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"CPKC" Must Be Stopped...

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"CPKC" Must Be Stopped...
Posted by KBCpresident on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 2:09 PM

Clickbait title intentional. But I am talkign about the name.

I read an article awhile back sayign that BNSF and CSX need to have more descriptive names. Now these guys are dogin the same thing.

You have created a massive railroad that spans three countries and much of an entire continent and THIS is the best they can come up with? I get name recognition but....

So here are my proposals:

Arctic & Gulf

Canadian-American-Mexican (CAM Railways)

Great Central Railway

Great Midland Railway

North American RR Co. Ltd.

I understand that these two companies oth have enough heritage under their belt that no one wants to lose the name recognition, but this just sounds a bit lazy to me.

Thoughts on the name? On my proposals? In general?

The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad

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Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 2:27 PM

Canada Southern?

Calgary, Mexico, St Paul & Pacific?

Kansas City, Mexico & St Lawrence?  

Gulf, Montreal & Alberta?

Montreal, Mexico & Pacific?

I believe the merged CN-BNSF system was going to be called North American Railways and at any rate CN still owns the NAR reporting mark (they acquired the Northern Alberta Railway in 1980), which they resurrected for some company service equipment about 10 years ago.

The initials of Canada-U.S.-Mexico may have an unpleasant connotation.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Bruce Kelly on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 2:28 PM

Canamex?

 

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Posted by azrail on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 2:45 PM

Big Beaver RR? (BBVR)

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 2:49 PM

I think Exxon had a lot to do with the initial mania (ie, going with initials).

As I understand it, they programmed a computer with some basic rules for what they wanted to see and picked Exxon out of the output.  

While initials have been used for ages, they always stood for something (ie, BP = British Petroleum).  Not so much these day.  Just grab some letters out of the sky and away you go...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by KBCpresident on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 2:50 PM

SD70Dude

Calgary, Mexico, St Paul & Pacific?

I like this one; it harkens back to the Milwaukee Road!

I'm still voting for my  "Arctic and Gulf" since it speaks to the sheer size of the system.

The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad

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Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 3:01 PM

Kansas City Northern and Southern

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 3:06 PM

What was the name they were going to call the merged CN and IC company when the idea was first floated in the late 80s or early 90s?  

Or: Greater North American Transportation?  (Has the brain of one)

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Posted by spsffan on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 3:07 PM

Taggart Transcontinental 

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 3:08 PM

One "concept" model railroad I once came up with was the "America NorthEastern," which basically came true with Conrail.  Mine was totally fictional (no real place names, etc), but...

Trans America?

 

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 Ulrich on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 3:10 PM

Canadian Pacific Railway.. 

CP purchased KCS after all.. 

 

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Posted by KBCpresident on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 3:35 PM

I agree with the sentiment here

Ulrich

Canadian Pacific Railway.. 

CP purchased KCS after all.. 

However while I think that "Canadian Pacific" described the pre-merger system, I thnk the name should be changed somehow to celebrate their Mexican connection.

The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad

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Posted by Vermontanan2 on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 4:02 PM

KBCpresident

I'm still voting for my  "Arctic and Gulf" since it speaks to the sheer size of the system.

Not applicable.  It's still likely the smallest Class I (though just barely, CN and CSX are close), even including the Mexican portion.

"Arctic and Gulf" would be a better name for CN because it actually serves Gulf of Mexico ports as well as serves places generally considered as in the Arctic, such as Hay River, NWT and is the primary connection to regional railroads like Ontario Northland and the Hudson Bay Railroad to Churchill, MB and Moosonee, ON respectively.  

While CP serves lots of places that get cold, they don't venture to anyplace which would be considered "The Arctic" as it appears their northernmost point is a Viterra grain elevator northeast of Bruderheim, Alberta, which is only about 35 miles from Edmonton, and Edmonton is closer to the border with Montana than to the border with the Northwest Territories.

 

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Posted by KBCpresident on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 4:10 PM

"Canadian & Gulf" Then?

I knew this was a bit of a stretch since CP doesn't serve the arctic, but the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe was a transcontinental system running from LA to Chicago barely serving its namesake. From the name, it sounds like it connects Kansas to New Mexico.

So creative liberties when naming a company seem to be allowed.

The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad

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Posted by Ulrich on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 4:19 PM

Anything with a vowel in it would be a good start.. and if it's a name containing words that can be pronounced.. now we're rockin.. 

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Posted by KBCpresident on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 6:09 PM

I heard a conspiracy theory that BNSF was so-called because they wanted Norfolk Southern thus BN NS SF.

Clever. But they own the traedmark to the name "Atlantic & Pacific". If BNSF buys NS and does not rebrand themselves as "Atlantic & Pacific" I would be beyond disapointed.

The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad

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Posted by kgbw49 on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 7:15 PM

In the rhythmic vein of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe:

Montreal, Chicago & Monterrey

Maybe they can come up with a catchy tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdyI2w_gmic

 

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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 7:19 PM

Is the PanAm name available again?

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 8:32 PM

MidlandMike
Is the PanAm name available again?

I believe that CSX now owns it with the purchase of the railroad.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Lithonia Operator on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 10:06 PM

I'm with Bruce Kelly: Canamex Railway.

CPKC is really lame.

Still in training.


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Posted by Leo_Ames on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 10:16 PM

I'm still crossing my fingers that it will live on as Canadian Pacific.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 10:27 PM

CANA   canadian and north America?  or Canadian north America

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Posted by mvlandsw on Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:19 AM

Canadian Pacific International

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Posted by caldreamer on Thursday, April 27, 2023 6:40 AM

CANA is good, but add the Mixican portion, so CANAM  (Canadian North America and Mexico) which is catchy and includes all parts of the railroad

,

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Posted by kgbw49 on Thursday, April 27, 2023 7:15 AM

CSX likely owns Pan Am now.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, April 27, 2023 10:11 AM

mvlandsw

Canadian Pacific International

 
A bit of a redundancy when you consider all of Canadian Pacific's operations and history.  Also, Canadian Airlines International existed when Pacific Western absorbed CP Air.
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Posted by azrail on Thursday, April 27, 2023 10:20 AM

Canadian-American-Mexican (CAM Railways)

CAMrail?  CAMSTAR?

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Posted by azrail on Thursday, April 27, 2023 10:24 AM

A bit of a redundancy when you consider all of Canadian Pacific's operations and history.  Also, Canadian Airlines International existed when Pacific Western absorbed CP Air.

I remember it was marketed as Canadi>n Airlines...to keep the Quebecqois happy!

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Posted by azrail on Thursday, April 27, 2023 10:25 AM

CSX meant "Chessie Seaboard X (multiplied)"

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Posted by Backshop on Thursday, April 27, 2023 10:43 AM

Having the KC name in a railroad that big seems kind of odd. I know that it's in homage to the KCS but to an outsider, it doesn't make any sense.  It's not that big or important of a city.

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