Another great example of government regulation at its worst. Neither of the two railroads pose a commercial threat to ANY other railroad in North America. Truly government pencil pushers doing what they do best - screwing with businesses that drive the economy of the United States.
THE COMMENTS BY MARK A CAROLLA from VIRGINIA ARE RIGHT ON. LETS STICK TO TRAINS AND LET THE POLITICAL DRIVEL BE GONE.
Most laws and regulations are in place because of someone’s past bad behavior. The STB statutes regarding railroad ownership are no exception. But sometimes the people charged with inforcing these regs go a little overboard I think. Surely they realize Berkshire’s not trying to put together some megarailroad conglomerate and take advantage of the public by adding 20 mile of track to their portfolio. All STB is really doing is giving more ammo to the anti government extremist groups who would love to put them out of a job.
Where is this kind of oversight when banks and cell phone providers continue to pair up and get bigger and bigger?
Look at us (Gov regulators putting on a show) while we come down hard on big bad BH and Warren Buffet. We’ll put out this fire and divert your attention while we pave the way for BH and BNSF to lock up the Bakken oil transit for them. Nothing to see here. No need to build a pipeline when we can block that effort with our buddy in the WH and send all the business to BNSF. Who says you can’t buy influence in DC?
Seems like regulatory overreach with the other RR adding up 20 miles
Those two lines may be shorter than BNSF but they are just as wide.
You have to wonder. What kind of government employee person would spend part of his/her life concerned with this trivia?
You also have to wonder what kind of person on the staff of Trains would consider it newsworthy.
You have to wonder. What kind of government employee person would spend part of his/her life concerned with this trivia?
You also have to wonder what kind of person on the staff of Trains would consider it newsworthy.
You have to wonder. What kind of government employee person would spend part of his/her life concerned with this trivia?
You also have to wonder what kind of person on the staff of Trains would consider it newsworthy.
If it’s the law, change the law. For all of you that berate a government employee for following the law, imagine a world where they don’t. Damn we need to improve education in this country.
OK, I agree that there are bigger fish for the Surf Board to catch (instead of these minnows). However, the rules are there for a reason- usually because of a history of abusing the public trust. But make no mistake, corporations, being what they’re designed to do, will always go after a return for their investors over anything else- especially in the face of little or ineffectual oversight. Look at the financial, energy, and health care industries if you have any doubts. That said, I have a lot of respect for Mr. Buffett. If most “1% ers” were like him the US would be much in far better shape. But after BH passes to other control in the future, we can’t be assured of such benign leadership. I’ve met a few regulators and have a lot of respect for them as well. Although a few are overzealousor misguided at times, they have a thankless job. Most work WITH the companies they regulate and try the their best to find the proper yet practical solution to something that’s a violation of the rules. Don’t condemn all of them for the actions of one or two. I’m glad we have regulations and someone to enforce them.
On a lighter note: At least he gets to keep his Lionel layout!
It frightens me when the US Government allows foreign nations to own controlling interests in an firm that has an asset as important and strategic as one of our nations largest rail roads, and it matters not if it is a friendly country or not. Are we so damn money crazy we will sell our safety and our souls with it??
I’m sure the gov’t. regulators are operating within the letter of the law but I believe they’ve strayed from the spirit and purpose of the same law(s). Such a shame to expend efffort and so many resources on such a trivial matter.
Again, the government is extending beyond its rights and will again stiffle commerce. and we as cirizens just sit back and let this pass with our head in the sand. The government is out of control and should change its ways…stay out of business.
It’s not the idea of a government bureaucrat. The law was passed by our elected representatives in Congress. The government employee is simply doing his or her job and enforcing the law of the land. If we allowed employees to pick and choose the laws they enforced, we would have even more complaints. Let’s not point the finger at people who are doing their job.
Trust me there is money to be made so long as the track is in some way active. I wouldn’t mind a monthly check dropping in my mailbox.There are a lot of these mini RR’s in the northern IL / Indaina area’s that on paper still excist.Sorta like back in the day of RailBox…don’t own the track,own the car. Trains ran a story back in the day about making money owning a few cars yourself. Trackage works even better.
The devil is in the details - STB - and any government agency cannot be selective in which laws it enforces - simple matter of ethics and fairness - and “tiny” short lines can be the tip of an iceberg. I suggest that the moderator of this site should delete the “offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments” about “kooks, liberals,” Mr. Buffet etc. from these commentaries - if we want to read fringe group political scrawls there are other sites in which those with nothing else to do can “feed the trolls” by engaging in blog arguments with the extremists, true-believers, and the ignorant - some of us are simply interested in the railroad industry, Amtrak and TRAINS and don’t care about irrelevant political rantings.
I’ll bet Warren Buffett didn’t know anything about this situation before buying BNSF; unless this is a plot to throw sand in the gears of the election somehow,some way.
I’ll bet Warren Buffett didn’t know anything about this situation before buying BNSF; unless this is a plot to throw sand in the gears of the election somehow,some way.