I own a bunch of utilities, too, and have had railroads, UP included, for some time.  They are good basic stocks, both categories, linked to economic growth over the long term.  

So far, no regrets . . . 

UP did a 2-1 stock split on 6 June, pre-split price was near $200 UP has been doing really well lately

Did Buffett buy the wrong railroad?

What's nice about railroad stocks is that the industry essentially has a monopoly on heavy haul traffic........and no one will be entering the industry anew to introduce competition!

Absolutely NOT. BNSF is a far better managed railroad, and is more efficient than the UP. Plus, BNSF management no longer have to "answer to" a board of directors, i.e. they can react much more rapidly to changing markets and customer requirements. 

You can always purchase Berkshire Hathaway stock at 191,000.00 a share

 Your welcome   .

 My uncle bought NS stock $15-$18.00 a share a few years back. Paying off nicely.

 Railroad stock will fluctuate up and down ,but almost ( used lightly) stays on the profitable side of an investment if you buy low and hang on thru the rough times.

 I would think the NS stock should split around $110-$115.00 .It did the last time at $110.00 .

I have owned Union Pacific stock since Aug. 2012.

It is up 61% since then, been a nice investment.

I figure all those goods from China have to get across the country and railroads are hauling a good percentage of them.

Like PWTrains said I too purchased Union Pacific stock. It was in May of 2008 when  I purchased the stock at $52.50. At the beginning of this June it was selling for just over $200.00. This just before the stock split 2 for 1. A real good investment. Four months later in 2008 Warren Buffett though his Berkshire Hathaway Company purchased all of the outstanding shares of the BNSF. It was selling then for $50.00 and his company paid $75.00 a share to be sure he got all the shares he said then. That purchase put a spotlight on railroad stocks and railroad stocks have all been doing nicely since.

I don't think all of BNSF customers would agree.

There was and continues to be backed up trains on the single track North-South lines into St. Louis. (K line from Burlington, and River Sub to Memphis.) They may have a lot of business, but it is not very fluid!

Dan 

It's not very fluid due to the record breaking winter they had. Even the Canadian RR are so backup it will take months to fix it all and winter been over for months.