>>I think the railroads will be using contractors more and more whenever possible.

>This will be severely complicated by long standing legal precedents concerning operating the crews' personal liability issues.

I was referring to all crafts in general. There isn't much opportunity to use contract labor for train and engine service. Where it has been done to fill temporary gaps in service, typically they are employees of the railroad due to liability and RRB issues.

I am sure that the union railroads will figure out how to reduce the number of employees they are required to directly employ, supervise and certify. To avoid the unin issues, much of this will be done through attrition of exisitng employees.

Here are some of the areas I would guess union represented railroads will apply pressure to allow:

1. Rebuild of locomtives and freight cars.
2. Seasonal track gangs and projects.
3. Roving mechanical support for trains, including engineer only.