by ThePointyHairedBoss
We've all seen the mergers that UP did do (UP-MP-WP+MKT+CNW+SP-SSW-DRGW), but what about ones UP(or it's predecessors) never did.
SP-SCL
This one is of special note, because it's one of the few transcontinental mergers that could have plausibly happened. SP acquired 5% of SCLI's stock, which made SCL get cold feet. As a matter of fact, SCL's Prime Osborne actually had the nerve to call SP's Biaggini in the middle of a shareholders meeting in 1978 to tell him that the merger was off, and talks with the C&O were beginning.
UP-SLSF
Another Non-Merger. Before UP-MoPac, UP considered taking over the Frisco. The two already had significant pooling agreements, but BN's Frisco shares stopped UP from getting far.
UP-N&W
A merger proposed in the "dark ages of railroading." The idea was that the two would be good merger partners, as neither served the unprofitable Northeast, and Powder River and Virginia coal would cushion the railroad. UP power was all over N&W at the time, and vice versa. The merger was called off as the companies couldn't agree on common terms.
MoPac-Southern
Around the same time as the UP-N&W talks, MoPac was considering merging with the Southern. The two would have been a perfect match, with lines serving the rich coal basins of the east and the west, and the railroad being basically the most modern in the country. Corporate arrogance by the Southern turned the MoPac off the idea, and soon MP-UP and N&W-Southern talks began.
UP-MILW
A proposal to combat the BN merger. UP knew that the MILW was failing, and it was already tied up in the Rock Island Merger Case, so it went no further.
UP-Rock Island
The world record holder for slow decisions. It took the ICC ten years to wade through objections by other grangers, and by the time they had solved the puzzle, UP would have gotten only a few scraps of the Rock Island.
MoPac-Rock Island
Yes, this was real. MoPac began talks with the Rock in August 1975. The Rock would have allowed MoPac to expand Northward into Iowa, Nebraska, and St.Paul. MoPac, though, was horrified by the Rock Islands condition at the time, and the fear that the case would be dragged on by the ICC.
MoPac-ATSF/UP-ATSF
The first idea came in the 1970's when MoPac purchased 10% of the ATSF's stock, but Schmidt of the ATSF managed to drive MP off. The second was a proposal by UP to take ATSF from the hands of BN, which failed for pretty much the same reason.
SP-SCL
This one is of special note, because it's one of the few transcontinental mergers that could have plausibly happened. SP acquired 5% of SCLI's stock, which made SCL get cold feet. As a matter of fact, SCL's Prime Osborne actually had the nerve to call SP's Biaggini in the middle of a shareholders meeting in 1978 to tell him that the merger was off, and talks with the C&O were beginning.
UP-SLSF
Another Non-Merger. Before UP-MoPac, UP considered taking over the Frisco. The two already had significant pooling agreements, but BN's Frisco shares stopped UP from getting far.
UP-N&W
A merger proposed in the "dark ages of railroading." The idea was that the two would be good merger partners, as neither served the unprofitable Northeast, and Powder River and Virginia coal would cushion the railroad. UP power was all over N&W at the time, and vice versa. The merger was called off as the companies couldn't agree on common terms.
MoPac-Southern
Around the same time as the UP-N&W talks, MoPac was considering merging with the Southern. The two would have been a perfect match, with lines serving the rich coal basins of the east and the west, and the railroad being basically the most modern in the country. Corporate arrogance by the Southern turned the MoPac off the idea, and soon MP-UP and N&W-Southern talks began.
UP-MILW
A proposal to combat the BN merger. UP knew that the MILW was failing, and it was already tied up in the Rock Island Merger Case, so it went no further.
UP-Rock Island
The world record holder for slow decisions. It took the ICC ten years to wade through objections by other grangers, and by the time they had solved the puzzle, UP would have gotten only a few scraps of the Rock Island.
MoPac-Rock Island
Yes, this was real. MoPac began talks with the Rock in August 1975. The Rock would have allowed MoPac to expand Northward into Iowa, Nebraska, and St.Paul. MoPac, though, was horrified by the Rock Islands condition at the time, and the fear that the case would be dragged on by the ICC.
MoPac-ATSF/UP-ATSF
The first idea came in the 1970's when MoPac purchased 10% of the ATSF's stock, but Schmidt of the ATSF managed to drive MP off. The second was a proposal by UP to take ATSF from the hands of BN, which failed for pretty much the same reason.
