HLCX Blue

[U-Haul]

What shade of blue is HLCX using on its locomotives?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=101941
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=294355
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94123
STAR TREK 40TH ANNIVERSARY

[Phil Hom]

Looks like the same shade of blue I see on the vehicles around where I work. It's US Air Force motor vehicle "Strata Blue".

[MEC407]

Those units were painted at CSX's Huntington Shop, so it's probably a safe bet that it's the same blue CSX is currently using on their own units.

[trainiac]

Those units were painted at CSX's Huntington Shop, so it's probably a safe bet that it's the same blue CSX is currently using on their own units.

If you ask me, the HLCX blue looks more greenish-gray than the current CSX blue. Of course, the best way to know would be to see the two side-by-side!

[U-Haul]

Well trainiac, here is your photo.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=129269
STAR TREK 40TH ANNIVERSARY

[MEC407]

Well trainiac, here is your photo.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=129269
STAR TREK 40TH ANNIVERSARY

The HLCX unit looks slightly lighter than the CSX unit; however, we don't know how new (or clean) the paint on each unit is in comparison to each other, and that can make a big difference. There are other factors as well -- such as whether or not the unit was sandblasted and primed before being painted. Some railroads do this, some railroads don't. The same paint might look lighter or darker depending on whether or not there is primer underneath, and what color the primer is.

I guess your best bet would be to find somebody who works at the Huntington shop and ask him or her whether it's the same paint or not. I think it most likely is the same, but obviously I have no concrete proof of that.