Should the Government Breakup Union Pacific?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by K. P. Harrier

It seems one cannot stop and wave at a UP train anymore without fear of going to jail. It seems one cannot decal a model locomotive with UP on it without some type of royalty payment. If the government decreed a breakup of the UP into two or three roads, it seems few tears would ever be shed.

IT isin't going to happen due to 1st of all *** Cheny was on the UP board
2nd this is a free country so the Goverment couldn't tell UP to stop makeing model RR companies to decal their Locomotives
3rd they'ed also have to break up Roadway Express and American Airlines also
4th You would be aresseted prorably by KCS for waving at an enginner

[JoeKoh]

Make railroads smaller and care about the customers they serve?Yea that would be a good idea but its not going to happen.and about taking pics and waving as long as you take pics and leave footprints you should be ok.
stay safe
Joe

[vsmith]

Wouldnt they also have to break up the other large massive carriers like BNSF or CSX or NS also?

They may not be as large as U Pee but they aint much smaller. After all, break U Pee and then whose the 600 lb monster? NS? CSX?

How would you divide it? Revive SP? didnt SP manage themselves into bankruptcy?

Too many problems, U Pee is too big. Out here on the west coast now there are only two carriers, U Pee and BNSF. Is that sufficient competition?

U Pee cannot expand any more in the west, Take over BNSF? the Goverment would never allow a monopoly of rail service. There is really only a handfull of carriers nationwide anymore, who else could they swallow?

[AlcoRS11Nut]

QUOTE: Originally posted by K. P. Harrier

It seems one cannot stop and wave at a UP train anymore without fear of going to jail. It seems one cannot decal a model locomotive with UP on it without some type of royalty payment. If the government decreed a breakup of the UP into two or three roads, it seems few tears would ever be shed.

I would shed a tear!!!! I love UP!!!!!!

For your information: I watch Union Pacific trains ALL the time, and I NEVER got "in trouble"!!!!

[Modelcar]

....Seems to be no basis for any breakup of such company. Let it thrive and help support the economic structure of this country which is just now starting to thrive again after almost 3 years of our stagnant economy.

[TH&B]

Breaking up the uprr might seem like a good idea but it means you should also break up every large coorperation in the US!

[jchnhtfd]

I'd have to say no -- partly for mudchicken's reasons, partly because there is no monopoly issue here. Much as I may sometimes dislike the way UP chooses to play the game, they are playing by the rules. If you don't happen to like the rules, (mudchicken's #5), get the people (Congress) to change the rules. Don't demonize the players.

[dharmon]

What exactly is it that UP is doing wrong or illegally to justify a breakup?

All of their mergers have been approved by the STB. It doesn't appear that anti-trust would be a basis.....let's face it many of the RR absorbed into UP may not have made it to today independently. They are not unfairly driving competetors from business (Microsoft). And while they may be monopolizing rail transportation in some areas, they are really competinig with trucks, not BNSF and CSX and NS and......

Withg regards to photography, if you are doing it from a public place, not tresspassing, and not seeking to profit from images of thier equipment, then you have nothing to worry about. If you are questioned..tell the truth. The ACLU will be more than happy to take a case against unreasonable search and seizure under the name of security. But that being said, there is heightened security concerns right now. Things that seems ordinary and simple to you may not be. You'd be surprised what an easy target looks like. The US has not been attacked since WWII...........I am a big supporter of constitutionality and rights....but I am also a big supporter of stop whining and do your part to help preventing folks from hitting us....


The logo licensing stuff.....is well within their rights.........just as it is for NASCAR, the NBA and NFL. Big deal. It may add a dollar or two to already overpriced models. Don't buy UP stuff. Or learn to make your own decals.

So why do they deserve to be broken up? They are working under the same economic principles that built America....compete, grow, expand, make money......Do you think Gould or Harriman would give a thought to whether the railfan's or modeler's feeling were hurt over a buck.....????

I'm not a UP fan. I am a fan of the consitution, rights, free market economy...and railroads.

[mudchicken]

Fat chance.......

(1) The STB/ US Government reverse itself?
(2) The associated costs!
(3) Break-up the airlines & trucking companies too?
(4) React to hysteria generated by one VERY small constituency?
(5) Void copyright and trademark laws almost as old as the country?

[K. P. Harrier]

It seems one cannot stop and wave at a UP train anymore without fear of going to jail. It seems one cannot decal a model locomotive with UP on it without some type of royalty payment. If the government decreed a breakup of the UP into two or three roads, it seems few tears would ever be shed.