' Coulda been a contender

[Anonymous]

There's a reason there has never been, nor ever will be, a "first" end to end merger in the US. Think about it. Right now, BNSF and UP can interchange with both NS and CSX. NS goes places CSX doesn't, UP where BNSF doesn't, etc etc and vis versa. If for instance BNSF merged with NS, those current BNSF shippers would lose some of their "impartial" connections to CSX destinations. Thus, BNSF would potentially lose customers, not gain any.

Now, the GWN is a different story, with both CP and CN going coast to coast from their inceptions.

[Murphy Siding]

Would this merger have been able to dominate the market in intermodal shipment?

[tree68]

Even more interesting might have been the eventual fall out - what mergers would have followed. BN-CSX? BN-NS? (Burlington Southern? - not a good reporting mark.[swg]) UP + who knows?

[nanaimo73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

What would it have been like to see blue Warbonnets?

I would have loved to see this one-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=210461

A little darker blue, perhaps?[:)]

Perhaps two paint schemes, red and silver warbonnet for intermodal and Conrail blue for yard engines and unit trains.
Perhaps they would have rebuilt that line across Indiana between Wheatfield and South Bend.

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

What would it have been like to see blue Warbonnets?

I would have loved to see this one-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=210461

A little darker blue, perhaps?[:)]

[nanaimo73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

What would it have been like to see blue Warbonnets?

I would have loved to see this one-
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=210461

[Murphy Siding]

I was surprised to read in an old Trains Magazine that Conrail had merger talks with Sata Fe at one time. Imagine the potential that end-to-end merger would have had! Instead, ATSF decided to go after Southern Pacific, and we know how that ended. What would it have been like to see blue Warbonnets?