What is it that you hate the UNION PACIFIC so much?

[espeefoamer]

Yes! It's in the Brooklyn Roundhouse, the SP facility in Portland.Also there is SP&S 700, and a UP 4-6-2.

[rrnut282]

Isn't that in the Portland workshop of Doyle Mcormack?

[Anonymous]

Ya.....To much POWER!......I meant the SP 4449? not the 4440.
Were is the SP 4449 at?

[Anonymous]

Hating the UP took hold with the transcontinental railroad. Their Credit Mobile front company was one of the most corrupt in American history, trading stock for votes on the floors of the House and Senate. Then they exterminated the buffalo and treated American Indians and Chinese railroad workers little better. In contrast, James J. Hill built the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, & Burlington in an admirable way.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, wabash1, I KNOW I'm right on target. Apparently CSSHEGEWISCH didn't get the point and doesn't understand day to day RR operations--there were NO VIOLATIONS of safety in that UP idiot manager's report. Here's a guy in charge of enforcing the rules, and he doesn't even know them himself. Earplugs not required in your ears more than 100 ft away from a loading engine--no viloation. Of course saftey is of utmost importance. That's a no brainer.

Totally agree on radio procedures--here in the Port of LA there's so much NEEDLESS and meaningless radio chatter it can be dangerous, stepping on a switch move that needs that airwave at that time. Who cares if you say redzone, or in-between; It's the action required that's important.

[Philcal]

Don't hate the UP,don't even dislike it. Their upper level management sure did blow it though when they failed to listen to SP guys who knew what they were talking about.Ditto,Chicago and Northwestern. UP does a lot of things right(big steam,TV advertising).They do need to get better out where steel wheel meets steel rail.

[Anonymous]

By the way were the heck is SP 4440?

[espeefoamer]

While they are to be commended for having a steam program, they have decreed that only UP steam locos can run on UP tracks. This means that ex SP 4449 will never run on the old SP anymore.[:(]

[Anonymous]

uncle pete ran behind my house in nelson ill. fine running as any. i dont like snakes they can bite. i dont like tornados. and especially dont like satan. eventually only 2 rrs in usa. bnsf up . so better accept unc. pete. we cant change him.think positive

[Anonymous]

Ya..........we can't handle it[:)].

[Anonymous]

I get the sense that most people don't "hate" UP, but there does seem to be a lot not to like about them. They seem to have had real trouble merging with other railroads, not taking advantage of good management at those companies, and doing things the UP way to the detriment of service to clients. The complete meltdown of service after the merger with SP is a good example.

Then they have made serious mistakes in forecasting business growth and having the proper staffing and equipment available to handle that growth. It has to be pretty embarrasing to ask UPS to take some of their business off the trains, and then actually cancel the coast to coast express run. Other railroads might have similar problems, but you don't hear about such extreme examples as we have heard from UP this year.

Finally, every large company is a target for complaints, especially when they have taken over so many other companies. People directly or indirectly related to those merged companies are going to be prejudiced against the new company. So while hate is a pretty strong word, UP has not done a great job in many areas and they probably deserve a lot of the criticism they have received.

[Willy2]

mrlove - I'm sure that there are going railroads for a long time to come. I wouldn't get to riled up over the situation. I really seriously think we should look at the silver lining on the cloud. Railroads will be in this country for a long time to come. I know that Iraqi railroads are not the greatest, but if THEY still have railroads, I don't see why we need to worry about losing OUR railroads.

Willy

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem with todays so-called railroads is that they "love" to abandon as many miles of track as posible. If it keeps going at this rate their isn't going to be any railroad left,railfans are going to have to find a new hobby!......And THAT'S pretty sad!
What the CNW did getting rid of the old cowboy line was a very stupid move on there part and no thanks to the damn UNION PACIFIC the line would still be here today.
And no one can't tell me thats not true because IT IS TRUE! Those people up in northern nebraska swore up and down that the demise of the cowboy line would surly mean DEATH to northern nebraska......and sure enough.
The CNW cowboy line had alot of rich history behind it and Im extreamly sad thats it's gone.......over 300 miles...... GONE!
"That's why I HATE the UNION PACIFIC" I just hope and pray that there are no more track abandonments![:(][:(!].

[wabash1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

The complaint by razzy24us about overzealous rules enforcement is rather short-sighted since the situations he cites involve safety rules. It is important to everybody that following the safety rules becomes second nature to the worker since it improves his chances of finishing his tour of duty with all parts intact.

Safety is of the first importance in the discharge of duty.

Razzy is right on and you are just a little off. ( ns brainwashing off) razzy made the statement that they didnt like it cause they didnt hear red zone. for years we told each other we was going in. and the engineer didnt move now we haft to take up more time saying give me 3 step with engine number job number and then the engineer must repeat this and then the conductor repeats this again. hell he could already have the work done and the radio wouldnt have as much chatter on it. Ear plugs most officials dont even know that rule they just read engine and earplugs and write you up. the rule is ear plugs must be worn on LOADING engines. not engines that are running engines that are loading. My all time favorite is the one that states you are not allowed to stand directly in front of a moving train or engine. well duh!!! I wonder if the trainmasters would come out in the field and give us a example of this one.

[Rustyrex]

Personally, because they tore up sections of the old Mo-pac Colorado Eagle line and DRGW Tennessee Pass to keep BNSF or another road(IMRL was interested in this line, Norfolk Southern as well) from getting a Kansas City to the West Coast Transcon route, literally burning the briges behind them. A 60 MPH track in 1997 is now just grass and ballast in sections.

