Trains.com

NS Job Cuts Ahead of Ancora Meeting

7920 views
46 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, April 15, 2024 8:14 AM

Seems from photos that there is an abundance of avoirdupois on many railroad operating staff from previous generations.

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Monday, April 15, 2024 4:26 PM

charlie hebdo
Seems from photos that there is an abundance of avoirdupois on many railroad operating staff from previous generations.

True of most professions, I'd say.  

 

I was reading a discussion that some belive it's the fewer number of people that are smokers (smoking being an appetite suppressant).  I'm no Dr., but I know when I hired on it was rare to have a RRer that didn't smoke.  Quite the opposite now. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 10:02 AM

That seems to be true in a variety of businesses.  Smoking began to become less acceptable as just a bad habit in around the late 70's to early 80's.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 1,530 posts
Posted by NKP guy on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 2:05 PM

charlie hebdo: Seems from photos that there is an abundance of avoirdupois on many railroad operating staff from previous generations

 

I see a big difference in fitness when I visit either coast. People of all ages seem more health conscious there. Here in Ohio, and elsewhere in between, people generally are noticably bigger than when I was a boy.

I understand that at the end of its first sailing season, RMS Queen Mary 2 had to have many of its deck chairs and others replaced. It seems the overweight Americans had busted them with their weight and girth.

When walking around in Europe it's not too hard to spot our countrymen because of this.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 9:24 AM

charlie hebdo

Seems from photos that there is an abundance of avoirdupois on many railroad operating staff from previous generations.

 

Cultures do change.  In previous generations a sign of, let's call it "heft," on a person and his family was considered a sign of prosperity. 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 9:33 AM

Flintlock76
In previous generations a sign of, let's call it "heft," on a person and his family was considered a sign of prosperity.

As it was considered a standard of female beauty in art from the oft-famine-stalked Middle Ages and Renaissance times...

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 3:11 PM

Flintlock76

 

 
charlie hebdo

Seems from photos that there is an abundance of avoirdupois on many railroad operating staff from previous generations.

 

 

 

Cultures do change.  In previous generations a sign of, let's call it "heft," on a person and his family was considered a sign of prosperity. 

 

I am not talking about the distant and semi-distant past.  I'm referring to the 21st century.  This was discussed previously on here with graphic examples of obese operating personnel among railcrews and LEOs.

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 3:26 PM

deleted duplicate

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,024 posts
Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 7:56 PM

Anyone who has climbed into the cab of an RS3 knows they were not built with a 6'4" 250+ pound crew member in mind...

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, April 18, 2024 6:59 AM

tree68

Anyone who has climbed into the cab of an RS3 knows they were not built with a 6'4" 250+ pound crew member in mind...

 

Some railroads had maximum height restrictions for train crew personnel..B&O for example had a 5 ft 10 in limit. Not sure if any of the current carriers have such restrictions.. likely not..

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Thursday, April 18, 2024 7:13 AM

There's a recently retired railroader who writes stories for a certain rail magazine who appears not to have missed too many meals in his lifetime. Even older pictures show him as being "hefty".

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 18, 2024 8:55 AM

Ulrich
 
tree68

Anyone who has climbed into the cab of an RS3 knows they were not built with a 6'4" 250+ pound crew member in mind... 

Some railroads had maximum height restrictions for train crew personnel..B&O for example had a 5 ft 10 in limit. Not sure if any of the current carriers have such restrictions.. likely not..

Wasn't aware of any such limit when I hired out in 1965, and never heard of it during the years B&O was the issuing company for my paycheck.  There were numerous fellow employees that were well over six feet.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, April 18, 2024 9:06 AM

BaltACD

 

 
Ulrich
 
tree68

Anyone who has climbed into the cab of an RS3 knows they were not built with a 6'4" 250+ pound crew member in mind... 

Some railroads had maximum height restrictions for train crew personnel..B&O for example had a 5 ft 10 in limit. Not sure if any of the current carriers have such restrictions.. likely not..

 

Wasn't aware of any such limit when I hired out in 1965, and never heard of it during the years B&O was the issuing company for my paycheck.  There were numerous fellow employees that were well over six feet.

 

I could be wrong...maybe it wasn't B&O...I recall reading about someone who was disqualified due to his height..

 

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2017
  • 5,636 posts
Posted by charlie hebdo on Thursday, April 18, 2024 10:11 AM

Balt was in dispatching, not operating motive power so maybe the restrictions only applied to the latter.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, April 18, 2024 11:22 AM

Backshop

There's a recently retired railroader who writes stories for a certain rail magazine who appears not to have missed too many meals in his lifetime. Even older pictures show him as being "hefty".

If it's who I think you're referring to during his time on the Lehigh Valley his nickname was "The Bear."  A fine writer!  His stories of the Valley are very enjoyable. 

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 18, 2024 11:24 AM

charlie hebdo
Balt was in dispatching, not operating motive power so maybe the restrictions only applied to the latter.

Throughout my career I was in many other organizations other than Dispatching, being Asst. Trainmaster for nearly a decade.  Some of the Engineers under my supervision were well over six feet and many were well over two hundred pounds, as were Conductors and Trainmen.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Thursday, April 18, 2024 12:49 PM

Flintlock76

 

 
Backshop

There's a recently retired railroader who writes stories for a certain rail magazine who appears not to have missed too many meals in his lifetime. Even older pictures show him as being "hefty".

If it's who I think you're referring to during his time on the Lehigh Valley his nickname was "The Bear."  A fine writer!  His stories of the Valley are very enjoyable. 

 

 

 

 

Yep, that's him.  I wonder why he doesn't write much about his time on the R&N.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy