U.P. move shocks model railroaders - Omaha World-Herald

The article is one of the first factual accounts I've seen yet. It also made an honest attempt at balance. I came away thinking that all of this is no big deal. I mean, a dollar a box car?

Kent in SD

Again, it's not just the money, it's the control. Manufacturers would have to get permission to produce an item, but only after they make it (production models must be submitted for approval, not pre-production or "betas"). If UP ever says no, that will be a huge financial hit against the manufacturer. And then there is the paperwork. If each road wants its own percentage cut, then each must be seperately tracked and accounted for. All of this will add to the bottom line, and, eventually, will be removed from our wallets.

Paul A. Cutler III

************* Weather Or No Go New Haven *************

exactly what I have been accused of being a troll for saying. This is not a big deal. If this little amount bothers you, you need to find a new hobby

That is what they said in Germany in the 30's. I mean, a jew or two?

Fight the power, they are coming after YOU!

No, it IS a big deal because of the principle. If UP can claim ownership of symbols they haven't used since they bought the companies and merged them into UP, that's a whole new interpretation of copyright/trademark law.

If you're referring to just the current UP logo, then it is just a minor PITA to the modeller, but the paperwork is still a big deal to some small vendors.

The article mentioned that companies with less than $3,500 in annual sales of U.P. items pay no fee. I had never seen that mentioned before.

Further evidence that UP is only doing this for the money. They would do better to spend their resources in areas that would help to prevent their ridiculous number of accidents.

Regards,

DAve

How do they compare to the industry as a whole?

Don't I seem to recall something in your tradition about when the camel gets his nose in the tent he'll eventually take over the whole tent?

It isn't the amount, it's the precedent that's set here. If the UP gets away with it, then all the other railroads will do the same thing, the hassle and paperwork will drive manufacturers out of the marketplace, and pretty soon the won't BE a hobby of model railroading anymore.

Don

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So does this now mean that those of us who are mainly UP modelers and refuse to model some other road, who already pay copious amounts of the hard earned money that always seems to be non-existent when you most need it, will have to deal out more $$? Well, if that's the case, I might just go with the ALL FOREVER HATED BNSF. I'm 18 years old and have one source of income... allowance, I'm involved in school and athletics, which take up most of my time, the remaining is for trains, video games and girls... I don't have the time to try and go get an extra dollar for each Micro Trains/Kadee item flagging the UP road name that I have grown to love.

I may be a troll, but this is an outrage... I mean, I have just gathered enough money (almost) to commence the purchasing of track for my N-scale layout in the spare bedroom in my house (about 11x10 feet) going with an around the wall layout with a yard going through the middle of the room, connecting to both sides (will have two modules to "end" the yard, one to make it a u turn on all tracks, and one to continue all the way through to the other side, depending on how many people I have in an operating session!)

perhaps I may be overreacting, but it's human nature at its finest... GREEDY... thanks you up money grubbers.

oh, and one more thing, way to not have enough people to run your trains UP, great planning... underestimated by what, 2-3 thousand people? GREAT...

Mmmm hmmmm... just like trademark licensing killed the other sectors of the hobby industry, such as plastic models, when auto makers and aircraft manufacturers started charging licensing fees over a decade ago.

Like it or not folks, other corporations set the precendent YEARS ago. UP isn't breaking any new ground with the hobby industry...

Get a job. It is a tough world out there. Video games? How about work instead?

Rath,

I have to say, your respsonse is a bit harsh. Unless you have been thru the experience of raising a kid of school age, you cannot appreciate what this young man is speaking of. The time that school takes alone is enormous anymore. When you add in any extra school activites, well....there just isn't enough hours in a day. Both my kids are now at least one year removed from college, and at the high school level, 5 to 7 years ago, the average time spent on school work was 2-3 hours a day. Both my kids were in marching band and that took another

2 hours a day, 5 days a week of commitment and that did not include playing at football games or going to band competions. Kids just do not have a lot of extra time on their hands unless they are not applying themselves in school and do no extra activities. There is no comparison to what is expected of a kid today compared to when I was in school in the 60s. Like I said, you have to experience it.....

Bob Rule, Jr. Hatboro, Pa.

As a matter of fact, there IS a LOT smaller selection of new car models and airplane models being released today than there were 30 years ago.

Don

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Sad but True. Kids today are not allowed to be "Kids" like we were.

Don

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Brandon, I hate to tell you this but it doesn't get any easier. You just have to adjust and pay up. Nothing is cheap if it is worth anything

Maybe a little harsh, but tough love aint all that bad. If an 18 year old has no money other than allowance, how is that setting them up for the real world which they will enter soon either in college or work? I have seen kids like this for decades come out and they are swamped and overloaded.

So tough love maybe, but if the kid has time to play video games and worry about chics, then he should have some of his own coin in his pocket. Girls want a guy with money anyway.

I believe that has a lot less to do with licensing, and more with the natural ebbs and flows a particular segment may go through. In a world of electronic video games and instant gratification, it's very likely your average kid hasn't attempted to build a plastic model kit.

Ok anyone have any way to get an idea of what it would UP to do this? I've alwasy herd that railroads would make a penny say ouch brfore they let it go. So is this really cost efective for them? Why didn't they go with a blanket one time fee? Anyone tell them how Santa Fe PAID to have it's roadname put on a certain O scale F3? What a boon it was for them. Just my thoughts. Paul