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It never ceases to amaze me that people want companies to operate at charitable levels only. Of course we want to see UP make money. Look at AMTRAK struggling, and other lines that have passed and will be gone forever. If they had stuck to their guns, or found alternative income, we would have a strong rail system, modernized and healthy. Instead of needing to bail out defunct airlines, cut passenger rail services, and subsidize huge highway projects as alternative transportation. Closer to home... UP is an American Icon. They cannot infringe free speech. Technically, our "hobby" is art. All Americana in art is fair game. We are modeling small history markers, small "pictures" of America. That makes me wonder if they really can hold an enforcable copyright to the same litmus test as newer "products," and companies. This is not a t-shirt manufacturer selling profitable shirts only because they say "pepsi." We don't buy the loco just for the name, but more for where it runs and what we want to capture in our art. Just imagine a collection of Americana, Icons and all, placed in a mosaic or diorama. Each manufacturer couldn't step in and sue the artist because their bottle, can, or old road sign is in the artwork. The unfortunate fact is that they are fighting so deliberately. This could be a bad sign for railroading as an industry. If this is where they see the fight, against their loyal supporters that vote legislation to save companies like theirs when times are tough and they need government and public support... then maybe there is a more ominous issue behind it. Why wait all of these years, then raise such a stink? As railfans, we would have paid a small royalty to have their logo, just as we do with other products on our layouts that we don't even think of. But 5% is a slap in the face. Moderation would have been a wiser path for UP. Their PR people need to be flogged for allowing this catastrophe. What a shame...
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