Do you suppose he harbors a weakness for steam? After all, he is a self-confessed railfan. And maybe he would be open to limited steam operations on his railroad. One could really go out on a limb and imagine BNSF restoring a CB&Q locomotive to operate, somewhat like the UP steam program. This is just some Friday night musing, but whaddaya think?
If it were so, I would have expected a public announcement by now. So…nope, don’t think so.
-Crandell
What’s wrong with AT&SF 3751?
Nothing at all wrong. I should have thought of it. Thanks!
I nominate SP&S 700. Seriously, Buffet is an investor known for a relatively “hands off” style. I can not imagine him wasting Matt Rose’s, or anyone else with influence, time on a steam program. If BNSF chooses to do it it will come from inside the company. They have far bigger fish to fry. I do not expect any big change.
Mac
It would be nice if they bring back 3751.[bow]
At least he probably would not object if the BNSF management wanted to go that route. But steam engines can be an expensive toy to restore and operate, and to get full value for that expenditure requires more effort than the current lean management philosophy can afford to dedicate.
John
What’s on Buffet’s mind, front and back? To make money by doing the work the outfit is intended to do. He’s done it before many times. Now, he sees that BNSF is a good investment because they have good management and production teams, because the present and future need for rail trainsportation is apparent, and because those in BNSF are doing it right. He doesn’t want to play train nor does he want to extract cash for the benefit of his profit. He sees an opportunity to make money by having his money working on the railroad,investing in what needs to be done to turn a buck and be successful. He is not an investment banker but rather an industrialist, the kind of investor we have too few of in this country today.
Having railfan ownership might add an element of interest that might otherwise not be there. Whether steam will play a roll is hard to say…modern environmental regulations, not to mention the cost and effort required to get a steam program up and going all work against that idea.
Perhaps at some future time but not now. With business levels down, many off work this is simply not the time to do so. Lets work on bringing traffic levels back and getting workers returning to the payroll.
I don’t think BNSF would ever restore a steam locomotive, 3751 belongs to the SBRHS, for the simple fact that BNSF does not care one bit about their heritage or where they came from, they proved that when the changed their name from Burlington Northern Santa Fe to just BNSF Railway.
That’s a big "AMEN BROTHER!"
Other threads have mentioned the model railroad in Mr. Buffett’s attic. I’m pretty certain it’s powered by eletricity. Perhaps Mr. Buffett now would like to see Berkshire Hathaway’s newest acquisition also powered by electricity.
Just salivating over the prospects of 2200 route miles of wire between Corwith and Hobart … why it’s almost enough to make this unrepentant “juice phreaque” swoon!