A long running feud between W&S president and a RR commissioner comes to a head:
dd
That commissioner sounds like a real nut case.
I don’t know…it sounds that way from the report, but at the same time, it can be hard to judge a story like this without being an insider (and even then it can be tough). A similar deal that comes to mind is the CHS / GLRR battle of a couple years ago. It’s easy (especially as railfans) to paint the governmental representative as the bad guy, and perhaps in both cases it may be true.
However, listening to the railroad’s perspective in both cases can seem like they’re completely innocent (which also may be true, but seems a bit unlikely). Personally, I think in both cases, personal feelings may be getting (or may have gotten in the case of the GLRR battle) in the way of dealing with matters in a business-like manner.
I’m not sure what the whole truth is here, but as it involves matters of safety, I certainly hope that the parties involved can get things straightened out.
I agree Chris, That’s why I said “sounds like” rather than “is”. The picture the article painted in my head of the commissioner is closer to a cartoon character then a person of such position.
Give small people a little power and it goes to thier heads.
I firmly agree!
While we do not yet have all of the details on this fiasco, I’d say that the fact the commissioner is a political appointee speaks untold volumes. It is good that the writer included this information.
It’s also not strange how stories seem to change after people read in print what they are alleged to have said verbally.
And from the Bureau of Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting: Nowhere in the article does it say what credentials the commissioner has to be making such subjective decisions. I think it would be important to include those qualifications as part of this story, or note that there are none, if that is indeed the case.
Pop Z
So you have met Rodney? Cartoon character is an apt characterization of him. He frequently shoots his mouth off on Wisconsin Public Radio.
I love that quote at the end of the article from the state railroad comissioner: “Railroads have a lot of people with very strong egos.” The same can be said for state representatives who let their authority go to their head. [:P]
Wow all this story needs is a drunken Mel Gibson to show up and start shouting racial slurs at evryone and then get into a brawl with Russel Crowe…
Doesn’t the State of Wisconsin own about 99% of the track that the WSOR operates on ?
Gotta agree with Chris;
And I think Randy is right about the State of Wisconsin owning 99% of WSOR’s track, but it does not excuse this politician from letting his authority go to his head. Had he a reasonable relationship with the railroad’s President he could have asked and probably been given permission to ride in the cab to observe the crossings. Instead he chose to be confrontational.
My question what is happening there in Wisconsin; first you have a college professor who is teaching his students that the 9/11 attack was planned and STAGED by the US Govt? Then you have a 6 year appointee[second term?] who thinks he ‘owns’ a railroad because he is a Railroad Commissioner? It brings a whole new meaning to the term " Cheese Head." What’s up Wisconsin?
This commissioners actions remind me of a line in a song from the movie Man of La Mancha.
“The cucoo bird is singing in the cucaberra tree,If he insists that that’s a helmet.I suggest that you agree”.
Don’t forget , Jeff Dahmer is/was a cheesehead…
Be careful, Sam. You may find yourself reassigned.
CINCSCOCOM
I think that this ‘Comissioner’ is pretty much toast, was a political hack appointed by a previous administration, and so far not reappointed by the present administration. Anyway, this is a cut and pasted from 2 Aug 2006 TRAINS NEWSWIRE which says pretty much the same ting as the original posted article, and confirmed in the threads comments;
Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner cited for disorderly conduct
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August 2, 2006
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner Rodney Kreunen, known for his colorful quotes and sometimes flamboyant behavior, has been cited for disorderly conduct and had an ethics complaint filed against him after a confrontation on the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad on July 2.
Wisconsin & Southern was offering free passenger excursions at McFarland on July 2 to help the city celebrate its sesquicentennial. William Gardner, president of Wisconsin & Southern, told Trains News Wire that Kreunen arrived in McFarland and said he was going to use his executive authority to ride the locomotive to inspect grade crossings. After the train crew contacted Gardner, he told them to n
“Colorful quotes and sometimes flamboyant behavior…” Boy, now that’s putting it mildly – like calling Ali vs. Frazier a “disagreement.” From his actions, sounds like this guy is a misguided railfan on a power trip. I wonder if he has a badge in his wallet. Maybe the Wisconsin attorney general needs to examine his outrageous behavior.
Time for Rodney to find himself a real job, methinks. Who does he think he is, a Chicago alderman? [(-D]
If memory serves, so are/were you.
As was Ed Gein.
As is most of the staff at Kalmbach.
As am I. And not very proud of it, either.
He’s really too self-centered and flamboyant to be an effective alderman. All of the best ones (Vrdolyak, Burke, Beavers, etc.) were low-key and knew that the residents of their ward were aware of their status and power. They did not have to advertise that fact, we all knew it instinctively.
Oh … ummmm … yea ( imagine my sheepishness )