What happened to the lost art of engineers waving?

[magicman710]

Back in the old days, the engineeer or conducter would happily wave at you, and if there were will cabooses, they would wave at you to.

But today, there seams to be less egineers and conducoters waving, even if you wave at them. I have waved my hand off before but they never look at me or wave back. I have even had some conducters on a few occasions look right at me, and not wave while I wave them.

Is it them just not paying attention, or is it they dont want to wave? I dont really mind them not waving if they dont see me, thats fine, but its when they look at you, or notice you, but dont wave, that makes me mad. What has happened?

 

Grayson

[dldance]

IMHO - air conditioning - that means the windows are closed most of the time.  No open window - no wave.

dd

[tree68]

When I'm performing "firemen's" duties in the loco (an RS-3) I'll always wave - but we're a tourist line and that's part of the show.

I do get crews that wave from time to time.  As often as not, the engineer is busy keeping track of the track ahead, though.

[JoeKoh]

some do some don't.but Matt and I always get an extra toot when we wave.

stay safe

Joe

[Anonymous]

After all the idiots that are out at the crossing and anywhere inbetween them, there are a lot of peopl that throw rocks, bricks and everything else at us train crews.  I personally do not wave for that reason.  If we are stopped, or something I might come down and talk with you until we are ready to go.  Even the videos shown in class, say not to wave and keep your mind on your work.

[Anonymous]

Isn't every wave considered a highball?  I always thought it was a tradition, if not a rule, to wave back as an answer to a highball.  I remember seeing older engineers wave back by holding up their hand, palm upward and outward, with their fingers spread and curled as though they were cradling a ball.  And then they would quickly rotate the imaginary ball back and forth on its axis by rotating their hand at the wrist.  I concluded that the imaginary ball was the highball.

[Soo 6604]

As for me when I'm out and about watching trains, I don't even think about waving or even looking at the cab for the engineer. I take a quick glimpse at the number and every once in awhile, I'll see the engineer wave and that's the only time i'll give a wave. So basically, I have them wave first (that's if I see 'em)

[Willy2]

After all the idiots that are out at the crossing and anywhere inbetween them, there are a lot of peopl that throw rocks, bricks and everything else at us train crews.  I personally do not wave for that reason.  If we are stopped, or something I might come down and talk with you until we are ready to go.  Even the videos shown in class, say not to wave and keep your mind on your work.

That seems a little harsh, if you ask me. There are just as many (if not more) good people trackside as there are bad people. Is there always work you're doing that would make it unsafe to look up for three seconds and wave?

I always wave and I almost always get a wave back if the engineer or conductor is looking. I figure that seeing someone smiling and waving might brighten the crews' day a bit.

[samuelpc]

 I've watch trains for 30+ Years and never expected a crew to respond

most will wave, nod, thumbs up, or some jesture. when there near a crossing most are looking

 out for "idiots" , note I use the term generaly, and cannot wave. what would you have them do?  wave or do thier job

[G Mack]

Hello,

I always wave even if the crew is hidden behind the tinted windows, it just seems to be the right thing to do. A few times I have had the engineer open his side window and wave, this always impresses me and I appreciate the gesture. Sometimes a small action such as a wave and smile can go a long way in affecting someone else. Even if you don't see it, it may make the other person more likely to wave and be friendly to the next person they see trackside. I feel that as a railfan I should always appear friendly to the railroaders I meet.

Speaking of the tinted windows that you see on the locomotives now, they seem to be extremely dark. I would assume that they are clear enough to see through at night, but they sure do look like they have a heavy tint to them.

Be safe...and friendly!

Gregory

[Railfan1]

Depends on the crew and the mood they are in. I have encountered the type who (1) keep their eyes foward on the tracks ahead (2) just look at you like your crazy and keep on truckin' (3) go out of their way (i.e. if the window is closed they will open it just to wave and give a big grin and then close it back). It just depends.

[wabash1]

to get me to wave you haft to be another crew or railroad worker the only other time i might wave is when i have seen you several times and you are not 5 ft from my train and act like you have common sense. other wise be greatfull i am not calling in on you. i have hit and killed to many nice people.

