KCS Railroad

KCS question:  Why does the KCS use a "stop sign" as part of its logo.

a stop sign is an octagon (eight equal length sides).
the KCS logo is an eight-sided polygon or a beveled square.

OK, got the geometry.  Now what about WHY they used the geometry!

Thanks!

And it that not the pic of the KCS AL caboose?

Dominic Mazoch posted:

OK, got the geometry.  Now what about WHY they used the geometry!

Thanks!

That is another one of your rhetorical questions!  So,,,,,,,why NOT?

i'm sure in the case of the KCS railroad, the logo outline is merely a geometric design.  i can only think of a few... the PA "keystone", the Frisco "animal skin" and maybe the Reading "black diamond", that symbolized something specific, but for the most part they were generally simple shapes... squares, rectangles, circles & ovals.

i've always wondered if these two logo shapes...

...had any meaning.
cheers...gary

LV I think used a diamond!

I think that the reason they used the Polygon and Red-n-White, as when you see it, the 1st thing that grabs your attention is a "Stop Sign".

I helped a friend of mine some months ago campaign for a local government office. He asked me what type of sign to use and what color?

I told him to see if he could get some Octagon shape signs with Red back ground, and white letters.

I thought that the "Old Proverbial Stop Sign" will get almost everybody's attention! 

When I went to the sign making company, as asked them about what would be the best sign for campaign would be, they told me that my idea would be the best, especially to draw quick attention!

Maybe that was behind KCS to use for their signs, something to draw attention for their advertisement!.............................Brandy!

LV was a coal hauler = black diamonds.  I like the Katy.  I doubt if it means anything, just a classy background.

Brandy posted:

I think that the reason they used the Polygon and Red-n-White, as when you see it, the 1st thing that grabs your attention is a "Stop Sign".

I helped a friend of mine some months ago campaign for a local government office. He asked me what type of sign to use and what color?

I told him to see if he could get some Octagon shape signs with Red back ground, and white letters.

I thought that the "Old Proverbial Stop Sign" will get almost everybody's attention! 

When I went to the sign making company, as asked them about what would be the best sign for campaign would be, they told me that my idea would be the best, especially to draw quick attention!

Maybe that was behind KCS to use for their signs, something to draw attention for their advertisement!.............................Brandy!

Back in the day, stop signs were yellow...

Yellow was the standard color from the late 20's to early 50's for visibility day and night, along with the fact that red would fade quickly.  A reliable, fade resistant red became available in 1954 and the standard color was changed to red.

Rusty

Yes Rusty you are right, I do remember these yellow stop signs, old Louisville was full of them, until the late 40's. City switched out the one in front of our house in the fall of 49.  I remember that well because, when coming in from where ever, I would always take a good look at the Old Man's new black 50 Ford 2 door, that when parked at the curb in front of our house. I came in from school one day and looking at the Ford I noticed the new Red and White lettered stop sign.

Even then, I wondered why the stop signs hadn't always been Red and White, as it seemed to raise a persons awareness. Especially when you got caught running one, and got a ticket!..........................................................Brandy!  

Wow...can't believe I don't even remember the change from yellow to red, on stop signs, or worse, I don't even remember yellow ones at all, and 1954 was about when I started being a hazard on the roads.  The next year we started to travel across country, and would have seen a lot in places that would have been slow to change.  And I don't even remember the colors in foreign countries I have driven in...I like the Katy, for its yellow cabooses.

colorado hirailer posted:

Wow...can't believe I don't even remember the change from yellow to red, on stop signs, or worse, I don't even remember yellow ones at all, and 1954 was about when I started being a hazard on the roads. 

 

Maybe, because you were ignoring them?

I don't remember seeing yellow stop signs in the city, but when we traveled over the river and through the woods to the western burgs there were still a couple into the late 50's.

Rusty