Seems from photos that there is an abundance of avoirdupois on many railroad operating staff from previous generations.
charlie hebdoSeems 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.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
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.
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.
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.
Flintlock76In previous generations a sign of, let's call it "heft," on a person and his family was considered a sign of prosperity.
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.
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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...
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...
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..
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".
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!
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..
Balt was in dispatching, not operating motive power so maybe the restrictions only applied to the latter.
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.
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.
charlie hebdoBalt 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.
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.
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