

[jis]

No. No Amtrak LD train serves Canada.

Sent from my iPhone using Amtrak Forum

 

[seat38a]

As opposed to Amtrak Mexico. Will Amtrak America serve Canada?

Nope, just "Amtrak New York" and Amtrak Cascades.

 

[Big Iron]

So one does need to broaden ones horizon beyond just thinking everyone older grew up when Phase III was in vogue.

And some of us are too young to ever remember seeing Phase III (except in its modern reincarnation). Phase IV for the win!

This is a sweet looking railcar:

My favorite iteration of paint schemes, on the locomotives as well. Silver trucks all the way around would look even better

 

[Big Iron]

Railroad Passenger Equipment colors were lots more interesting before Amtrak. When I was a kid, in the 1950s and 1960s, it was so interesting to arrive at a large gateway station like St. Louis or Cincinnati and see all the colors of the various passenger cars. Railroads often borrowed cars from other Railroads. I remember seeing a New Haven Car in St. Louis. Quite frankly, the Amtrak paint schemes have boaring from the beginning, but I understand the need to standardize. Airline paint schemes have become boarding too.

Agreed. I was 11 on A Day and got to enjoy the varied liveries of the day at WAS, CUS, LaSalle Street, CNW, and B & O Grand Central stations. I enjoyed the rainbow era as I got to see and ride in cars that an East Coaster normally did not get to see.

 

[neroden]

"Amtrak National" would probably sound less dopey than "Amtrak America", but Amtrak America is tolerable.

 

[PerRock]

So something I've been thinking about for some time now (and apparently some other graphic designers like me as well) is really what should be next for Amtrak in the way of branding. Personally I like the idea behind "Amtrak America" however I'm not to wild on the term they chose. Anyways, I while back I started a branding exercise to try and come up with the next look for Amtrak. I'm calling it Phase VI; and the idea is that it is a progression from the current Phase IVb/V paint schemes.

Part of the project is also restructure the corridor branding that Amtrak currently has, eliminating a lot of the single train brands (the names are still there, but the specially painted cars and such aren't) and incorporated them into a few new services.

As for exterior paint schemes, I chose to continue for phase IVb primarily, and while I recognize that there is a lot of love for III, I feel like adapting IVb is a better idea as it is looking forward rather then back. However I have looked back to the previous schemes as well as to some elements from before Amtrak. For instance the Superliner Cars get their large "Superliner" back on the sides, but in a style reminiscent of the old stainless steel cars from ATSF.

Anyways I'm more of a visual person then a written person, so here is version 1 of a branding guidelines document I put together, it shows most of what I have done so far & explains some of what & how.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwoszLS0nWxPdXI0TXp5LWdYZ0U/edit?usp=sharing

If you want to keep up to date on my project I'll post somewhat regular updated on my project thread on Amtrak Train Group, located here:

http://s4.zetaboards.com/amtkz/topic/10117363/1/#new

As a teaser, I've posted over there a picture of my new Sightseer Lounge, which I'm very proud of how it came out!

peter

 

[neroden]

I actually suspect that part of the purpose of the "Amtrak America" paint scheme is to prevent confused passengers at Penn Station NY from getting onto Silver Service trains. If "Amtrak America" has one livery and "Amtrak Regional" has a different livery it may help some confused people avoid getting on the wrong train.

Though I really would have gone with "Amtrak National".

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

PerRock. Pete love the NY empire route logo. Of course I am from NY, so I might not be a good judge.

Spell check Empire you mix up the order of the letters. Still good work.

 

[Amtrak172]

Can someone just bring me up to speed just incase you guys had already talked about this. I was in Philly yesterday and was railfanning the parking garage over Race Street Yard and noticed that the 10021 "Pacific Cape" is now painted in Phase III. It used to be Phase IVb, and from what I've been hearing, the Cape came in to the yard yesterday for its first time back from Beach Grove. The 10001 "Beach Grove" is also now in Phase III. Does anyone know what Amtrak's plans are with the Phase III paint scheme and what cars will get it? Besides the Viewliners and some of the Amfleet II's. Thanks guys