CN has has wanted to change its name from Canadian National, to simply CN for a long time.
Presumably, the American bosses who run the company feel the Canadian in Canadian National is a bit too parochial and want to reflect a broader perspective like other multi-national rail lines – the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway for instance. Now there’s a moniker that says worldwide railroad giant.
The effort to drop Canadian from the name was met with indignation when word leaked the brass would rather refer to the country-named line as simply CN.
Maybe those of us who were outraged by this suggestion should rethink our position.
Given CN’s track record for safety, getting rid of any reference to our country might be a good thing.
Since the company’s wrecks and derailments seem more regular than one-a-day vitamins, and in an effort to save the company some money by retaining the current logo, how 'bout Crash National?
I agree. A majority of the railroad is already American owned. That supposed merger between CN and BNSF(?) would make it about 80% American owned. My source; magazine article.
Crash National is a great new name! Lets suggest it to them and see what they think.
I read about a year ago that Bill Gates was the biggest shareholder of “CRASH NIGHTLY” but I could be wrong. I wonder what crashes more often his software or his trains?
Well the CEO, E. Hunter Harrison and his left, right, and centre hand man Keith Creel are American. And many of the Canadian upper level managers were shown the door and replaced by American mangers since Harrison took over as CEO. And whenever I was in Mac Yard (Toronto) since Harrison took over, I have definitely noticed an increase of American twang. During the strike of the CAW workers in Mac Yard a couple of years ago I had a chance to walk around unhindered and photograph the crew cars brought in for the replacement workers (Scabs) and see and hear Americans. Once the strike was on I heard Americans as they walked through our Signal Centre. Mac Yard is now a new kind of he*** where the wind doesn’t blow, it sucks. A very bad place that is now seething with policies that no Canadian of sound mind would ever think of putting on the shoulders of fellow Canadians. The policies being rammed down the throats of the Canadian employees definitely isn’t of Canadian origin. The culture (cult) of the New CN is definitely not Canadian. The increase of derailments definitely is not Canadian. The deferred maintenance on the infrastructure definitely is not Canadian. The continuous use of surveillance, harassment, and intimidation of the Canadian employees is most definitely not the Canadian way of maintaining healthy labour relations. Hunter (indoctrination) Camps aren’t a Canadian invention. A Canadian of sound mind wouldn’t call other Canadians, Snow N*****s. The Canadian National Railways is defiantly not Canadian owned. The marching orders come from Chicago and Homewood. I have received mail from Homewood that at one time came from Montreal. The supposed head office in Montreal is spouted off as existing just to appease Quebec. Probably n
See ! now you are learning, business in Canada is inheriting the business from your parents, then watching it dissolve or selling it to the “Americans” this has been the direction of Canadian companies since I can remember, today marks the end of Canadian steel production as Stelco was just sold. the enormous list of Canadian companies that headed south has left this country in complete hands of "offshore’’ owners, this has become a way of life here and not too many people care or even know about it. It reminds me of a Walmart ad that said “not available in Guam or Canada” I’m most surprised that a lot of Americans are not aware of the total U.S. corporate ownership in Canada. (by the way, there are a lot of jokes about this subject) I did see once a list of Companies that were sold to U.S. owners and it was staggering, page after page after page, I often wondered where these companies went(south) ---- easy guys, just a comment.
But… but… but… American companies are being bought out by Japanese companies… I guess Canadians need to start buying out Japanese companies to complete the circle.[}:)]
Oh come on now, guys! It could be worse. At least your companies are being bought by someone from North America. All the companies in my neck of the woods that still produce a physical product are owned by the Europeans. My wife works at a company where the head hancho is german. Imagine that, if you will. Bring out the bratwurst and the beer!
I think CN should keep Canadian in the name. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t know about their safety record in Canada, but down here they keep everything spit-shined and polished. More power to 'em.
Just for the record - Burlington Northern Santa Fe is now Officially BNSF Railway - a company w/o a name, just an abbreviation. The name change took place about 6-12 months ago.
There are those who postulate that the old name was too hard for some Sr Execs to spell.
Well the CEO, E. Hunter Harrison and his left, right, and centre hand man Keith Creel are American. And many of the Canadian upper level managers were shown the door and replaced by American mangers since Harrison took over as CEO. And whenever I was in Mac Yard (Toronto) since Harrison took over, I have definitely noticed an increase of American twang. During the strike of the CAW workers in Mac Yard a couple of years ago I had a chance to walk around unhindered and photograph the crew cars brought in for the replacement workers (Scabs) and see and hear Americans. Once the strike was on I heard Americans as they walked through our Signal Centre. Mac Yard is now a new kind of he*** where the wind doesn’t blow, it sucks. A very bad place that is now seething with policies that no Canadian of sound mind would ever think of putting on the shoulders of fellow Canadians. The policies being rammed down the throats of the Canadian employees definitely isn’t of Canadian origin. The culture (cult) of the New CN is definitely not Canadian. The increase of derailments definitely is not Canadian. The deferred maintenance on the infrastructure definitely is not Canadian. The continuous use of surveillance, harassment, and intimidation of the Canadian employees is most definitely not the Canadian way of maintaining healthy labour relations. Hunter (indoctrination) Camps aren’t a Canadian invention. A Canadian of sound mind wouldn’t call other Canadians, Snow N*****s. The Canadian National Railways is defiantly not Canadian owned. The marching orders come from Chicago and Homewood. I have received mail from Homewood that at one time came from Montreal. The supposed head office in Montreal is spouted off as exi
At one time I considered myself a “native” MEMPHIAN, by virtue of having been born there and lived there most of my adult life. More recently, I have adopted Kansas as a home state, my wife is a ‘native’ Kansan.
I got to Kansas via a job, and former residence in Georgia. I still enjoy trips back to Memphis and the BBQ there [ Neeley’s is da BEST!]. I was fortunate while growing up in Memphis to have had a number of fortunate RR experiences. Rode behind SOU Rwy 4501 on several, ‘The Best Friend of Charleston replica on the SOU Rwy, engine ride on the IC’ Panama, I have unloaded trucks with EP when he was working as a delivery driver for Haines Elect.Co and I worked for Denies Sons Co. and have howdyed and shook with other notables from Memphis. So I can say with a little authority the term is ‘Memphian’ without th ‘id’[swg]