Before BNSF

[Kevin M]

Just out of curiosity how many of you were fans of the BN before the merger, how many of you were fans of SF before the merger?
I was a BN fan and still am at heart.
Kevin

[bnsffan]

Always was and always will be a BN fan. Great those green motors rolling!

Matthew
BNsfFAN...Nebraska

Visit my BNSF Motive Power Archive http://www.trainweb.org/bnsfmpa

[Maxwell Plant]

Yep, I like the BN, but it's a close second to the ATSF. I always felt these two great roads would get together and be the GREATEST RAILWAY IN HISTORY! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif I miss the "Jolly Greens" almost as much as the "Warbonnets". I just wish BNSF would come up with a scheme that they can stick with. It seems to me they are trying to please both camps by using the current paint colors and design. They should of come up with something TOTALLY NEW to give BNSF it's own identity. Not only that, Krebs and BNSF had said in TRAINS magizine and a book I have called, "Railroad Color History-Santa Fe Railway" (Steve Glischinski,Motorbooks International:1997) "The Warbonnet colors will be retained by BNSF." Well, we all know what a lie that was. This is a great book and has some SUPER pics in it. Steve Smedley is one of the featured Photographers from Central Illinois. Great work again Steve! Anyway, I do like the ATSF, BN, BNSF and all of the original familys.

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BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!

[This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 28 September 2000).]

[Jack Doran]

I was and always will be a BN fan. When they combine the two. I question it at first. But soon came around to liking the whole company. I still miss my BN green though. Those warbonnets do grow on you.

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Keep on railroad'n

[ed pinkley]

i must say that i am and always will be a huge bn fan.those of you who know me know that is my first love in model railroading(my loco roster proves it!).the bnsf has really grown on me.i still remember seing my first 70mac.oooohhhhhhh my.now when i go to st.louis on the train for work i always carry my camera for bn and bnsf pics.my personal reason for liking the bn so much is the lease power, they run so much of.that is why i model them.so many colorfull units available.i must say my favorite engine was the 1991 freedom fighter.too bad they repainted it now,but that gives me another loco to paint up.anyway just thought i'd let you all know that the bn is #1 in my book still and always.long live railroad days at galesburg a bnsf lovers dream.

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ed pinkley home of the pinkley taurus

[tunnel88]

Growing up in BN country i'm a true fan... But the day i saw those SD60MACs demonstrating their prowess for the first time i new things were going to start changing...

I always loved the Warbonnet as well, as the SF did bring power up the joint line. I still rememember the Kodachrome as a kid as well.

But i've seen the Rio Grande, the SP and of course always the UP and i love all these roads. Well maybe not as much as the BN, but they'll always be close to my heart! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

[Kevin M]

I grew up (still growing) in Washington state so all I ever saw around here were BN SD40-2's and GP38's so I guess I just got used to it, I love the BN, now when ever I go out and see a train most likly it has a BNSF C44-9W on the front and thats ok, but it's getting harder and harder to see any BN six axel loco's and it makes me all tear up and inside and..... I got to go now
Kevin

[Alan]

I was always an ATSF fan, but liked the BN as well, so BNSF is great for me http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://www.trainweb.org/andersleywestern/)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)

[DakotaFan]

BN definitely. I was with my brother and my son (BN4EVR) on the bridge at Belmont, NE when we heard Paul Harvey announce the merger. It the first time we saw the outside, and inside of an SD70MAC! I would encourage all BN fans to join the Friends of the Burlington Northern Railroad (SIG). We need to get our membership numbers up to help us preserve the history and memory of the BN. We also follow the current activity of the BNSF.

[Kevin M]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I would encourage all BN fans to join the Friends of the Burlington Northern Railroad (SIG). We need to get our membership numbers up to help us preserve the history and memory of the BN. We also follow the current activity of the BNSF.[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do you have a website or a address so I can get more info on it? Thanks,
Kevin

[LCSO_927]

I was never a big fan of either BN or ATSF, but now that my beloved Espee is gone, I have to choose between UP and BNSF. I can't help having a little animosity for the company that took away SP, and last time I was in the Columbia River Gorge BNSF put on an excellent show for me. I also think the orange and green looks a little nicer under the constantly overcast skies out here than Cascade Green did, so I'd have to say I'm glad that BNSF merger happened.

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Mike Smith lcso_927@hotmail.com
Eugene, Oregon

LCSO's RailPics (http://www.trainweb.org/railpics) ~ License and registration please... (http://www.angelfire.com/or/LCSO927)
"She's not really gone if her memory lives on in our hearts."
http://ic.yimg.com/c/a021e733/h/tn_1dae3f/grave.jpg Southern Pacific 1865-1996

[Gats]

I AM and always WILL be a BN fan.

I still question the merger and their choice of paint scheme.

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
TrainBoard Moderator and Member No.377
Partying in the Olympic City - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...
N to the Nth degree!

