Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, CSX, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific,

l am unsure about the Canadian roads' situation but Norfolk Southern is easily the most profitable (per capita) and efficiently operated Class l in the country, going back to the days of predecessors Norfolk & Western and Southern Railway (which were also very well managed). While CSX has been improving its situation as of late it still has, l believe, the highest or near the highest operating ratio in the country.

Well, depending upon the word ''sound,'' from a fiscal standpoint, consider these posted earnings for the 4th quarter of 2007. That is the only data l have readily available.

Union Pacific = $491 million

NS = $399 million

CSX = $609 million

CN = $833 million (C)

CPR = $342 million

But, is not it funny? Whenever the subject of hiring more people comes up to cover ever increasing traffic volume, they all say they're broke.

''Up-hill slow, down-hill fast, tonnage first & safety last.''

Addendum:

''Infected'' by the SP? Better check the record books & study some history here, my friends. The SP & its employees were raped. l can no longer send u to a place for a more in depth answer precisely to the point, here, Richard, since it has been brought up. The reason why is l got reported for sending them (they who ask the questions) to a site for more in depth info, accessible right from my Y!A profile page.

Apparently, if u go there on ur own by clicking on my photo to the left & then navigate to my 360, that is OK. But if l were to send u there, l am guilty of ''Solicitation.''

So, if l could tell u to read the blog post of July, 30, 2007. well, it does not matter, l can not. So, never mind.

If you're looking to get hired on with one of these companies, then let me give you some advice: Do not get hired on with any of these companies. They care so very little about their employees and so much more so about profit than anything else. If they offer you a job, then run the other way as fast as you can.

''Sound'' is a relative term. The BNSF and CP seem to be very sound. But take away the size, you may end up with the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City RR as an example. Been around for over 100 years - and is very sound. But is maybe only 30 miles long. There are many like this. Size does not always equal sound.

Businesswise, l am a huge fan of Norfolk Southern. They run a tight ship. They are the Southern gentleman of rail.

(CSX, let is just say, has a broken washing machine on their front porch and a Camaro up on blocks.)

When the PRR became Penn Censeless, Union Pacific inherited its good reputation. But then they became infected by the SP.

CN and CP l do not know much about, eh.

None of them r that much ''sound'' l was reading ana article the otherday about how the volume of cargo is increasing but shipping delays r increasing exponetially. This is all mostly due to rail traffic jams in the major city hubs. Most of these rails share track at somepoint. So the busier they get the more hold ups there are. For example the BNSF, UP, ICE all have to either cross each other or share track in the chicago area. They r constantly backed up. Sooner or later they will need to spend some of thier profits or investment money to expand & upgrade their rail systems. Most rail roads do not want to do more than routine maintenace. They all complain to congress & want the Taxpayers to fund the upgrades. l am all for cheap rail transportation but the big dogs need to fix & upgrade thier own track not with federal handouts.

Richard-

l have to tell you, Skidderback is page is the best, so l will just say it for him being that some retard at , is doing their best to undermine one of the best information sources on railroading.

As far as if u r asking who the largest company is, well all u have to do is go to the railroad is different websites & start looking at the territory they r covering. Union Pacific has the largest slice of the pie, by far. Basically if u live in California, anything u purchase was more than likely shipped by Union Pacific at sometime in its life. If not, then as sure as u r asking the question, parts of whatever u purchased surely were.

l was sorry to see Southern Pacific go away. But that is what u get, when u obtain a company President/CEO who wants to run the whole program for his own personal gain, employeed be damned.

Union Pacific is typical of any large corporation. l used to work for Chevrolet. So what l mean when l say that is this: The right hand does not talk to the left hand, & nobody in the middle cares. l call it General Motors Syndrome.

Anyhow, l hope that ur question, but check out Skidderbacks Blog Page. It is filled with some really great info.

Good Luck!