Jason Shron - President - Rapido Trains Inc. - RapidoTrains.comMy HO scale Kingston Sub layout: Facebook.com/KingstonSub
SpaceMouse wrote:Maybe it's just me, but something just doesn't smell right. I admit I don't know any of the details, but this smells of spin doctoring. Like maybe UP was looking for a way out of the bad PR and Mike gets the benefit of being in the right place at the right time. Anyone else picking up that scent? We are talking about the guy that refused to work with the NMRA on DCC and wants nothing to do with any other manufacturer.
Maybe it's just me, but something just doesn't smell right.
I admit I don't know any of the details, but this smells of spin doctoring. Like maybe UP was looking for a way out of the bad PR and Mike gets the benefit of being in the right place at the right time.
Anyone else picking up that scent?
We are talking about the guy that refused to work with the NMRA on DCC and wants nothing to do with any other manufacturer.
Right about the CEO change at UP, drgw/wpfan. It didn't really take long for Jim Young to turn this situation around and get back to his bigger job. By the way, he even showed up in person at the recent annual convention of the UP Historical Society.
Davidson really left a mess behind (not to mention a few small problems like a 2004 operating ratio near 90%, etc.). In settling this trademark/royalty issue, Mike Wolf gets some of the credit, but it really took a responsible adult on the other side. If Union Pacific had chosen to do so (however misguidedly), it could have litigated MTH and the rest of the model and railfan industry to death for years to come. I'm very glad that, with new leadership, Uncle Pete is now undoing the p.r. damage and focusing completely on getting the rail business back in order.
Who knows? Next, UP might become a cooperative operator for Amtrak. THAT would be even bigger and, based on Mr. Young's performance so far, really could happen. It can be downright amazing what occurs when the right guy's in charge.
O.K,
So now this makes more sense. A change in UP's management!
It seemed strange that a billion dollar coorperation that has often defied government agencies would have "buckled under" to a comparitively small potatoes maufacturer like MTH. Apparently the new head is concerned about positve Public Relations and trying to clean up some of the problems that Union Pacific has been plagued with. We can't expect all of UP's problems to vaporize, but it's good to see that the top brass is making the effort. Mr. Davidson won't likely be missed much.
As for Mr. Wolf, it is still a good thing that this sitution is benefiting him. Mainly for the simple reason, as stated before, that he'll hopefully get smart and quickly work to mend that burned bridge between him and the smaller scale arenas. But he should start soon before this licensing victory becomes old news and everything returns to "business as usual".
Peace
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
andrechapelon wrote: I wonder if those who consider Mike Wolf to be the hobby's very own Antichrist will now modify their opinion somewhat.
I wonder if those who consider Mike Wolf to be the hobby's very own Antichrist will now modify their opinion somewhat.
Nope.
Sorry, but I just can't see Mike Wolf as "Mr. Philanthropy" on behalf of all model train manufacturers. This feel-good story is, frankly, too good to be true.
His track record and his litigation record makes me believe there's a hidden agenda here. I challenge anyone to make me think otherwise.
Waiting for the other shoe,
PZ
Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon
Joe, BlueSky.
As I infer above did he really win or did UP's new boss decide to go ahead, do the right thing and concentrate on cleaning up UP's problems?
Again, I don't wish to take away from Mr. Wolf's efforts but realistically if Davidson were still at UP's helm and decided to "dig in" and battle out the trademark issue it could have easily been tied up in court for several years.
Okay,while I can see paying Royalties to the 5000 Pound Canary That Ate The Cat for items that are Union PacificProper,it doesn't make sense for manufacturers to have to pay UP royalties for the lost roads that were mergered into the UP:MP/T&P;CNW/M&StL/CGW;WP;MKT;D&RGW;SP/T&NO/SSW!!!
"Never Ever Say'Never Ever'!!!"-Magruber.
This is a highly stale-dated thread. Old news.
-Crandell
selectorThis is a highly stale-dated thread. Old news.-Crandell
Whew! thanks Crandell I thought I was having a flashback...........lol
selector This is a highly stale-dated thread. Old news. -Crandell
So old its pages is yellow and moldy from age..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
So why not lock the thread and make it "read only"...help keep things fresh. Same goes for other threads that are older than a year (maybe)...
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
jasperofzealselectorThis is a highly stale-dated thread. Old news.-Crandell So why not lock the thread and make it "read only"...help keep things fresh. Same goes for other threads that are older than a year (maybe)...
Sometimes there is a genuine update that's interesting.
Enjoy
Paul
IRONROOSTER jasperofzeal selector This is a highly stale-dated thread. Old news. -Crandell So why not lock the thread and make it "read only"...help keep things fresh. Same goes for other threads that are older than a year (maybe)... Sometimes there is a genuine update that's interesting. Enjoy Paul
jasperofzeal selector This is a highly stale-dated thread. Old news. -Crandell So why not lock the thread and make it "read only"...help keep things fresh. Same goes for other threads that are older than a year (maybe)...
With all due respect to the author of the post that resurrected this thread, this update is not interesting and adds nothing to the previous discussion back in 2006. I, too, am surprised that Crandell didn't lock it.
Rich
Alton Junction
OK--so why is this thin still up and going?
There was nothng to this that was new so----lock it---
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
I'm a Milw Road guy and and you know what? I quit buy from all of them. I got 43 engines most are Milw road except the Steamers. I have decided that I'm not buying anymore from none of them until they can build a nice Milw road streamer like the Milw 261. I wish Mth would build the 261. I like Mth i think they do a very good job with there steamers, Their just not making anything i want.
If I lock the topic and it fades to the second or third page, the person who resurrected it won't know what came of his comment if he is unable to return for a couple of days. There is no rush....I posted my caveat early...let's let this fade naturally or let people add new thoughts as they wish...it's no big deal either way. It would be different if it had been contentious and threats to lock it were left as part of the record, but this thread dropped off naturally once, and I feel it should be given a chance to do so once more.
Railcon44 I'm a Milw Road guy and and you know what? I quit buy from all of them. I got 43 engines most are Milw road except the Steamers. I have decided that I'm not buying anymore from none of them until they can build a nice Milw road streamer like the Milw 261. I wish Mth would build the 261. I like Mth i think they do a very good job with there steamers, Their just not making anything i want.
On the other hand, MTH did build the "Little Joe" EF-3 / EP-3 locomotive for the Milwaukee. If I had all the time, money and space I wanted, I'd love to have some electrified trackage so I could run one of these, but I don't, so I personally won't be buying one.
I give them a lot of points for making this engine. First, I suspect most manufacturers would do the "advance order" thing, and, finding little market, would drop the project and refund the money. MTH has built them, and I hope a lot of people buy them and get to enjoy a really unique engine. If this venture is a success for MTH, they may make some more "niche market" engines, which would be a good thing for the hobby.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I don't trust MTH and I don't buy MTH and nothing will change in that respect. I am sure he had HIS agenda in pursuing it and I also have a feeling it will turn out to be a "tempest in a teapot" when all the dust settles.
Bob
Wow, the little thread that could.
This old thread will never die. Too funny.
richhotrain Wow, the little thread that could. This old thread will never die. Too funny.
Just curious, but has ANYBODY noticed that this thread dates back to 2006??? Comon' guys snap out of the anesthesia.
This is the second post, in as many weeks that has been dated from years earlier and popped up on the forum again - this seems to have occurred right after the website overhaul ...what gives, moderator?
Moderators are quick on the trigger when wanting to lock a discussion disliked, so how bout' locking this one out, since its 4 YEARS OLD -this is old news...trash it.
HeritageFleet1