[Craig Martyn]

I liked them both! Now I like them as a "whole."

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Craig Martyn

Best Looking Models Around
Custom detailing

AND N scale detail parts.

BLMA N Scale Detail Parts (http://users4.50megs.com/blma/)
BLMAinfo@aol.com

[BNSF FAN]

I'm with Alan. A big ATSF fan but had a soft spot for the BN. So with BNSF, I guess you could say we have the best of both worlds! http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

[Rappannahock Terminal]

To be honest, I liked much more the green paint schemes than the new merger ones.

Paul

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Paul Van Herwegen
Rappannahock Terminal Railway
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=977739&a=7602263&p=28828690http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=977739&a=7602263&p=28828692

[pray59]

I was a fan of the BN before the BN!

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Robert Ray
The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad (http://members.home.net/pray59)

[mtaylor]

Hmmmmmm
would that be GN, NP & CB&Q ?

I was hatched in BN country, Minnesota, so I am partial to BN. But I do like the ATSF as well. As someone else said, it is the best of both worlds. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Matt

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pray59:
I was a fan of the BN before the BN!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[DakotaFan]

The Friends Of the Burlington Northern Railroad (SIG) website is under construction. Authorization to go ahead with it was given at our annual convention in St. Paul this August. We have a quarterly publication called "The BN Expediter" and the 2001 convention will be in Moorhead, MN/Fargo, ND June 15 and 16. We are hoping for a yard tour in Dilworth plus a speaker both Friday and Saturday night. We are a small organization so far but hope to grow to help preserve the BN. Annual dues are $20, for 2000 at least, and our Secretary is Gary Seymour at P.O. Box 271, West Bend, WI 53095-0271.

[BN4EVR]

Do you have to ask me? Check out the UserName! I love the BN. I always have, and I am feeling an ever-increasing need to obtain all BN related books, and preserve its short history in general. A heck of a lot can happen in 25 years!

[atsfman]

Santa Fe only for me. I grew up in a Santa Fe family, I worked for them summers and put myself through college, and worked for them in Topeka for 11 years after college. I model Santa Fe both in HO and large scale. Of the two railroads, only Santa Fe had a great history, because BN wasn't around long enough to really get one. I don't really follow BNSF, but do enough to think they sure aren't the class act Santa Fe was.
Guess this says what fence I sit on.
Bob Miller
Kansas City

[SuperC]

atsfman echoes the centiments of someone else i know of in the KS city area who just happens to be a BNSF engineer and has produced several books on the ATSF. My feelings are that the BN and ATSF merger is the result of a delayed ATSF/Burlington merger. I became a BN fan several years ago and have since i can remember (probaly since birth) "LOVED" the ATSF. At first i thought i would have a cutoff date, but as time proceded BNSF and ALL it`s various paintschemes have become just as Great to me as it`s predessors. If the BN fans think that the SF should take a hike i ask this question ,who has the Greatest name in railroading? Together we are just THE GREATEST !!

[tunnel88]

I wonder which road would have survived longer on it's own...

Getting the flames rolling...

[SSW9389]

Growing up in Central Illinois in the late 50's my parents used to take Sunday drives. Often we would end up in Chillicothe, Illinois and watch the Santa fe passenger fleet roll through in the afternoon. So that's why its Santa Fe All The Way!

[Gats]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tunnel88:
I wonder which road would have survived longer on it's own...

Getting the flames rolling...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Both would have survived on their own if the UP/SP merger had fallen through. Well, until the next attempt that is. Both had sufficient revenues to remain seperate.
Not knowing the reasons, I feel it was a strategic merger to counter UP's increased size after the SP merger. No matter how strong either were, one, if not both, would eventually have been swallowed by the BORG.

My 2c.

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
TrainBoard Moderator and Member No.377
N to the Nth degree!

[Maxwell Plant]

Auuuh Gary, I think UP/SP was a result of BNSF. BNSF happened first...I also feel that neither the BN or ATSF would EVER fall into the hands of the Borg! Both BN and ATSF were NEVER UP friendly, they wouldn't let it happen, Thank God!

I got hooked on ATSF from trips to Peru, IL. to see family. We'd take US 51(now I-39), passing under the ATSF on the way up and back home. The Warbonnets were flyin' evertime we'd pass under. I still railfan this area regularly, "Chilli" is one of my regular stops, to bad the Southwest Chief doesn't stop there anymore. It now takes the old CB&Q route to Galesburg and then changes back to the ATSF at Cameron, IL., just west of Galesburg.

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF

[This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 17 October 2000).]

