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Canadian Pacific Norfolk Southern Merger

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Posted by AgentKid on Friday, February 26, 2016 2:16 PM

oltmannd
EHH is magic.

It would make things so much simplerSigh

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, February 26, 2016 2:17 PM

Ulrich
They're doughnuts.. or donuts. One can only expect so much from a donut regardless of who's logo hangs in the store window.

Coming from the land of mennonites and amish - no franchise donut compares to the real thing.

 

Back to topic for a minute. When EHH issues a plan that calls for the idling of 300 engines, closure of yards and secondaries, is it any wonder why so many are a bit apprehensive?  Whether you think it is a good idea or not, it seems a strange tactic to use to announce such a thing so early.

  

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Posted by Ulrich on Friday, February 26, 2016 2:27 PM

Can't argue with that.. handmade with loving care always beats frozen out of a truck.

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, February 26, 2016 2:29 PM

Ulrich

Can't argue with that.. handmade with loving care always beats frozen out of a truck.

 

 

And lard.  Don't forget lard.

  

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Posted by dakotafred on Friday, February 26, 2016 5:07 PM

Ulrich
 
Convicted One

Tim Horton's recently opened it's first location in my town. Hardly seems worth all the to-do I've heard for years.

 

 

 

 

They're doughnuts.. or donuts.  One can only expect so much from a donut regardless of whose logo hangs in the store window.

 

Good one! Laugh

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, February 27, 2016 4:06 PM

Convicted One
Miningman
One would have to wade through all those pages of the merger proposal to see what the supposed benefits would be

"Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. By its nature, CP's forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information," . . . [snipped - PDN]

"+1, +1, +1"

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, February 27, 2016 4:20 PM

zugmann
Coming from the land of mennonites and amish - no franchise donut compares to the real thing.

Back to topic for a minute. When EHH issues a plan that calls for the idling of 300 engines, closure of yards and secondaries, is it any wonder why so many are a bit apprehensive?  Whether you think it is a good idea or not, it seems a strange tactic to use to announce such a thing so early.

"+1"  How can EHH possibly and credibly know and state such a plan, without a detailed study of the NS system ?  And how could that have been done in the present state of affairs between the two companies, without the data and full cooperation of NS ?  If it had been, it've certainly been mentioned by now.

Yeah, it's the lard.  Around here, the day before Lent - "Fat Tuesday" - the doughnuts are called "fastnachts".

- Paul North. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, February 27, 2016 4:23 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
Yeah, it's the lard. Around here, the day before Lent - "Fat Tuesday" - the doughnuts are called "fastnachts".

 

If they are doughnuts - then they are NOT true fastnachts! 

  

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Posted by Miningman on Saturday, February 27, 2016 4:31 PM

I think it's kind of like when Nancy Pelosi said on Obamacare " We have to pass the bill then we can read what's in it".....

Seriously folks I don't think the merger has any legs. It's preposterous in fact. 

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Posted by Entropy on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 3:28 PM
EHH's partner in this merger is having some difficulty with one of his other ventures today. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bill-ackman-is-losing-billions-on-his-valeant-stock-2016-03-01?mod=MW_story_top_stories
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Posted by Victrola1 on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 11:34 AM
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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 12:08 PM

Because we are losing money, let's buy out all the others losing money, so we can all just lose more money as one, instead of some money alone.

Yep, I see PC happening all over again if either of these mergers happen... But, they won't pass the STB increased competition test, so they won't happen. (Especially when everyone and their brother knows that the merger will decrease competition as the new owners will do the "slash and burn" style restructuring that EHH brought to both CN and then CP. Less lines equals less competition available.)

What some people won't try simply to make a quick dollar....

Ricky W.

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 12:21 PM

ricktrains4824
What some people won't try simply to make a quick dollar....

Yes

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 12:55 PM

There's a similar article in today's (Weds., 02 Mar. 2016) Wall Street Journal, pgs. B-1 and B-2, first reported yesterday, March 1st. 

Mischief But they goofed - they missed it by a month: April Fool's Day is April 1st, not March 1st.  Cause this has to be a joke, right ?  If railroading had stand-up comedy clubs, this'd be the main subject for at least a week.  I could never think it up . . .   

