Precision needs help from the past
Trains Magazine News WireJACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation will reopen the hump at Nashville's Radnor Yard within the next few weeks. The hump was idled in July 2017 as part of the broad operational changes made by then-CEO E. Hunter Harrison, who converted eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards to flat-switching facilities last year.
The hump was idled in July 2017 as part of the broad operational changes made by then-CEO E. Hunter Harrison, who converted eight of CSX’s 12 hump yards to flat-switching facilities last year.
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/06/29-csx-transportation-preparing-to-re-open-hump-at-radnor-yard-in-nashville
--Moderator edit July 2 to provide link instead of full text.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Lots of savings by spending money to shut down some operation and then spend money to restart it. I am sure the investors are quite happy with the expenditures.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Semper VaporoLots of savings by spending money to shut down some operation and then spend money to restart it. I am sure the investors are quite happy with the expenditures.
Throughout my career I can't count the number of times I have seen a terminal 'closed' to save $X millions and a year or so later have it be reopened to save $X millions - over and over again whenever the winds of management changed.
Of course during my career I never had to work with a Hedge Fund directed management that has been tasked to bring EVERY $ possible to the Hedge Fund's coffers - sell locomotives, sell equipment, sell buildings, sell rights of way, eliminate employees - do it all - do it now and never mind the repercussions that it has on the operations.
Who will get the booby prize for the next hump reopening ? NS or CSX ? With these reopenings will there be a shortage of hump equipment ? Would we expect CSX and NS to have cancelled parts orders or even worse transferred compatible equipment to other humps ?
Where I worked they had "initiatives" (or whatever you might want to call them!)
One was a culture of "CHANGE!"... "We won't survive if we don't change!"... Being in the radio/avionics industry, I asked where we were going to put the sugarbeet vats? If we must "change", then I can't think of a greater change than to become a sugarbeet factory instead of avionics.
Then there was the "You work for the investors!". My reply was that investors do not pay my salary. I am paid by the customers, so that is who I work for. If they ain't buying, the investors will go elsewhere.
Thankfully, both of those initiatives didn't last long.
Semper VaporoWhere I worked they had "initiatives" (or whatever you might want to call them!) One was a culture of "CHANGE!"... "We won't survive if we don't change!"... Being in the radio/avionics industry, I asked where we were going to put the sugarbeet vats? If we must "change", then I can't think of a greater change than to become a sugarbeet factory instead of avionics. Then there was the "You work for the investors!". My reply was that investors do not pay my salary. I am paid by the customers, so that is who I work for. If they ain't buying, the investors will go elsewhere. Thankfully, both of those initiatives didn't last long.
There is nothing quite like the Buzz Word BS that companies throw at employees and ask them to accept as gospel - without giving them the time to think through the pile of crap they are trying to sell. Just how dumb to they think employees are?
BaltACDThroughout my career I can't count the number of times I have seen a terminal 'closed' to save $X millions and a year or so later have it be reopened to save $X millions - over and over again whenever the winds of management changed.
One of the guys I worked with started in the signal dept. His first job was installing signals on the Wynne Sub and his last job in the signal department a few years later, was removing the signals on the Wynne Sub.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
BaltACD. Just how dumb to they think employees are?
blue streak 1 BaltACD . Just how dumb to they think employees are? Good point. The many companies that try to call their employees "associates" is a prime example. Really grates our minds to hear that twist on good English .
BaltACD . Just how dumb to they think employees are?
I still have not figured out why the word is used so.
Of course, most of you know I am a dinosaur.
Johnny
They use "associate" because it sounds so much better than "peon".
Save $Millions to close the hump and then save $Millions to reopen it. Do that a few times and the darn thing will be free to operate.
My daughter got her first job and was quite proud when, after only 2 weeks of work, she was made an "associate". It sounded so good!
I was reminded of an old comic joke book my brother had. Single panel showed a man hanging his hat on a hall tree while being greeted by what was obviously his wife (holding a rolling pin and with a scowl on her face). He was smiling big as he said, "Well, I didn't get the raise, but they did move my desk closer to the wastebasket!"
BackshopThey use "associate" because it sounds so much better than "peon".
You misspelled 'peon' - it is more properly pee on
When everybody's somebody, nobody's anybody.
CSSHEGEWISCH When everybody's somebody, nobody's anybody.
Backshop They use "associate" because it sounds so much better than "peon".
Kind of a modification of Laurence Peter's "Lateral Arabesque," wherein an employee gets a new title that sounds like a promotion, but in reality, it isn't...
And, as Backshop alludes, it makes it sound like they are somehow a partner in the business, instead of an employee/slave...
As for the hump - just another indication that many cuts were made without consideration of the potential implications.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
BaltACD“The principles of scheduled railroading are based on the premise that we continuously seek opportunities to optimize the network and enhance customer service. Given the footprint complexities of flat switching at Radnor Yard in Nashville, we will improve network fluidity, optimize train starts, dramatically reduce out-of-route train miles and switching costs by reopening the hump,” a CSX spokesman says.
BaltACD“As we continue to refine the operating plan in Nashville and throughout our network, we will identify opportunities to rationalize existing yards and other infrastructure. This will allow us to continue to eliminate unnecessary steps and drive improved service,” a CSX spokesman says.
Cripes! What a load of BS corporate double-speak equivocation!
Translation: We fuppeduck but will not admit it.
BaltACDs I have seen a terminal 'closed' to save $X millions and a year or so later have it be reopened to save $X millions - over and over again whenever the winds of management changed.
Ahh yes,...the "Dynamic" style of management, better known as "chaos".
While working in the same place for several years, at one time or another I had several different titles; the last one was "materials handler,' or something like that. At one time or another, I had limited purchasing authority, maintained the stock of chemicals and cylinder gases used in our process (this included returning empties), handled the raw material (silicon wafers), took care of the items sent to other companies for repair, and continually interfaced with people in other areas concerning their needs. Other people with the same title shipped our product, took care of general shipping, received; one was our traffic expert. At one time I had both purchasing and receiving authority--which is generally frowned upon.
I remember when "Personnel Department" became "Human Resources." I thought it sounded like I was a tree in a forest of people.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Paul, I remember the same. The day at started work, I talked with a man in Personnel. The day I retired, I talked with a lady in Human Resources. The new name does sound somewhat impersonal.
Deggesty blue streak 1 BaltACD . Just how dumb to they think employees are? Good point. The many companies that try to call their employees "associates" is a prime example. Really grates our minds to hear that twist on good English . When I first heard that word applied to people working in a store, I wondered what such an employee did. Then I realized that it is a catch-all term applied to the people who interfaced with the public. I still have not figured out why the word is used so. Of course, most of you know I am a dinosaur.
When I first heard that word applied to people working in a store, I wondered what such an employee did. Then I realized that it is a catch-all term applied to the people who interfaced with the public.
The word is used to try to convince employees, especially those towards the bottom of the food chain, that they are really part of a team. Or better yet part of a "family." That they are valued by the company and just as important as anyone else on the team or member of the family. Including the CEO etc. A tatic used especially by a certain big box retailer that is vehemently anti-union.
Almost everyone, from the CEO on down, knows it's a load of BS. But it looks and sounds good.
Jeff
DeggestyOf course, most of you know I am a dinosaur.
Well, I for one enjoyed the dinosaur show while it was on; I still remember the sponsor jingle, "See the U.S.A. in your Chev-ro-let..."
Mmmwah!
The company I worked for changed our Department's name from TESTING to OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS. All of the inmates said it was in lieu of a pay raise. A rose by any other name....
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