https://www.wsj.com/articles/c...on-as-ceo-1488829040
The truth is stranger than fiction.
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At least we know CSX will be steamless.
CSX=Can't Stand Xcursions
Can't read it.
WSJ requires a reader to set up an account and sign in. I'm not willing to do that. I get enough junk email... 
Just what we need.....another Stuart Sanders !
Not surprised that it happened, just did not expect it so quickly!
Well, now we'll finally be able to see what happens with a hedge fund manager as vice chairman of the board.
Number 90 posted:Well, now we'll finally be able to see what happens with a hedge fund manager as vice chairman of the board.
Seems like a conflict of interest doesn't it?
No, their interests are in total sync.
Is this a way to merge with is last Canadian employer ?
clem k posted:Is this a way to merge with is last Canadian employer ?
Hopefully not, I think UP would be a better fit.
This is interesting.
Not so fast...he is not the CEO of CSX yet.
Harrison's deal with CSX has to be approved by a vote of the shareholders. It appears that an affirmative vote is not a sure thing. If the shareholders don't approve this, he says he will resign.
The vote might be close. If you look at what he has done in the past from strictly an investor's point of view, he's in. If you add in the negatives from his tenure at CN and CP, then the picture is not so good. The link in the above post is interesting reading...for both sides of this.
The bottom line is that this is not yet a done deal.
It's like running up the score first half but losing the game. Cut the fat (aka "fat") bump the share price on a profits increase, take the cut and ... retire back to "Wind-Swept-Farms". As a non-investor, non-owner, arm chair analyst with no other experience on the matter -- I say pass.
“Physically, you can’t run as many trains as they’re running now with the workforce they have. It’s structurally impossible,” Finnson said. “We have a chronic shortage of workers.”
One might think that at some point matters of national security would come into play.
Then, one would think that of all of the people that live in the U.S., CSX could find somebody smart enough to run the railroad that doesn't require such an enormous expenditure of money.
Big Jim posted:Then, one would think that of all of the people that live in the U.S., CSX could find somebody smart enough to run the railroad that doesn't require such an enormous expenditure of money.
Yes one would think, however........
It feels appropriate that I happened upon two vultures sitting on the rails today. This is not CSX though but the Frisco (BNSF) line in Pacific Mo.
Nathan
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He closed all but 1 CP hump yard. Hope the same wont apply to CSX. I do think CSX has some Humps in the wrong areas. Maybe consolidate and build a modern yard in the middle like NS did with the enlarged Bellevue Yard.
I think upper management should do some ride outs on various trains to get a feel for them. But the Street to Seat thing may not pass the unions or the NSTB in the form used on CP, if it passes at all.
I noticed CSX has three Class 1 loco shops. THREE! BNSF and UP each only have ONE!
CSX has HQ in JAX, FL. End of the system in a hurricane zone.
Possible changes if Hunter comes on FULLY.
But I think Hunter is doing something right. I think companies need to change the culture and have the president and CEO as two different persons. The President can make nice to the public. The CEO gets down to operations. Think Picard and Ricker on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Dominic Mazoch posted:I noticed CSX has three Class 1 loco shops. THREE! BNSF and UP each only have ONE!
CSX has HQ in JAX, FL. End of the system in a hurricane zone.
Why would he want to move CSX HQ out of a business friendly, tax friendly state?? Just on the off chance some super storm would wipe JAX off the map.
Possible changes if Hunter comes on FULLY.
But I think Hunter is doing something right. I think companies need to change the culture and have the president and CEO as two different persons. The President can make nice to the public. The CEO gets down to operations. Think Picard and Ricker on STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Hunter needs to get the double stacking squared away in Baltimore, they have been farting around with that for decades...time for some strong leadership.
Amazing to see and read the comments of all the non railroad personal on here and their ideas who do not have a clue.
BobbyD posted:This is interesting.
Wow! What else can you say except "disgusting". Harrison sure doesn't think much of his skilled train crews. Bringing in office workers with little training to operate heavy freight trains in the mountains or for that matter anywhere is a receipt for a major disaster.
It takes years to become an experienced engineman or Conductor.... I find this situation really hard to believe.
Look out CSX employees. You're probably next.
A hedge fund manager and a guy that wants "back pay" from his previous stint at a competitor is what really bothers me. I see it as a "pump and dump" scenario ...
Why is CSX that only US class 1 that doesn't allow steam? UP, BNSF, and NS all allow steam right now. UP just their own, and NS just 611, but BNSF any large locomotive that meets their standards can run, like Milw 261 or SP 4449. Hunter Harrison stated that he hates steam after he took over CP. CP 2816 never ran while he was in charge. To him, steam excursions are a waste of time and money.
Gregg posted:BobbyD posted:This is interesting.
Wow! What else can you say except "disgusting". Harrison sure doesn't think much of his skilled train crews. Bringing in office workers with little training to operate heavy freight trains in the mountains or for that matter anywhere is a receipt for a major disaster.
It takes years to become an experienced engineman or Conductor.... I find this situation really hard to believe.
Look out CSX employees. You're probably next.
I think he tries it on CSX, he will bring up a big "K". (Strike).
Never mind the steam excursions - has not been any steam excursions on CSX rails I believe since the late eighties - now you have a Robber baron or a fox in the chicken coop in charge of the railroad. Hunter hates locomotives so he will get rid as many as possible. Hates union personnel so will try to replace as many with fearful white collars workers as possible. Only after enriching himself and his hedge fund cronies then will drop the railroad. Must be a reason why NS fought so hard to keep this wolf from the door.
NS maybe more intelligent at the top????
He has made severe changes to the transportation systems in the USA yet the Federal Gov and the Pres of the US have never gotten involved. How bad does it have to get for the feds to step in and check Hunter's methods.
