it will be the next big merger
BOOMER it will be the next big merger
Right after the major buyout.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmann BOOMER it will be the next big merger Right after the major buyout.
By Guilford....
I would venture a guess that such a merger may violate anti-trust laws.
Norm
Murray zugmann BOOMER it will be the next big merger Right after the major buyout. By Guilford....
23 17 46 11
I could see two mergers, CSX/UP and NS/BNSF to form transcontinental railroads. That is the only way that wither would go through without being nocked down for anti turst violations.
Either of these mergers would have to be approved by the government, which would seem to be unlikely unless both mergers were proposed at the same time. .
Face it, none of the big railroads needs to merge with anyone in order to be profitable and efficient, let alone to survive. There is no real incentive for a western line and an eastern line to combine.A few years back, UP pointed out that if it merged with either eastern carrier, it would lose business, since it handled the majority of interchange business with both railroads as things stood then.Whichever western railroad merges with CSX would be saddled with the need to upgrade a lot of trackage to its own standards (probably many more problems than NS would provide). I don't think either UP or BNSF would willingly burden themselves with that.Disclaimer: I don't know what the facts are in a lot of this. It's based mostly on gut feelings. I may not be correct, but I'd sure hate to be proven wrong in this case.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
CShaveRR Face it, none of the big railroads needs to merge with anyone in order to be profitable and efficient, let alone to survive. There is no real incentive for a western line and an eastern line to combine.A few years back, UP pointed out that if it merged with either eastern carrier, it would lose business, since it handled the majority of interchange business with both railroads as things stood then.Whichever western railroad merges with CSX would be saddled with the need to upgrade a lot of trackage to its own standards (probably many more problems than NS would provide). I don't think either UP or BNSF would willingly burden themselves with that.Disclaimer: I don't know what the facts are in a lot of this. It's based mostly on gut feelings. I may not be correct, but I'd sure hate to be proven wrong in this case.
Jump into the railroad "way back' machine. to Fall of 1992 when the UPRR sent its Public Relations representative to Southeastern Kentucky and Northeastern Tennessee. The 3985 was transformed by the CSX Shops in Huntington, WVa to be the CRR 610 and was to pull the Clinchfield's Santa Train. on its anniversary run.
The 'scuttlebutt' was that there were MERGER talks going with UPRR and CSX (!) ? Supposedly, the story was that a major shipper in NE Tennessee was behind the cooperation. They had such good relations in the Sales and Marketing Depts of BOth rialroads they were able to make it happen (?) Happen it did! 3985 left Memphis with her compliment of maintenance cars ans a number of CSX blue and gray Office Cars. I think Carl has that merger thing right...CSX is a different railroad than it waqs 20 or so years ago.
THe STB sure put out the fier on the SP/SF merger when they thought that one was so gonna happen the two railroads gave us their "Kodachrome" paint scheme. The dynamics on that potential merger have also changed in the interveaning years as well. You'd have to ask Warren Buffet how he feels about merging 'HIs' railroad with another line....The STB could be pretty annoying on that one. Berkshire Hathaway just had to divest itself of TWO small railroads, it apparently did not know it even owned. It kept the BNSF...
Hmmm - BNSF -NS - well, the good points would be: BNSF already has NS in its name; and BNSF could take on the NS paint and once again be a smart-looking railroad in their new suits.
So, isn't this why I am on here - to keep the discussions from being too serious?
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Given the push by shippers for regulatory reform and MORE competition, I doubt that such a merger will take place any time in the near future...
Over a year ago, because the guy who told me this retired last January, our local safety captain did a presentation in Omaha. In addition to the service unit people, a few of the very top people attended. Our safety captain afterwards talked with the CEO and somehow it came up that if the UP went after another railroad, it would be CSX and that's all that he could say. Except that there were no plans in the foreseeable future to make that happen.
While I've often heard before that if another round of mergers happen UP would most likely go after CSX, I doubt it would be anytime soon. As others have said, there isn't any advantage to it now and the current climate (in the arena that must never be mentioned) may be hostile towards any attempt.
Jeff
CShaveRR Whichever western railroad merges with CSX would be saddled with the need to upgrade a lot of trackage to its own standards (probably many more problems than NS would provide). I don't think either UP or BNSF would willingly burden themselves with that.Disclaimer: I don't know what the facts are in a lot of this. It's based mostly on gut feelings. I may not be correct, but I'd sure hate to be proven wrong in this case.
Whichever western railroad merges with CSX would be saddled with the need to upgrade a lot of trackage to its own standards (probably many more problems than NS would provide). I don't think either UP or BNSF would willingly burden themselves with that.Disclaimer: I don't know what the facts are in a lot of this. It's based mostly on gut feelings. I may not be correct, but I'd sure hate to be proven wrong in this case.
If you were referring to the John Snow version of CSX I would agree with you, however, the best thing that ever happened to CSX was the election of 'W' and his choosing Snow to attempt loot the US Treasury as Secretary of the Treasury the way his 'exit package' looted CSX ($69M to voluntarily leave of his own choosing). Snow ran the property in the ground - not to the extent all carriers had pre-Staggers, but Snow operated under the pre-Staggers mentality and it seriously affected all aspects of the operation.
With Michael Ward in charge, CSX has invested heavily into upgrading the physical plant - over the past 5 years I have seen more rail, ballast and tie trains in operation than I have in the preceding 42 years of my career combined, as well as the MofW Curfews to install the rail and ties and get everything properly surfaced.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Just think, 3985 and 844 double heading up Sand Patch! Just a thought.
Rikers Yard Just think, 3985 and 844 double heading up Sand Patch! Just a thought.
would like to see but csx has too many in house mow issues to deal with.
stay safe
joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
CShaveRR A few years back, UP pointed out that if it merged with either eastern carrier, it would lose business, since it handled the majority of interchange business with both railroads as things stood then.
A few years back, UP pointed out that if it merged with either eastern carrier, it would lose business, since it handled the majority of interchange business with both railroads as things stood then.
You indeed have a good handle on the facts. Well done.
Considering the operating nightmare they had after the Southern Pacific aquistion I'd think UP would be a little gun-shy about any more mergers or aquisitions for a while. At any rate the status quo seems to be working pretty well for both parties right now. Why upset the apple cart?
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