Do you despise UP?

[Anonymous]

In my experience, it seems to me that a lot of railfans tend to have a lot of animosity toward the colors of Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist. Why is that? Why are these feelings not directed at other class 1s? Am I missing something? [?]

[Anonymous]

Along with all other threads with "despise" and "UP" within 5 posts of each other, this one has proven to be trouble. I will throw in my two cents, for the heck of it.

UP...What to say...

I have nothing against them personally. It's not like they ran over my dog or anything. I never see anything UP, except on my trips to Nashville and other areas westerly. I don't get why everyone despises them so...I definitely don't agree with their taxation of all products with their name on it, and their new heritage schemes are murderous to the original paint schemes. But I don't hate, despise, or even dislike UP.

[trainboyH16-44]

Yeah, but also fear it.
I am deeply afraid of the possible merger withCP, and I would deeply miss it going past my house if it happened, Hate the UP, stop railfanning, possibly commit suicide (All joking) and, whoops, I almost said something in really bad taste!
Oh well,I'm sure it won't happen soon (Knock on wood)
Trainboy

[Valleyline]

All this hand wringing about the poor old SP being bought out by the bad guys at UP is a joke. Everyone who cares a hoot about railroading knows that SP was a long term basket case, unable to survive on its own. One can conclude that UP saved them from oblivion. How many of you critics actually read "Trains" anyway? And, how many class I's have survived as long as the UP, with a steam program to boot? KCMOWMAN (above) sums it up very well.

[Anonymous]

Very mature, As if the railroad cared what we think.

As if we had a right to tell the railroad what to do.

As if it mattered what any railroad wanted to do with their property.

It's their business to do with as they please with what they have, it's their nickel.

To hate them for whatever reason is absurd, did they slap your wife? Kill your baby?
kick your dog?

Get a life and get on with it already.

[Anonymous]

I posted thefollowing to the UP board at railfan.net. about a month ago.

* * * * * *
On my return drive from Chicago (See My Aborted Amtrak Trip on the Amtrak board) I drove down US 67 from St. Louis to Little Rock last night. The highway parallels the ex MoPac main from Texas to St. Louis. For one 38 mile stretch from Walnut Ridge to Newport, AR it runs right along the single track UP mainline. In that one short stretch, which I travelled in about 35 minutes last night, I met FIVE northbound UP trains!!! Four were manifests and one an empty unit coal train with distributed power pushing on the rear. With the exception of the first train which was running at the reduced speed limit over the BNSF (ex-Frisco) diamond at Hoxie, all looked like they were hitting the max speed allowed on this single track CTC controlled line.

In the old days, when they were still in use, we would call this " running on another's markers". To me this was an amazing example of the tonnage that could be moved over single track when directional running is the mode of operation. The UP basically runs northbound trains over the old MoPac and Southbounds over the fromer Cotton Belt between St. Louis and Dallas/Ft. Worth.
* * * * * *

This as a example of the way TODAYS Union Pacific runs the railroad. Yes the UP made mistakes particularly when they ignored the know how of the former Esspee railroaders. Their problems were compounded by the unprecedented boom in freight traffic. Is the UP perfect? No they still make mistakes and have a lousy record in handling Amtrak trains, but they have learned and continue to improve.

What possible difference does the COLOR of a locomotive make? Four pink engines with green spots rolling an intermodal at 60mph or handling a 110 car coal train with two more pink engines on the rear is still a sight to make my heart beat faster. If you dislike the UP or any other successful railroad take a trip out east and hike one of the "rails to trails" that was at one time a main line railroad.

[Anonymous]

My take is that UP has too many lawyers and accountants and not enough real railroaders running things. The trademark thing with the modeling community went over like a dead cat in the punch bowl.

The other thing that I hear around here (and UP runs through this town since they swallowed up the MP) is that they refuse to play nice with Amtrack. They are notorious for sticking Amtrack trains in sidings for 45 minutes to an hour so that a switcher can switch out one freight car from a spur. BNSF has a better reputation for working with Amtrack.

The problem, as indicated by some of the posts on this thread seems to be management hubris. Oh, well.

[C):-)]

[Anonymous]

The U.P. is fine with me. I think that their colors are rather attractive (Armour Yellow / Harbor Mist Grey) and stand out among the more common Reds and Black schemes favored by other roads.
I do feel melancholy about the fallen flags that have been assimilated by UP [:(].
In fairness to the UP though, they have attempted to mollify those of us that lament the passing of those roads (i.e. WP, KATY, MP, etc.) by introducing their "Heritage" diesels. [^]
So is the UP a "bad" railroad? No, probably no worse than any of the other Class 1's that have merged or bought out other roads (i.e. BNSF, NS, CN, etc.).
That's my take on it. [:D]

[Lord Atmo]

i heard BNSF was a bigger company

[eolafan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by The Rat

Every chance I get to take a pic of a "Yuppie" unit, I be there!

Hell, There's a new UP unit as my wallpaper on this PC.

Yep, me too...I have unit 1988 as my wallpaper. Give U.P. at least some credit for being #1 in the U.S., they must be doing something right. Also, let's face it, they don't give a *** what we think and shouldn't have to. They are a big successful company doing what is right for their shareholders, period. Enjoy them as they DO give us lots of trains to watch, and that is all our hobby is all about.[:D]

[Anonymous]

I do not hate the u.p. i was lucky enough to train as a fireman with great engineers from the former s.p. on the cascades....they almost all hate u.p......i am proud to tel people where i work and what i do for a living....the pride you get when sitting at a crossing on the I-5 corridor and watching old BNSF sd-40s rolling by and then there comes a z-train with the american flag going by ..puts a lump in your throat...i too like having an old espee unit as a leader...as for working for u.p. they are not the most people friendly railroad. Our steam program kicks ***!!! and yes we are learning to railroad and yes we have always been stUPid and some of us were StuPid before...the u.p is now honoring all former railroads that it swallowed up with heritage locomotives...their will be tons of foamers when the first S.P. heritage crests the summit heading to k-falls..stay safe and see you out there..Highball

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sammythebull

I despise UP and all big business. They are all the same.

That makes you a communist! You heard me, what you just typed is hogwash. You hate the businesses that make America the greatest nation in the world, the capitalist people that make the economy thrive. I am not a fan of huge businesses; yes it is American to root for the underdog, but not to want to destroy who ever is on top simply for being there. Many of the "evil big business owners are just smart men who worked hard and it paid off, that is the American dream. What happens when you get rid of these businesses that are on top who ever is in second place becomes your next target, when would it end? Use your head!

James [C):-)]

Ducking from flames.

[Lord Atmo]

i used to disregard it until those bland locomotives bought out the cool ones. now when i watch trains, i see those stupid yellow boxes pulling the cars. things just arent the same as they were 10 years ago when trains were pulled by Chicago and Northwestern locomotives.

[emmar]

No the UP is one of my favorite railroads and I don't really see why anyone would not like it.

[Lord Atmo]

3 words

TOO MUCH YELLOW!
honestly. the UP went overboard with that fugly yellow color. not to mention i'm a die hard C&NW fan. i was outraged when they were bought out. and even MORE outraged when i heard they bought out SP. i simply cant stand what UP has done.

and god do i ever miss Chicago and Northwestern [:(]