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Just days after Union Pacific filed a revised application to acquire Norfolk Southern, its primary competitor in the West said the proposal was still “incomplete” and should be rejected by regulators. On May 8, BNSF Railway filed its response to the application with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, the agency that will ultimately have the final say on whether UP and NS will be able to create the first single-transcontinental railroad.

The STB previously rejected UP’s application last year as “incomplete,” and on April 30, the railroad submitted a revised version. But representatives of BNSF accused UP of simply repackaging the old application and not giving the STB or other stakeholders enough information to judge the merger.

“At this point, because there is still not a fully formed proposal for the Board’s consideration — and because the application lacks other required information — the Board should find the amended application incomplete,” the response reads.

BNSF’s representatives continued that UP simply offered “cosmetic changes to gloss over the serious and fundamental competition, pricing and service concerns that were previously raised.” Among the issues glossed over was that a combined UP-NS would have 50 percent market share of the domestic U.S. rail freight market (loaded revenue units originated by Class Is) and 53 percent of the Class I merchandise gross ton miles market. Despite those numbers, UP still states there will be no competitive harm as a result of the merger.

Another issue raised in the filing was that UP and NS did not address the possibility of an “end game” round of mergers. According to the 2001 merger rules established by the STB, any Class I merger application would have to include analysis about not just the proposed combination, but those that could likely follow.

The STB is expected to issue a decision on whether the merger application is complete by the end of May.

—Justin Franz 

The post BNSF to UP-NS: Keep Trying appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

Reading Company 4-8-4 2100, currently being restored by the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association (ASRPA), will be the headliner of the Cleveland Railroad Festival on June 27. It will be the first time in nearly 20 years that the engine will be fired up in public.

The event is being held in coordination with the Midwest Railway Preservation Society and Cleveland History Days. It will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tickets will be $25 for those 13 and up, and $10 for children ages 5-12 (children under 5 are free). It will feature roundhouse tours and whistle demonstrations.

“This is the first time in nearly 20 years that locomotive No. 250 will be fired up for a public event,” said Nick Martin, ASRPA social media chairperson. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to collaborate with MRPS and CHD to steam up this patriotic engine for the public this summer, showcasing what the last 11 years of generous support have made possible.”

Reading 2100 was built in the railroad’s own shops in September 1945 by essentially expanding an existing Baldwin 2-8-0. The locomotive ran into the 1960s. In 1975, it and its sister locomotive, 2101, were purchased by Ross Rowland. Locomotive 2101 was restored for the American Freedom Train, while 2100 served as a parts source. Locomotive 2100 was briefly restored in the 1980s, then moved to Ontario and Washington state, where it ran briefly in the 2000s. In 2015, the locomotive was moved to Ohio for restoration by ASRPA. To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the locomotive is being renumbered 250 and painted into American Freedom Train colors.

Donations can be mailed to the American Steam Railroad Preservation Association, 2800 W. 3rd St., Cleveland, OH 44113, or made online at www.americansteamrailroad.org.

—Justin Franz 

The post Reading 2100 to be Under Steam in June appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.