COMMENTARY ON RAILROADING AND RAILFANNING
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PUBLISHER Kevin EuDaly
EDITOR
E. Steven Barry 862-354-3196
editor@railfan.com
CSX could be the next railroad on Hunter Harrison’s radar. STEVE BARRY PHOTO E.H.H. = Everybody Hates Hunter
OF LATE, THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION about the future of CSX, and the possi- ble role that serial railway executive E. Hunter Harrison might play in that future. Harrison, if you are not famil- iar with him, has led (in turn) Illinois Central, Canadian National, and recent- ly Canadian Pacific. He has a reputation for ruthless cost-cutting and an exacting attitude, and is seen by many investors as a kind of efficiency expert. In early 2017, Harrison announced he was step- ping down from CP, and seeking to take on the leadership of CSX. By the time this column reaches you, doubtless there will be further develop- ments, but what is interesting about this news is not the details of the latest board- room politics at a major railway, but in how this story was received by railfans. In online forums especially, many fans have expressed their dismay at the possi- bility of Harrison running CSX. It was not merely that the likelihood of Harri- son’s bid was debated, it was the passion with which such debates took place. “I hate HH.” “He can do it all!!!!” “A legend in his own mind.” “Praying won’t help when the Devil Harrison shows up!” The emotional rhetoric recalls election season politics, or possibly a sports fan riot outside a stadium after a particular- ly bitter match. Few if any of those commenting have
direct stakes in the outcome. Here, then, are people with deep passions but no actual standing in the debate — except that of spectator. For railfans to hold strong opinions about matters of no direct influence upon their lives is part of the stock and trade of the hobby. Consid- er, for a moment, that one of the defin- ing aspects of the hobby is that it turns
4 APRIL 2017 •
RAILFAN.COM
one person’s work into another person’s entertainment. Unlike sports teams, railway employees are paid to perform a service, but that work has been appro- priated as entertainment by outsiders. As fans, we root for our favorite teams, or in this case, railroads. Of course, some railfans are also rail workers. For them, perhaps, Harrison’s takeover of CSX may have very direct consequences. Yet we don’t really know how many fans are in this situation, as few rail workers are willing to publicize their enthusiasm for the industry in which they work. They are in a unique position as both spectator and player, and perhaps stand to lose either their passion or their employment or both. Should Harrison ascend to the top posi-
tion at CSX, his policies are sure to have repercussions throughout the company, as well as the industry. The rowdiest fans shouting from the bleachers will cry how Harrison “ruined” the last railroads he managed, making draconian cuts that many would perceive to be direct threats (if not indifference) to the spectators who enjoy the game. Doesn’t he know he can’t win without the support of the fans? Meanwhile, the executives in the
front office (and their investors) have raised an eyebrow and made an approv- ing nod when reviewing the balance sheets showing increased profits. In sports, even the worst performing fran- chises can remain valuable without fan support. However, even the most stag- nant teams are forced to shake things up once in a while.
Consulting Editor Alexander Benjamin Craghead is a transportation historian, photographer, artist, and author.
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Michael T. Burkhart Mike Schafer
CONSULTING EDITOR Alexander B. Craghead
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