I read this on the WCInfo YahooGroup and thought it was very interesting indeed. The following story was in the Wednesday Spooner, WI “Spooner Advate”
about the CN Railroad. Very interesting indeed.
Story by Frank Zufall, Publisher Spooner Advate:
Several times a day a Canadian National train several blocks
long, often carrying Canadian wood products, passes through Washburn
County at 60 mph headed for the interior of America.
For many in the logging industry of northern Wisconsin, the site
of a Canadian train rushing through the heartland of America with
Canadian products causes their blood to curl and their dander to
rise to new heights.
But loggers says it is not so much the foreign products that gets
them on edge as it is the foreign railway, which they say is
emphasizing Canadian products and long-distance shipping into North
America and de-emphasizing service to area American loggers and
their products, a trend some loggers say could not end.
CN’s US Governmental Affairs Respresentative Karen Phillips said
loading points in Washburn County and across northern Wisconsin have
closed because of lock of volume.
Loggers, collectively, refute the reasons for the closure and
will often respond that closed loading sites, such as at Chittamo,
were convient and well used by area loggers.
The real issues, say area loggers, is that CN does not seem to be
interested in serving area loggers.
They say that ever since CN purchased the Wisconsin Central rail
lines about 2 1/2 years ago, there has been a steady decline in
service.
Max Ericson of Minong has been in the logging industry for more
than 30 years and worked with the railroads for his entire career.
Erickson said the service from CN is the worst he has ever
experienced, and the primary problem, according to Erickson, is that
CN fails to send cars to loading sites when they
When the WC was still an entity, I rarely heard of crews time expiring enroute to destination. When it did occur, it was usually due to some event outside the railraods control.
Now when I listen to the CN radio traffic, it seems as though it is now a common occurrence. I wonder if this is due to either:
a. Lousy management
b. Increased operating territory (longer runs)
c. Employee apathy (“the rr doesn’t care, why should we”)
d. Excessive traffic
e. Deliberate attempt by CN to drive off the smaller shippers
Just as WC stood for “We Can” or “We Care”, perhaps CN stands for “Can Not”, or “Care Not”.
zardoz
CN has the worst Mangement under Hunter (NUM SKULL) HARRISON I think Paul Tellier should of never went to Bombredier also CN dosent care some shippers complaine about their schuding railroad and trying to get rite of small shippers I wi***hem luck against NUMSKULL HARRISON AND COMPANY
I don’t know anything about any other railway but the Canadian National Railways. And since I’m just shy of 34 years with the company on the Signal Department you can take my word for it. It’s become a living death with not much life left. If it wasn’t for the top notch rank and file employees to salvage Hillbilly’s incompetent misdeeds the CNR would be in far worse shape than it is now. When Big Business controls the news media the general public is fed pablum that unfortunately they believe. But one thing H#10066; found out the hard way. Canadians love the internet and we at CN are getting through to many by that means. And they are shocked when they learn the truth about just how badly this misplaced American is treating Canadians. Read more at this site. http://www.trainscan.com/news/scan/s0403/index.html#WARM Gene B. Signal Department. Canadian National Railways.