Harrison & Ackman:  Ego - 100%; credibility - 0%.  Or is it financial desperation ? (see articles on Ackman's Valeant holdings continuing to decline in value)  

If EHH is really that desperate to merge with an eastern US railroad, I suppose he could contact one of the little short-lines or tourists RR's . . .

More seriously - and once again:  Where's the objective study/ report that supports all his claims - this time, again ?

- Paul North.    

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Posted by Victrola1 on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 2:31 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
If EHH is really that desperate to merge with an eastern US railroad, I suppose he could contact one of the little short-lines or tourists RR's . . .

The Erie Lackawana must not be returning Mr. Harrison's phone calls either. 

 

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, March 3, 2016 4:45 PM

Victrola1

 

 
Paul_D_North_Jr
If EHH is really that desperate to merge with an eastern US railroad, I suppose he could contact one of the little short-lines or tourists RR's . . .

 

The Erie Lackawana must not be returning Mr. Harrison's phone calls either. 

 

 

Well, they did send their answer via mail, but it got lost in the time/space worm-hole that opened up allowing CP to offer to buy them out too.

If both NS and CSX turn the latest offers down, will Ackman try to purchase Walmart next? He could have the trifecta: The transportation network to deliver the medical supplies he manufactures to the stores that sell them!

(Hey, that might not be such a bad idea... If it works, I get the bonus for thinking of it first. Mischief)

Ricky W.

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My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:08 PM

He will go for Genessee & Wyoming so he can cobble together the former Pennsy, the former DT&I, and make a hostile take over of Wheeling & Lake Erie so he can reroute all the traffic from Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Pittsburgh to Canada via Detroit so he can relieve congestion in Chicago. And he will pull all those two-mile long trains with mu'ed SW1500s and GP9s.

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Posted by SteamRoller88 on Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:26 PM

Never thought of that, it would be smart.

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Posted by Victrola1 on Friday, March 4, 2016 7:00 AM

 

Canadian Pacific petitions U.S. Surface Transportation Board for declaratory order

​Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP) (NYSE:CP) today announced that it has petitioned the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) for a declaratory order confirming the viability of the voting trust structure CP has suggested as part of its proposed merger with Norfolk Southern Corp. (NS).

"Shareholders of both CP and NS have asked that we seek this declaratory order as a means to better understand the STB's views on the proposed voting trust model ahead of any formal application and we have listened to the owners of our respective companies," said E. Hunter Harrison, CP's Chief Executive Officer.

"Since we remain convinced that productive discussions about the potential structure and value of a formal bid must take place face to face we hope this show of good faith is met with an equal demonstration on the part of NS," said Harrison.

http://www.cpr.ca/en/investors/canadian-pacific-petitions-us-surface-transportation-board-for-declaratory-order

 

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Friday, March 4, 2016 8:49 PM

kgbw49
He will go for Genessee & Wyoming so he can cobble together the former Pennsy, the former DT&I, and make a hostile take over of Wheeling & Lake Erie so he can reroute all the traffic from Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Pittsburgh to Canada via Detroit so he can relieve congestion in Chicago. And he will pull all those two-mile long trains with mu'ed SW1500s and GP9s.

Yeah, I was thinking of a modern-day Alphabet Route too, but couldn't figure out (or find) a decent description of the railroads that would be needed.  Kudos for doing that, and so well (funny) ! Bow

Almost put the "Big Four" back together, too . . .

"The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, also known as the Big Four Railroad . . . " https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland,_Cincinnati,_Chicago_and_St._Louis_Railway 

- Paul North.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, March 5, 2016 11:49 AM

The other class 1s will no doubt extract concessions (divesture) from a CP/NS conglomeration, so perhaps it's not premature to speculate what those concessions might be?

I doubt they would be allowed to keep both routes between Chicago and Buffalo, so I'd guess that BNSF would want the former Nickel Plate, and I've heard for years that they would like to obtain the former Wabash as well, so why not go for both?  I can see where UP might want the former Southern RR east from New Orleans, and likely others. Speculations?

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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, March 5, 2016 11:53 AM

The real point being, if the other class ones can make it painful enough, perhaps HH will just pick up his toys and go home mad?

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, March 5, 2016 12:51 PM

Convicted One

The real point being, if the other class ones can make it painful enough, perhaps HH will just pick up his toys and go home mad?

