Need Feedback on this Railroad logo design

[Cwilk]

Alright, so this one has gotten me upset. I was going through my Sabre CD archives like I always do, and I posted a logo on LogoSauce that we designed about 3 years ago. I do this all the time...find old files of logos and post them to my LS portfolio.

Anyways, just follow the link:

LogoSauce™ - Iron Door T-Shirt Logo

[D856C]

Hard to know why you're upset or what specific feedback you want.

On the basis of composition, the Selma Railroad has the better look. The train is better integrated into the logo. Typography for the Iron Door slogan "California's Oldest Saloon" is off, and text position is off-center, which the little pawprint endcaps draw attention to. Personally I also prefer the Selma logo's color choice.

On the brand identity side, not one of twenty graphic designers really understands the role of the logo or the word "brand" or the word "identity." Consequently most logos come off as business camouflage anyway, so I fail to see what's to be upset about. One out of five train logos has the same shapes and composition down to the perspective of the train element -- half of those have the train pointed in the same direction.

Are they virutally identical? Yes. In other words, put on stationery and received in mailings within the same week, I'd fully expect nine out of ten people would think they got double-mailed by the same company. And that's who counts when you're using the term business identity, the customers and those dealing with the company ...not the designer or the client. The trivia you cite matters to you, and you alone.

[crazyleaf]

I think it's very good.

[Cwilk]

D856C ....There are so many new designers who are quick to point out what they consider flaws or put down a logo without considering the history of that logo design. If a designer already has the knowledge about railroad logos, then their comments were basically just meant to be mean. That's why I'm upset. I see so many negative comments on LS that don't mean a thing, and it seems like it's pure jealousy on the individual who wrote the negative comment. Several of us from here who are members of LS have seen it happen.

On LS, there is now a new comment from one of the same people (quoted below). They came back to say (notice they start with 'however') that BOTH logos are reproductions. From what I know, a reproduction means it has been copied in the exact same way as it existed beforehand. Unfortunately I disagree with that comment, because they have only seen that the frame on our logo was a reproduction (and I gave that information out). But while our train logo is similar to others, it has never existed and I doubt that the Selma logo has ever existed either.

I do agree with you regarding how polished the other logo is. But our logo was not meant to be a modern looking logo. Also the text you refer to being off-center is done like that on purpose because of the nose of the train. I also agree about the clients and ours in fact loved this logo.

Otherwise, thanks for the comment. That is the feedback I was looking for because you do cite that these logos all look similar. That was basically my point.

(already voted) by straycloud about 4 hours ago.
you both make a valid point. However this logo, and in the same breath the one mentioned above, are then in fact reproductions of original work.