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Canadian Pacific Norfolk Southern Merger

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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 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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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 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.    

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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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 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.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

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 Victrola1 on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 11:34 AM
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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 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 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! 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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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 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 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 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.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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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 2:17 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.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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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 Ulrich on Friday, February 26, 2016 2:13 PM

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.

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, February 26, 2016 2:04 PM

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 showing up here, but we're close to the border.  I got some "Timbits" in Toronto last year and really didn't care for them.

LarryWhistling
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Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by oltmannd on Friday, February 26, 2016 1:58 PM

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

And, if you did, you would find no substance, just fluff.  There isn't even ballpark estimates of benefits.

The whole economic arguement is based on:

1) If NS were to operate at the North American avg OR..

and

2) EHH is magic.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Convicted One on Friday, February 26, 2016 1:11 PM

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

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Posted by Convicted One on Friday, February 26, 2016 12:35 PM

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

 

Uhh huh, So we are expected to accept at face value accolades touting "Forward looking" intangibles, followed closely with this disclaimer:

"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,"

 Essentually they expect to implement the same measures already employed at CP  rewarding  stockholders in the near term, while expecting the long term to fend for itself?  And if (when) that proves too big a nut for them to crack alone, the future of America depends upon yet another "too big to fail" bailout?  Gee I can hardly wait. Sounds to me as though what CP has in mind for NS rhymes with "cape".

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Posted by AgentKid on Friday, February 26, 2016 12:03 AM

Miningman
Americans will benefit, as we can send you way better chocolate bars ( Caramilk, Crispy Crunch, Coffee Crisp and so on )

AMEN, brother! I don't believe those pour souls get "Oh Henry!"s, "Aero"s or "Smarties" either.

Although, did you see a recent episode of Limitless(CBS Tuesday's) where they identified a suspect as Canadian because they found an empty "Smarties" box in his home? It was described as Canadian "M&M"s.

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 Miningman on Thursday, February 25, 2016 8:20 PM

Americans will benefit, as we can send you way better chocolate bars ( Caramilk, Crispy Crunch, Coffee Crisp and so on ) and those maple sugar cookies shaped liked little leaves and some really good beer at a substantial discount. 

Just kidding of course. One would have to wade through all those pages of the merger proposal to see what the supposed benefits would be. CP has a dedicated web page regarding the merger which also makes the benefits clear. 

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Posted by Convicted One on Thursday, February 25, 2016 5:36 PM

Exactly who, other that CP's largest stockholders would benefit from such a merger?

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, February 25, 2016 4:53 PM

I trust that Mr. Stripes will earn his stars.

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, February 25, 2016 4:22 PM

I keep getting the feeling that CP picked NS as their target because of Jim Squires being in the top job for only 2 years and having been promoted from VP Administration (ie. chief paper pusher) and thus not the kind of personality that is used to the hard ball nature of railroad operations and financial wars and does not possess a resume that show proficiency in either.  Squires will either earn his stripes at NS or become a part of CP

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, February 25, 2016 4:09 PM

Ulrich

I'm impressed that HH is still in the game, unfazed it appears. That's how you win.. you just don't quit. NS doesn't know what hit 'em.. he's going to wear them down. Government Motors', Ford, and UPS's votes against aren't going to stop this man.

 

 

 

NS is known for their stubbornness.  EHH may have met his match.  Besides, as old as he is, time is NOT something he has in abundance.

 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, February 25, 2016 3:44 PM

I'm impressed that HH is still in the game, unfazed it appears. That's how you win.. you just don't quit. NS doesn't know what hit 'em.. he's going to wear them down. Government Motors', Ford, and UPS's votes against aren't going to stop this man.

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Posted by Victrola1 on Thursday, February 25, 2016 2:15 PM

The War of the White Papers escalates. When do we get newsreel footage from the front? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWQf13B8epw

 

 

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