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Harrison: Canadian Pacific interested in regional acquisitions
So what would CP want to purchase? I suppose the contenders have to be Huron Central, Ottawa Valley, and Quebec-Gatineau, all owned by G&W; and would they want back the MMA/NBS line to St. John (the Irvings getting the rest of the B&A in return)?
There aren’t many regionals left to buy in the CP’s footprint. KCS and Iowa Interstate are probablly the biggest unless CP wants to try to purchase G&W of one of the other short line holding companies, I’ll be interested to see if starts a bidding war with CN over say maybe KCS, aka Conrail with CSX and NS.
There isn’t a whole lot of room for CP to expand in the way of shortlines & regionals. CN pretty much took every single one (IC, WC, etc.) out there! There’s no way CP would be able to expand into New Orleans, Sault Ste. Marie (which they formerly accessed via the SOO lines which they sold to WC and ultimately got to CN), or any other one of those ‘far out’ places again. The only real thing I can see happening is CP buying out some of the eastern shortlines & regionals that they sold off (east of Montreal), such as the MMA and others.
For over fifteen years, CP has tried to make something of the Delaware & Hudson, with mixed results but not for lack of effort. It would seem that the present management of CP will likely revisit the D&H issue with definitive action.
I’d buy back JD Irving’s lines in QC, ME, and NB and re-gain access to the Port of Saint John, NB, reactivate the DAR (access to Halifax, NS), and buy CB&CNS from G&W (Port of Sydney, NS service) . Gonn’a be a lot of business in the Maritimes when the new Panama Canal opens.
Iowa Interstate would be a good fit for CSX (though CSX did hand over to them a little more of the ROCK a couple years ago).
Iowa Interstate would be a good fit for CSX (though CSX did hand over to them a little more of the ROCK a couple years ago).
With Iowa Intestate and Iowa Northern running Rock Island heritage units and Iowa Interstate running Chinese steam locomotives, I would hate to see either of them taken over by CP.
I guess they could expand if they took over the Iowa Intersate or bought Wisconsin & Southern from Watco. But would be sad to see either of them disappear like WC or EJ&E.
HH comments made during a lunchtime Q&A at the Wolfe Transport seminar May 22-23 in NYC. At the same meeting CN’s Mongeau expressed similar sentiments. IMHO CN is in better position to do it than CP for the nonce.
I would recommend HH take a look at the potential of the port of Portland, ME via the former Grand Trunk line from Montreal via the Berlin [NH] Subdivision as a potential major seaport again anchoring a railline that has potential for growth over its enitre 300 mile length.
CN has, since it anointed Halifax as it’s port of choice 90 years ago, religated the line to “third world” status. At one point this line handled over 25 train per day. That, and combining it with the the former CP mainline west of Lennoxville to Montreal where the two lines cross at a diamond might be thought-provoking in time.
Having CN’s arch-rival CP operate the former CN line for all its worth could help a traditionally depresed region realize its potential and help create an economic boon for what I would call Northeastern New England [aka Maine, northern NH and the northeast kingdom of Vermont.
Will E. (Eugene?) Hunter Harrison be considering a purchase of the short line, Indiana Harbor Belt, in the Chicago area?
Wisconsin & Southern and Iowa Interstate do seem to be the most logical targets, but I doubt they’re for sale (WSOR was just purchased by WATCO a few years back anyway).
A theoretical purchase of IAIS would give CPRS a potential southern/southeastern gateway at Peoria, much like what the Rock Island had until 1980.
Personally, I’d rather see IAIS remain independent.
ONR seems an excellent fit for CN. CN bid previously in 2002 but it failed because of job security issues. However the present Ontario govt stated it wants to be rid of the ONR/ONTC. I doubt CP will bid on it. Then again, HH could buy it with his pension settlement and take it private, LOL.
What is csx going to do with its chi-det line thru grand rapids? CP should buy it and establish its own tru route tfrom canada to chi cago.
CP and KCS a “worn out story”,I don’t think so!
The infinite wisdom of Freddy Frailey thinks that CP should sell everything east of Toronto.Would love to see Norfolk Southern snatch The Delaware & Hudson
I agree with most of the posters. What’s left to acquire except a bunch of shortlines that CP once had anyway. Huron Central is an example of one that is just about to go under! With CN grabbing BCOL, NAR, and Algoma Central, looks like CP is already days - no years - late and many dollars short!!!
From Guelph Ont. Maybe H.H. should be looking north instead of East & West. The Ontario Northland Railway is available, from North Bay to Cochrane.With a section running west to Hearst Ont, and the Polar Bear tourist train running into Moosenee on James Bay.This resource Rlwy touches into the Ring of Fire,Starting with Detour Gold Mines, 15 million ounces of Gold,as well as new Iron Ore prospects.This is a huge potential area that is just starting tobe developed. With shipping access to Hudson Bay and best of all.The Canadian Govt has money to Spend ???