posted
When the new logo came out I didn't think it was worth the trouble and expense. However, over time it has grown on me, and I now prefer it. The old one looks dated to me. It reminds me of the dark era in the '70s when every company under the sun was remaking their logos into simple bold lines and primary colors. (Many of those companies have since reverted to their original logos, or something close to it.)
The reductio ad absurdum of this practice was NBC's red and blue split rectangle that sorta looked an N if you looked at it just right. NBC spent millions developing the new logo, only to discover that some regional public TV station came up with the exact same logo for a few hundred dollars. NBC then had to buy out the rights to it. But I digress...
The new Amtrak logo still relies on bold lines, but at least it has some visual depth to it. But given that changing a logo requires considerable expense with new signs, letterhead, and everything else (many of which have yet to be changed), it really wasn't worth the trouble. But I must say it does look good on the side of a Phase IV Genesis locomotive.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
posted
I agree with Mr. Toy. I, too, disliked the new logo when it first appeared. I did concede that the 70's logo was dated and I did like the new color scheme, but at the time I wished that they would have redone the arrow in a newer style and color scheme.
However, having seen the new logo on the engines and behind the counters at NY Penn and Washington Union, I have come to like the new logo.
[This message has been edited by CHATTER (edited 02-03-2004).]
posted
I prefer the old logo.You look at it and immedeately know it's an arrow.The new logo makes you think,"what is it?".When this logo first came out,a friend showed me the South Korean Railways website.They have been using this same logo for the past 20 years!
posted
You know what I miss, is seeing the old logo in the stripes on the ends of the cars (the Phase I paint scheme). It worked well, and I was disappointed when the changed to plain straight stripes the entire length.
Before I saw the new logo it was described in an article as three wavy lines, and that influenced my perception of it. Once I realized the two white gaps represented rails, I began to like it.
posted
I know I've said this before on this board. . . .
Amtrak's new logo would be more suitable for a deodorant. Or perhaps the type of product that guarantees to keep active women "intimately fresh. . . all day long."
By today's design standards, the colors of the original Pointless Arrow are a bit too "primary." But if the red, white, and blue motif was slightly muted? I'd definitely find the old design preferable to the current one.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 02-03-2004).]
posted
I like the new one. Let's say it grew on me. To me it symbolizes speed and reliability. Unfortunately, Amtrak has a long way to go with that. The older one seems to represent a joining of various rail lines into one service. Mr. gunn is making a real good effort to have Amtrak demonstrate speed and reliability...lots of hurdles though. I didn't realize he worked for the London Transport with Robert Kiley, the London transport commissioner who is an American. I just recently read an article about it in the Feb. 9 issue of the New Yorker Magazine.It was interesting reading.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
he was also running the NYC MTA for a while according to a NY Times article yesterday or Sunday. I think he is canadian in nationality.
Posts: 56 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I would have to say the newer one. I miss the old one but the new wave image is pretty "modern" and sleek.
Does anyone remember the brief logo Amtrak had on its Hockey game advertisements that looked like the Phase IV paint scheme but said "Amtrak" on top? I didn't like that one much. I'm glad they didn't stick with it.
I am working for South Korean national railroad. Almost everyday I visit this website and enjoy reading writtings and get informations on American railroads. But until today I don't realize Amtrak's logo is almost same as my company's. I looked into my company logo again and found that two is almost identical.
You can confirm what I am saying by visiting my company's website. It is www.korail.go.kr. But it is written in Koean. So I will teach you how to find the logo. When you are in first page, you will see a blue-color banner on top of page. then press the most left-handed one, then apprears another page, then you can find the English word, CI. then press it. Then you will see my company's logo changes. We use last one now.
But when does the Amtrak start to use the logo? We start to use it from 1995.
--from Seoul, South Korea.
[This message has been edited by Lee, Wonyoung (edited 02-05-2004).]
[This message has been edited by Lee, Wonyoung (edited 02-05-2004).]
[This message has been edited by Lee, Wonyoung (edited 02-05-2004).]
Posts: 29 | From: South Korea | Registered: May 2003
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posted
I was hoping someone would bring this up sooner or later...
I like modern stuff, But the old one standed for so much in Amtrak's History (The 60's) and the new one really is different. Also the invention of the internet made them want to get a new technical one..
------------------ Anton L. pillsbury09@excite.com AIM: pillsburyMN Happy New Year!!
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Back in the "olden days," no one liked the old "pointless arrow." Now everybody is saying how they miss the old logo and don't like the new one -?????? I personally don't care, but the new logo does look more "modern" and symbolizes that at least a little progress has been made in our national rail system over the last 30 years.
Dilly - I still get a kick out of your referring to the new logo as something that looks like a logo for a deodorant or a women's product!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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As you know I visited some parts of America and Mexico last summer. I completed my report on international transportation. So I don't do the work any more. Now I am researching on safety of railroad, especially on accident of train engineer.
But I have a interest on all kinds of railroad things. I enjoy reading this website writings. If you have any questions on Japan or Korean or China railraod, Please send me email. My address is wonyoung200us@yahoo.com. Thank you.
[This message has been edited by Lee, Wonyoung (edited 02-06-2004).]
Posts: 29 | From: South Korea | Registered: May 2003
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posted
The resemblence of the Korean logo to the Amtrak logo doesn't strike me as mere coincidence. Perhaps someone was more than influenced by the Amtrak logo.
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Hi all, another of my infrequent postings on this interesting forum. May I submit the logo of my favourite State operated railway of my country of Australia. This logo,to me still relevant, has been in existence virtually unchanged since 1955.Thanks, Mike. http://www.qr.com.au/Posts: 8 | From: Ballan, Victoria, Australia | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I like the pointless arrow myself. The logo, ironically, came from none other than the Reading, which had a car called the LEMTU. I forget what that stands for, but it had the same pointless arrow image, although was one color instead of three.
Posts: 49 | From: Drexel Hill, PA 19026 USA | Registered: Nov 2003
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