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Re: (erielack) Railroad presidents and EL business trains

In a message dated 10/5/04 10:11:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
paultup_@_lucent.com writes:


>  Also, doesn't CSX have a pair of "executive F40PHs"? What about Canadian 
> National's E-unit, or CP's F-units?  Even BN had executive F's (until the 
> BNSF merger)

Ooops; mispeak late at night.  Sorry.  Not sure CSX is keeping the F40s in 
service, the CN Es' fate is being reconsidered as we speak (past prez. Paul 
Tellier's successor will decide, the E-unit came with the Illinois Central 
acquisition); forgot about the CPR Fs (prez. Rob Ritchie is another of the grand 
old-school leaders -- and a great person), and the entire BNSF fleet of executive 
Es and Fs was given to IRM.  NS has a specially painted engine, but it's rare 
that it ever pulls the president.  The CSX / NS business cars have been 
floating up and down the Chemical Coast pretty regularly of late, and each time the 
consist has been a clean CSX and NS locomotive, nothing special, and not even 
particularly new.

The KCS and UP executive locos are the only ones that aren't remotely dubious 
- -- it would take a major change in philosophy and leadership before they're 
set aside.


>  > But all railroad CEOs answer to Wall Street, they always 
>  > have.
>  
>  I suppose, as they should. It *is* a business, after all. :)

It is a business first and foremost.  Making a profit is more important than 
running trains.  Right now in the south and in the west UP and CSX are so 
plugged they're even turnnig away big volume business to keep the main line fluid. 
This industry needs more track, lots of it.  NS has it figured out -- run a 
scheduled railroad, and charge top dollar for it.


>  Here's a question - why did the EL get the D&H 300, but sell off EL 1 and 
2? 
> Why not just keep one of those two, and let the D&H keep the 300? Was this 
a 
> Dereco maneuver?

The D&H 300 came to the EL in 1963 with president William White, and it 
followed him to the D&H from the New York Central (where he went from the DL&W in 
1952. He didn't save any New York Central steam, either.)  Biz cars often 
followed presidents.  Shoemaker's went to the CNJ with him.

                                        ....Mike
 

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