Sargento Scheme

[John]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=262602
http://www.fuzzyworld3.com/railroad/wsor2/f503194b.html
http://www.k9mq.com/showPicture.aspx?id=1438957
http://thundertrain.org/wsorBoxcar022609.html
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=940334

so, the sargento box car started out life as a regular boxcar red ..  it's unlikely they would have stripped it to bare metal . I vote for a gray

[bbussey]

[Teditor]

Anyone know the reason for the name being removed?

[Missaberoad]

Anyone know the reason for the name being removed?

There's an old ICC Regulation banning Advertising on common carrier freight cars, (ICC) regulation #201) this is the rule that brought an end to the Billboard reefer era in 1934.
Since this is a regular Wisconsin Southern Boxcar, I imagine it is to stay in compliance...

[Teditor]

I was aware of the old ICC regulation, but as this is a modern boxcar, my thoughts were how/why was it done as it was in the first place.

Isn't WC the one that has/had the Model Railroader Boxcar, one would think the same rule would apply.

[Missaberoad]

The Car was painted for a Christmas/Santa Train that Sargento was a sponser of.  It was shortly after that it was painted out...

As for the MR cars, WC (1) and WSOR (2) both had cars with MR anniversary logos, 60, 70 & 75 years respectively.
Since MR isn't a rail shipper and isn't likely to be competition to one I imagine it isn't a violation.

[JanesCustomTrain]

Does the same rule apply for engines as well ? Imagine the money the model train industry could make with all the engine models wearing different advertiser color schemes instead of boring yellow / grey (no intention, just a randomly chosen example). 

Jane

[engineshop]

Why would the ICC ban ads? Who could be distracted by those billboards? In Europe, especially Switzerland it is a great source of additional revenue.

[Kisatchie]

Why would the ICC ban ads? Who could be distracted by those billboards?...

They considered it unfair competition, in that a car with "Miller Beer" on the side might carry a load of Schlitz beer, thus advertising for the competition.


Hmm... I bet Kiz just
made that up...

[Bob Bufkin]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=262602
http://www.fuzzyworld3.com/railroad/wsor2/f503194b.html
http://www.k9mq.com/showPicture.aspx?id=1438957
http://thundertrain.org/wsorBoxcar022609.html
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=940334

so, the sargento box car started out life as a regular boxcar red ..  it's unlikely they would have stripped it to bare metal . I vote for a gray

But John, don't you realize there are 50 shades of gray?

[johnb]

But John, don't you realize there are 50 shades of gray?

There are only three shades of gray.
Southern Pacific Dark Lark Gray
Southern Pacific Light Lark Gray
Southern Pacific Lettering Gray

The rest are weathered

[Missaberoad]

Why would the ICC ban ads? Who could be distracted by those billboards? In Europe, especially Switzerland it is a great source of additional revenue.

In addition to the point Kiz made about Shippers being upset that they are provided with a car covered in their competitors advertising, there was also concerns about freight cars being covered with all sorts of unnecessary lettering making it hard to see the important data... (reporting marks, weight etc...)

[Teditor]

In addition to the point Kiz made about Shippers being upset that they are provided with a car covered in their competitors advertising, there was also concerns about freight cars being covered with all sorts of unnecessary lettering making it hard to see the important data... (reporting marks, weight etc...)

These days that's called Graffiti, the people that apply it don't seem to recognize any rules, methinks professional advertising would be far better, could be extra revenue as opposed to the cost of removing the other 'stuff!'.

[peteski]

These days that's called Graffiti, the people that apply it don't seem to recognize any rules, methinks professional advertising would be far better, could be extra revenue as opposed to the cost of removing the other 'stuff!'.

I think that this ship has sailed.

Even if there was professional advertising on contemporary railroad cars, it would quickly get covered with the "unauthorized art" which would still have to get painted over.   And it is easier to paint over the graffiti using simply whatever color the car is painted than it would be to try to re-do the advertisements.

[Bob Bufkin]

Don't need paint.  Shrink wrap.  That stuff is on lots of subway and transit cars nowadays.