The book takes a look at a few of rail’s prior success stories (rail mail, express freight, etc) analyzes what went right, and then offers how similarly applied strategy might succeed in the future, in conjuction with currently emerging business needs. Thought some of you might enjoy
Thanks for sharing, but to honest i wouldnt take anything he says to heart about the future. Looks like its just another foamer / trainbuff book speculating on the future with little if any inside info. I read the reviews, still didnt change my mind, found most of it to outlandish. Oh well… A book from Dick Davidson would have been a more real look at the future. You really have to have a hand in the game to come up with predictions for whats around the corner. A book like i would write, about the decline, cost cutting and union battles that is dark and grim probibly wouldnt sell as well as a foamer writing about trains.
I haven’t gotten the book (yet), but have read somewhere that some of his “facts” are suspect. I hope his conclusions aren’t altered all that much by this–everyone says it presents a rosy picture.
For the record, I’d consider him to be more of an intellectual than a railfan (a railfan would probably have better command of facts).
Well, you certainly don’t have to read it, entirely up to you, and all. But my suggestion that many might find the book refreshing…still goes.\
It’s funny how the internet is so full of critics, throw up one constructive suggestion and the uninformed critics come out of the woodwork to try their best to vent the air from your sails.
For what it’s worth, the book cites “worthless” sources such as Fred Frailey (sarcasm intended) and makes a noteable reference to the story run in Trains magazine a couple years back detailing where UP and CSX teamed up for their cross county hotshot pilot program, tracking the movement across the country…you know incompetant sources all the way. (the Trains magazine readership base is mentioned in a way that fairly well typifies (imo) the forum membership here as well))
The Book also delves into the KCS with it’s “Nafta RR” strategy to integrate Mexican ports into the US network and talks at length about the benefits of the Meridian speed way. (which I guess may have prejudiced my opinion, since I have a great personal curiousity in the way the Meridian speedway is panning out)
The analysis of roadrailer evolution was mostly an historic reflection on who has tried “what” up to this point, whit a summarization on how Triple crown seems to have successfully shed the aspects that haven’t worked out for others to have attempted similar goals…but for those who may not be familiar
I shouldn’t get carried away with personalities here, but Davidson got paid a spectacular amount of money at UP, and the company got less-than-spectacular results for it.
He is one guy whose version of events I WON’T pay to read.
I previously started a thread on this book about 2 months ago (brief, as it turned out - only 8 replies), entitled “Railroad Revival & Harvard Prof. John Stilgoe’s new book on Public Radio’s “Living on Earth” Program”, on May 11, 2008. Here’s the link to it, for what it’s worth:
I’m glad that you pointed this out. I’d be reluctant to dismiss the book based upon a single ‘on the fly’ interview, and even more disinclined to do so based upon the rants of wolfpack mentality.
Sort of how someone can watch a railroad related movie, and then rant and rave about how the whole movie “sucked” simply because one airbrake sequence didn’t match their own personal experiences. I laugh everytime I see kangaroo court called into session here over such minutia.
I guess with that thinking, anyone who has EVER been wrong on anything, ever, is forever wrong about everything else? that encompasses 100% of the forum membership I do believe. oh bother!
I took what you said wrong there buddy, sorry about that. The way i take what your saying this morning, “its something different”. Watched too much C-SPAN yesterday while i was waiting to get called i guess. Sorry bud [:)]
No sweat man…all in the path towards vibrant discussion. [:)]
The “breath of fresh air” comment was intended as a contrast against the thinking that rail’s hey day is long past…people all too often seem focused upon “what usta was” or “what might have been”…while this author, right or wrong, at least has the guts to reach for “what one day might be” with at least a shred of a roadmap on how we might get there.
Eventually one gets tired of talking about how steam should make a return, or how the nasty old super corporations screwed the little guy by absorbing his favorite fallen flag, adnauseam…so with this book it was nice to see someone who was forward thinking, for a change.