[jeffhergert]

Yesterday my engineer and myself were discussing railroading in general and the UP specfically.
My opinion is that while more arrogant, the way it's managed is really no different than any other major US company, railroad or not. They do short-sited, stupid things because long term is the next quarterly report. That seems to be the way of modern management in the US.
Also, around here the consensus about the style of management is the "Mop mentallity." After the UP aquired the MP, a lot of top jobs went to MP officers. One of our local managers reportedly said he worked for the MP, went to another railroad to get away from them, than the UP took it over, now he's back working for them again.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Willy2

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

Yeah, well he can get stuffed.

I'm looking at most of your sotries, and it appears your all judging from a single thing gone wrong, or NOT IN YOUR FAVOR. suddenly the whole Railroad is bad?

Thought we were a bit more mature then that!

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

I first started to dislike UP when one of its execs made a comment about railfans that I didn't like, after that it all went down hill from there.

Kevin - I don't hate the Union Pacific. I just am not fond of them. Some of the nonsense they have come up with in the past years is really getting at my nerves. Some people have said that they don't care what railroad it is because as long as it is a railroad they like it. I'm the same, I still watch UP trains. I just don't like UP.

Willy

It was not just one thing, small things UP does (or did) that add up after a while. Same with CSX.

[Willy2]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

Yeah, well he can get stuffed.

I'm looking at most of your sotries, and it appears your all judging from a single thing gone wrong, or NOT IN YOUR FAVOR. suddenly the whole Railroad is bad?

Thought we were a bit more mature then that!

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

I first started to dislike UP when one of its execs made a comment about railfans that I didn't like, after that it all went down hill from there.

Kevin - I don't hate the Union Pacific. I just am not fond of them. Some of the nonsense they have come up with in the past years is really getting at my nerves. Some people have said that they don't care what railroad it is because as long as it is a railroad they like it. I'm the same, I still watch UP trains. I just don't like UP.

Willy

[Anonymous]

I dont mind Union Pacific at all. Besides they look great on the camera![8D][tup]

[Anonymous]

Dougal...........That is a DAMN true statement that you made! Very goog point.
But I also must understand that alot of the railroad workers GO THROUGH alot of $hit Too,case in point.BNSFfan.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, well he can get stuffed.

I'm looking at most of your sotries, and it appears your all judging from a single thing gone wrong, or NOT IN YOUR FAVOR. suddenly the whole Railroad is bad?

Thought we were a bit more mature then that!

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

I first started to dislike UP when one of its execs made a comment about railfans that I didn't like, after that it all went down hill from there.

[Anonymous]

I first started to dislike UP when one of its execs made a comment about railfans that I didn't like, after that it all went down hill from there.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The complaint by razzy24us about overzealous rules enforcement is rather short-sighted since the situations he cites involve safety rules. It is important to everybody that following the safety rules becomes second nature to the worker since it improves his chances of finishing his tour of duty with all parts intact.

Safety is of the first importance in the discharge of duty.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ringer1

As a retired UP (7 years Great Northern, 33 years Chicago Northwestern and the final 5 yars UP) employee I think the biggest fault of the UP is lousy planning in its recent mergers and other aquasitions. When they took over the CNW there was a period of about nine months of chaos. The same and only worse when the SP was taken over.

The management did not listen to the employees of the acquired properities and it showed.

Hope the next one is better.



Ringer
(God Bless the Great Northern)

Seems to be a pervasive attitude among management - don't listen to the help!

[CShaveRR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie
I don't see much UP, so BNSF fan because I recognize their engines. But like them all.

Sister Jen, I have this impulse to give you a great big hug after reading that! I happen to like the UP because they pay me to watch trains. But the thrill comes no matter whose train I'm watching. So I was most assuredly a BNSF fan while I was in Lincoln (except for that minute or two when I was an OLB fan)!

As a railroader, I see plenty of things while train-watching that I recognize as screw-ups. But I'm not privy to all that went on beforehand, nor should I be speculating on what should have been done instead. At work, I just do my job as best I can, trying hard to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

As a retired UP (7 years Great Northern, 33 years Chicago Northwestern and the final 5 yars UP) employee I think the biggest fault of the UP is lousy planning in its recent mergers and other aquasitions. When they took over the CNW there was a period of about nine months of chaos. The same and only worse when the SP was taken over.

The management did not listen to the employees of the acquired properities and it showed.

Hope the next one is better.



Ringer
(God Bless the Great Northern)

[wallyworld]

UP is the Martha Stewart of the railroad industry. It's competitive corporate ego matches its physical size only to find it's karma causes it to trip over it's own feet on the red carpet in a very public way. I regret the industry's community black eye that once again only reinforces the perception that the reach of Class I roads exceeds their grasp. We Can Handle It? I have no ill will against UP but
it is mismanaged. I hope they resolve their self created problems as quickly as possible.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cpbloom

I miss Conrail, but I hold no ill will towards NS or CSX . NS runs just as many trains by CP-Bloom as Conrail did (maybe even more) and that is what matters. As far as what the management is doing for a specific railroad I don't care; I'm not railfanning because of the management. I hear my friends complain all the time over some dumb $h*t the managers have done at their place of employment so it can't be just happening at UP.

I agree with the last part of your statement. People on here are mostly old enough to realize that everything is cyclical. UP will recover and regain all the lost ground and be on top again. I don't see much UP, so BNSF fan because I recognize their engines. But like them all.

Mook

[cpbloom]

I miss Conrail, but I hold no ill will towards NS or CSX . NS runs just as many trains by CP-Bloom as Conrail did (maybe even more) and that is what matters. As far as what the management is doing for a specific railroad I don't care; I'm not railfanning because of the management. I hear my friends complain all the time over some dumb $h*t the managers have done at their place of employment so it can't be just happening at UP.