Videos & Photos Photos MR&T blue diesel locomotives roster in HO scale

MR&T blue diesel locomotives roster in HO scale

By Cody Grivno | June 15, 2022

Meet Milwaukee, Racine & Troy locomotives of the Amtrak Blue era (1979 to 1988)

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MR&T blue diesel locomotives

MR&T blue diesel locomotives: Photo of five HO scale diesel locomotives on white background
 Photo of blue switcher and brown gondolas passing mine on hillside.
End-cab switcher and slug set painted blue with white graphics.
MR&T blue diesel locomotives: High-hood six-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics
HO scale cab unit painted blue with white graphics.
Photo of four-axle road unit switching cars on HO scale layout.
HO scale four-axle road unit with high short hood painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
Black-and-white photo of six HO scale locomotives.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
MR&T blue diesel locomotives: Photo of five HO scale diesel locomotives on white background
 Photo of blue switcher and brown gondolas passing mine on hillside.
End-cab switcher and slug set painted blue with white graphics.
MR&T blue diesel locomotives: High-hood six-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics
HO scale cab unit painted blue with white graphics.
Photo of four-axle road unit switching cars on HO scale layout.
HO scale four-axle road unit with high short hood painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
Black-and-white photo of six HO scale locomotives.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
HO scale four-axle road unit painted blue with white graphics.
This photo shows how Jim Hediger’s Amtrak Blue MR&T paint scheme looked on different Electro-Motive Division locomotives. The lettering fit neatly on a variety of diesels, from end-cab switchers to six-axle road units. Bill Zuback photo

MR&T blue diesel locomotives: The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, Model Railroader’s HO scale staff layout, has been around for more than 45 years. Similar to many full-size railroads, the freelanced MR&T changed paint schemes on its diesel locomotives over the years. The railroad’s first paint scheme, Amtrak Blue, was used from 1979 to 1988.

The excerpt below from Milwaukee, Racine & Troy: The inside story of Model Railroader’s club layout discusses the Amtrak Blue paint scheme:

“Jim Hediger designed the MR&T’s first paint scheme. He used Floquil Amtrak Blue for the body and Reefer White for the side sills, steps edges, and grab irons. The decals were originally produced by Herald King (Miller Advertising). Later sets were manufactured by Rail Graphics.”

Hediger wrote about the first half-dozen Electro-Motive Division GP40s he painted for the MR&T in the June 1979 MR: “The paint job that was used is a combination of prototype practices. It is deliberately kept simple, like most recent new locomotives. A real engine like this could be painted without any masking, since the graphics would be done with adhesive-backed plastic film materials that are applied to the primer and painted over. Once the paint dries, the attached masking sheet over the graphics is peeled away to leave the marking embedded in the paint.”

One thought on “MR&T blue diesel locomotives roster in HO scale

  1. Wow, Cary Locomotive Works. That brings back some memories. They made some great castings of E Units too. Now these classics need to be upgraded to DCC Sound.

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