Ok. Up took over. Southern Pacific , as a corporate presence in the railroad business, ceased to exist. A railroad that suffered decades of deferred maintenance, customers flocking to trucks as a more efficient and reliable means of getting their goods to market, stock holders that had seen their stock loose value with no bottom to be seen was no more. After the chaos of the computer disaster and getting the physical plant back in order, there seems to be a thriving level of commerce happening. Customers are seeing a more reliable cost effective railroad and are utilizing it more readily for long haul . SO what is the problem, beyond the grey and scarlet ? A railroad is a for profit endeavor. Sentimentality is not a positive feature on a balance sheet. Deferred maintenance is just a major disaster waiting to happen . Failing rolling stock and motive power does nothing for customer confidence. I see a vibrant , profitable , forward thinking railroad now with a bright future and a corporate management intent on improving. Granted, there is a rich history in the SP. In its time it was a leader, and was most responsible for opening the west and all that is great here. That. unfortunately , was then. This is now, as it was then, if there is no money coming in there is no use in continuing.