HH is Ackmans puppet!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Convicted One on Sunday, March 6, 2016 11:43 AM

Well, I see the list of shippers opposing the merger just got longer

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Posted by kgbw49 on Sunday, March 6, 2016 8:50 PM

Actually, if one looks at the CSX map and the way it would "bolt-on" (to borrow a phrase from Mr. Buffett) to the BNSF route structure, it might be the superior route partner for BNSF for the following reasons:

1. Ex-Baltimore and Ohio double track route to Ohio tieing in to the ex-NYC Water level route from Cleveland to Selkirk and down the River line to NYC is tailor-made for ET44C4-ES44C4 motive power.

2. Former Big Four heading northeast as the crow flies out of St. Louis (connection with the former Frisco) to Indianapolis and Cleveland is an excellent bypass of Chicago.

3. Former B&O heading due east as the crow flies out of St. Louis (connection with the former Frisco) to Louisville and Cincinnati.

4. Former Dixie Line from Memphis (connection with former Frisco) to Nashville.

5. CSX mainline from Birmingham to Atlanta, Charlotte and Richmond is an extension of BNSF intermodal haulage rights from Birmingham to Atlanta.

6. CSX mainline from New Orleans to Birmingham would be a "cut off" for BNSF chemical traffic out of Louisiana bound for the northeast.

And all those lines are, again, pretty much tailor-made for ET44C4-ES44C4 motive power.

It will be interesting to see if Michael Ward ends up with an appointment with Mr. Buffett over the next three years.

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Sunday, March 6, 2016 10:09 PM

So, even if CP could win, and merge NS, would all these shippers then bolt to CSX?

CP would have already lost most of NS coal, and, if these shippers bolt, they would also lose UPS, FedEx, Ford, GM, and how many others?

That would leave them with..... Coal.

And Oil. (Which has its own issues with protesters and declining movements due to lower prices...)

And CP will make money on this how??? Spend millions on the buyout, spend millions more through the legal aspects/battle, then lose all the good paying shippers, thereby losing millions of dollars.

So, we peace meal the lines off, scrap others, thereby making a few hundred thousand.

Yep.... Makes perfect business sense too me. (Fits right in with all the other "genius" business moguls, who no longer have a business to run.)

Ricky W.

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My Railroad rules:

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2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Sunday, March 6, 2016 10:52 PM

kgbw49
3. Former B&O heading due east as the crow flies out of St. Louis (connection with the former Frisco) to Louisville and Cincinnati.

 

This route is no longer a through route. CSX has severed it as I understand. 

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Posted by kgbw49 on Monday, March 7, 2016 7:17 AM

Electroliner 1935, CSX still shows the ex B&O as a full route on the route map on their Web site. Then again, maybe that web page has not been updated. I could understand them downgrading it because of the somewhat parallel Big Four. If it is severed, or even downgraded, I suppose Louisville traffic from the west through St. Louis could head to Indy on the Big Four and then down the CSX-L&I shared trackage to Louisville.

I could see them having to spin the B&O off to CN for competitive access to Louisville and Cincinnati as well as giving CN trackage rights from Chicago and Detroit to Atlanta and also from Buffalo to the NY/NJ area to meet the improved competition criteria.

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Posted by Victrola1 on Thursday, March 10, 2016 9:27 AM

"People need to get their heads around the idea that fossil fuels are “probably dead,” the CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway said Wednesday.

 

“I’m not maybe as green as I should be, but I happen to think the climate is changing (and) they’re not going to fool me anymore,” Hunter Harrison told a J.P. Morgan transportation conference in New York."

http://calgaryherald.com/business/local-business/fossil-fuels-are-probably-dead-says-canadian-pacific-railway-ceo-hunter-harrison

Will a merger with Candian Pacific save the coal carrying Norfolk Southern from going the way of the dinosaurs? The clock is ticking. 

"The motion calls for shareholders to request Norfolk’s board to engage in discussions with Canadian Pacific that wouldn’t preclude discussions with other parties.

“This is kind of our last effort, the last thing we know to do and we hope it will work,” Harrison said. “And if not, we are going to go back in and run our railroad.”

 

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Posted by wanswheel on Thursday, March 10, 2016 10:24 AM

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