[Jack Doran]

The flames are a rolling. Thats like trying to put out the flames with gas. My opinion is this: ATSF knew they could not stand alone by racing containers east and west it accounts for 40% of thier business. They like to call them nickel trains because thats not putting the money on the table. only a small amount. The BN had it all Intermodal and the frieght to boot. Thier commodity is COAL and lots of it. They run more coal than ATSF ran there intermodal stuff. It they would take the intermodal out of the ATSF they would have been broke. BN saw this and scoop'em up. Now they are a well rounded railroad.

Shoot Krebs broke the ATSF when they tried merge with DRGW(SP). He dang near trying to do it with the BNSF. This railroad would be a lot better off if Grienstien was still running the railroad. If you look at the total picture they were in it for the money thats why both companies merged. But I don't think ATSF could have stood on thier own. But BN could they started that way when coal was found in the power river basin. BN got there first and built a freight railroad. ATSF got the intermodal rachet going and a little freight to go on the side.

Now I think the railroad are trying just for a land bridge for running things between the oceans. Unfournately they forgot about the customers inside the country that need rail service to. Thats needs to be thier bread and butter instead.

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Keep on railroad'n

[Maxwell Plant]

Sorry, I disagree Jack. But I will add that I DO agree that BN and ATSF was an inevitable MERGER, they just seemed to fit well. BN didn't "scoop up" the ATSF, they merged. IF it wasn't a merger and it was a buy-out, then the "Santa Fe" would of been gone, it would be Burlington Northern, Not BNSF. Anyway, it's nothing to get "flames rolling" over so let's just be happy that the Borg got neither BN or ATSF and we got each other. BNSF RULES and UP DROOLS! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF

[This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 17 October 2000).]

[ed pinkley]

so exactly who here was in the room when the buy out or merger was being written?i wasn't and i don't really care.as i have said before and will say again leave railroading to the railroads and leave the railfanning to the railfans.that way the railfans are happy and the railroads well who knows what they are?

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ed pinkley home of the pinkley taurus

[Jack Doran]

Just a nice discussion on this Topic. NO FLAMES INTENDED. Original thought though. The original Merger was suppose to be a buyout of the ATSF. Courses changed when Grienstien decided to retire as Pres. and CEO of the parent company. Krebs took over as CEO of the company. This was how BNSF was formed. Everything was set where the headquarters were and everything. If it was the other way around and ATSF was buying out the BN the headquarters were to be in Schuamburg,IL. I think if Krebs knew in advance that he was going to be the CEO of this company he would of pushed it going the other way. Grienstein retired unexpectedly.

If you talk to any of the railroad employees they dislike him because of it.

The only reason why I am concerned for ANY railroad merger. I want to work for the railroad one day. So I kind of make it a point to find out whats going on. No matter what company.

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Keep on railroad'n

[SuperC]

Gats, i agree with Maxwell Plant. The BNSF merger was as is the case 99.9% of the time......First! If you recall, the BORG (UP) tried to cut in on the BN and gobble up the ATSF. But the Santa Fe stockholders when repling to UP`s offer remembered the words of the Great Nancy Regan (well at least in this case) and just said "NO" ! Now tell me, is this a Great railroad or what?

[SuperC]

I disagree Jack! I followed the merger from day one. Grienstein was on the way out. The BN stockholders wanted a new man and Krebbs was who they wanted. It was Robert Krebbs who told the BN that he was willing to run the company "BUT" only if he could bring the Santa Fe with him. Grienstien was not so willing to retire and did try to stay on as V.P. i think until he did finally leave. Double check for your self and you`ll see. That is the information i recieved anyway.

[CPRailfan]

I'm a brand new BNSF fan. I never lived by, or saw very much of either the SF, or the BN.
I just went to Galesburg, IL last summer, and I fell in love. BNSF everywhere, all the time, it was great. I like the Orange and Green!

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What's that?
A train horn?
Sorry, gotta go!

[Jack Doran]

I gathered this info from the BN employee's themselves. If you talk to BN employee's they say this is the worst move ever made by putting Krebs in power. In fact if they all feel this way. Including old ATSF guys think it should fly the other way. I am definitly surprised the railroads running this good.

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Keep on railroad'n

[Maxwell Plant]

Jack,
All this shows you is how loyal the BN and ATSF employees are/were to their railways. Things are definetley cooling off and BNSF is finally becoming ONE Railway. It's not the BURLINGTON NORTHERN and SANTA FE railways or the SANTA FE and BURLINGTON NORTHERN railways, it's the Burlington Northern Santa Fe RAILWAY, no "S". I've heard horror stories from the old ATSF guys while changing crews over in Fort Madison, IA. I got one guy on Video talking about the lack of "shi##ers" in the BN power. And I've heard complaints from the BN guys about the ATSF dispatchers. You live in a City that has been blessed with both Railroads and as far as I'm concerned, the HEART of the BNSF. Every June, your City Celebrates the Legacy of the BN (CB&Q) and ATSF. It also looks ahead to what is to be. Move on Jack and embrace the BNSF, it is what's ahead for Railroading in North America.

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF