uphill right of way??

Yesterday , hiking up to Pan Point we saw a RMI train ahead of us coming down. There was about 12 in the group, large packs, usual stuff but they where charging down in close formation.
Now they weren't stopping for anybody and as I was hiking up I watched as everybody got out of their way by stepping off the path or being kinda sideswiped as they marched down.

Now I was always taught that uphill had the right of way and that's the way I've always operated even when I have had a heavy pack. I move over to the side and let the uphill traffic pass be it tourists in floppy hats, fellow skiers or even RMI trains on the uphill.

Needless to say when they met me I refused to budge and it was like a stampede going around a rock and they weren't pleased and neither was I.

My wife was about 10 mins behind me and had the same experience and wouldn't budge either and thought them very arrogant and rude which I thought was unusual for an RMI group as their guides in the past have always followed etiquette.

I am correct in thinking that uphill has the right of way?

I have always used the uphill right of way as a good rule of thumb. There have been times when for one reason or another I have given way to downhill hikers or been given the trail by uphill hikers, but I wouldn't presume to just march right through people and expect they will move for me. People who think that their time or use of the trail/road/sidewalk is more important than everyone else's drive me nuts.

YES. Although it seems to be a rule so rarely followed as to almost be obsolete, unfortunately.

I've always regarded uphill as having the right of way as well...

I always think that folks coming downhill should have right of way, or at least be given a berth, because they're traveling faster and perhaps are have less control over their location in space. That's more a climbing skier vs. a descending skier than it is hikers though. Or a powerboat vs. a sailboat.

Still, that's in theory. In practice I always pull over for uphill folks as, for me, I like to keep my rhythm going when I'm climbing.

Maybe those two views are safety vs. conservation of energy? I'd be as annoyed as you if I was charged off the trail by a group though, either way.

I always think that folks coming downhill should have right of way, or at least be given a berth, because they're traveling faster and perhaps are have less control over their location in space.  That's more a climbing skier vs. a descending skier than it is hikers though.

I think the exact opposite. If you have less control, you have the greater obligation to steer clear of causing trouble for others.

When skiing down Easton on a very crowded zoo day earlier this summer, it was clear that a skier had the potential to cause real problems such as crashing into a rope between ants on the ant line and pulling a whole batch of them into a crevasse. Accordingly it was a good idea to let climbers pass through any narrow spots and only pass them where there was plenty of room (or let them walk past). Also, if you didn't pull the booters in with you when you fell a crevasse, the chances of them pulling you out might be greater.