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Traffic Levels on the Union Pacific

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:29 PM

In the global economy, the US is above everyone else, as evidenced by the strong dollar, to the point that no one else can afford to buy from us.  What is going to fuel the big growth that some of you think we should be enjoying?

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Posted by Euclid on Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:11 PM

MidlandMike

In the global economy, the US is above everyone else, as evidenced by the strong dollar, to the point that no one else can afford to buy from us.  What is going to fuel the big growth that some of you think we should be enjoying?

The fuel for new economic growth will come from a change in policies that lower the risk of capital investment in business. 

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Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:37 PM

Not trying to be political but had Clinton version 1 stayed the course and actually made the Democratic Party more centrist and business oriented our GDP would probably be several trillion ahead of where we are today and National Debt would be less than 60% of GDP.   Unfortunately, we went on three detours, the first being 9-11 and associated costs, the second being a house for everyone no matter what their income which caused the 2008 crises.     Now we have Clinton version 2 which is more anti-Business than Lenin, which I am pretty confident will inspire financial crises #3 unless she drops a lot of what she is proposing.

The problem we have right now is a huge amount of private money on the sidelines because someone keeps changing the rules every year the investors keep waiting for dust that never settles, they need a stable 3-5 years of no significant changes to plan an invest monet.     The Democratic theory is at some point they will invest the money.    My own theory is let the dust settle and quit changing the rules and they might do that.

So maybe next President whomever it is,  should fix the tax code, obamacare, business regulation all in the first year, and leave the remaining 3 years to debate far less important issues like who can marry what and use what restroom.    Then I think you would see an economy with decent growth rates.

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:40 PM

CMStPnP
and leave the remaining 3 years to debate far less important issues like who can marry what and use what restroom. Then I think you would see an economy with decent growth rates.

How does that happen when you have so many people with the IQs of potatoes that only are worried about bathrooms and gay marriage and vote for equally intelligent congress critters that run on those platforms?

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 schlimm on Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:42 PM

Euclid

 

 
MidlandMike

In the global economy, the US is above everyone else, as evidenced by the strong dollar, to the point that no one else can afford to buy from us.  What is going to fuel the big growth that some of you think we should be enjoying?

 

The fuel for new economic growth will come from a change in policies that lower the risk of capital investment in business. 

 

The 2008 crisis was a consequence of externalizing risk to  small holders.

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, July 18, 2016 1:57 AM

zugmann
How does that happen when you have so many people with the IQs of potatoes that only are worried about bathrooms and gay marriage and vote for equally intelligent congress critters that run on those platforms?

My belief........It's changing and might take one more steep financial crises but the United States will live within it's means and balance it's budget fairly soon.   We just need a little more slapping around as a country.   Reminds me of that move remake....."The Day the Earth Stood Still".    Remember the Scientist in it (John Clease) arguing with the alien.     "Just when we are on the precipice of impending disaster we as humans change and find a way.....".    Same applies here, IMO.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Monday, July 18, 2016 2:46 PM

To get back toward the main concept of the thread.  We seem to be seeing a few more coal trains again.  Train symbols that are new.  Possibly they are ones that are detouring over my area while track work is taking place on their usual routes.  I know out in the coal fields they have recalled some furloughed people.

In my own area the pools have picked up enough that they are back to a more normal 30 to 40 hours off instead of 50 to 60 hours off.  Enough that I went back to the West pool.  (Sorry Brian, I won't be going East for awhile. Although I have thought about putting in a bid for the East pool,)

Jeff

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, July 18, 2016 3:45 PM

Have no direct proof or observation but we may see more coal movements due to the high heat weather.  My AC certainly is working harder ( more KW hours ) this year than last even though some insulation upgraded.  The evenings and nights warmer 75 - 79 lows.

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Posted by PJS1 on Monday, July 18, 2016 4:52 PM

According to the Weekly Carloads and Intermodal Traffic Reports, Week 28, UP carloads of coal are down 15 per cent from the same period in 2015. They are down 29 per cent year to date compared to 2015.

Over the last five weeks carloads of coal on the UP increased from 22,011 to 25,033, an increase of 13.7 per cent.

CSX carloads of coal for Week 28 are down 19.1 per cent from the same week in 2015 and 29.9 per cent year to date compared to 2015.

CSX carloads of coal over the last five weeks increased from 13,111 to 14,235, an increase of 8.6 per cent.

I pulled the data on these two roads because I have a financial stake in them, and I keep abreast of their financials.  I suspect the numbers for the other coal haulers are similar.  

You are correct.  The amount of coal being hauled is increasing, at least over the last five weeks, but the traffic is down significantly compared to last year.  

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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Posted by MidlandMike on Monday, July 18, 2016 9:13 PM

Euclid

 

 
MidlandMike

In the global economy, the US is above everyone else, as evidenced by the strong dollar, to the point that no one else can afford to buy from us.  What is going to fuel the big growth that some of you think we should be enjoying?

 

The fuel for new economic growth will come from a change in policies that lower the risk of capital investment in business. 

 

I am not fluent in emoticon, but I presume this is the one for eye-roll... Sad

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, July 18, 2016 9:39 PM

Mike, if you let your cursor rest on an emoticon, you should see what it represents before you select it.

Johnny

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