[Limitedclear]

The Rules of Engineer waving:

1. If you are a pretty girl I will wave. (especially if you flash me...lol...)

2. If you are a kid (under 10 or so) I will wave to you.

3. If you look ok and are staying back from the ROW I may wave to you.

4. If I am busy running the train chances are pretty good that I have my hands on the control stand and I won't wave to you no matter who you are.

5. If you look questionable, I will call the cops.

6. If you look like a trespasser or a security risk I will call the cops.

7. If you point anything at me I will close the window and call the cops.

8. If it is a hot day and the A/C on the locomotive is actually working I won't open the window.

9. If I am on the radio or watching a hand signal from my crew I won't wave or pay attention to you.

10. If I'm not too busy I may even have time to chat with you.

LC

[magicman710]

The Rules of Engineer waving:

 

2. If you are a kid (under 10 or so) I will wave to you.

LC

Does 14 qualify? I doubt you would call the cops on a 13 or 14 year old.

It appeard our engineer friends here enjoy pressing them 3 digits......... And for the one who said: "Be gratefull I dont call the cops on you" Would a 18 wheeler driver call the cops on me for watching that truck on the side of the road? Does watching a intermodel train carring around an extra 100 semi trailers make it so I cant watch a train without the engineer calling the cops? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me..... What has happened since 9/11?

[vlmuke]

I pretty much agree with limitedclear I will always try to wave back if at all possible with the exception of the women who live by the tracks in Whiting we always wave at them and they always wave back.  here's my side of this I have waved at several people and all I get back is the finger so I am reluctant to initate waving as a result of that, that could be why some people don't wave at all

[Murphy Siding]

      I don't know....it seems I can always get a wave from an engineer or conductor.  But then, I'm always where I am supposed to be, when I wave.  If I have our two younger boys with me, they can usually elicit a toot as well.

      On a related note:  We were driving along a highway that runs parallel to a BNSF line that carries some coal.  My wife, was trying to get "the train people" to wave at her.  This particular train had a DPU unit on the back.  That, is what she was waving at.  I explained about DPU's...remote control...etc.  She acted like she understood.  Then, she rolled down the window, and began to wave vigorously.  Darned "railroad people" still didn't wave.

[Limitedclear]

The Rules of Engineer waving:

 

2. If you are a kid (under 10 or so) I will wave to you.

LC

Does 14 qualify? I doubt you would call the cops on a 13 or 14 year old.

It appeard our engineer friends here enjoy pressing them 3 digits......... And for the one who said: "Be gratefull I dont call the cops on you" Would a 18 wheeler driver call the cops on me for watching that truck on the side of the road? Does watching a intermodel train carring around an extra 100 semi trailers make it so I cant watch a train without the engineer calling the cops? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me..... What has happened since 9/11?

It depends. See Rule 3. I never wave at groups of teens. I'm generally looking for rocks, bricks or paintball guns. I've had all three used on me and endured more than one broken cab window. Oh, and in my legal career I have prosecuted and defended 14 year olds for A-1 and A-2 Felonies (Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Drug possession and distribution, and even Manslaughter) so I have no problem with calling the cops if I feel threatened. In any event Company rules require it. 

LC

[SFbrkmn]

Heard once about a company official who observed a crewman waving at someone and received a ops failure for not being alert & attentive. Now thats nuts. If people are going to be hounded for something like waving, why bother then.

[magicman710]

Heard once about a company official who observed a crewman waving at someone and received a ops failure for not being alert & attentive. Now thats nuts. If people are going to be hounded for something like waving, why bother then.

I totally agree with you. Maybe its just me, or is doing the following just as prone to making you un-alert and unattentive that waving at somebody:

1. Looking at the brake gauges, takes your eyes off the track.

2. Reseting the alerter, makes you annoyed and you have to take your eyes off the track to press the reset button.

3. Turning on the air conditoner/heater.

4. Talking to your other conducter/brakeman/engineer or conducter trainee.

5. Talking on the radio.

6. Souding the horn, the loud sound distracts you.

7. Looking at the speedometer.

8. Waving at a railfan.

 

Now, correct me if i'm wrong engineers, but all of these seam to be likely to distract you.

 

Grayson

   

[SWChicagoRailfan]

Does it really bother you when they don't wave? When I'm out taking pics, I will usually wave at a locomotive as it passes even if I can't see the engineer because it just seems like a common courtesy and 95% of the time if they can see me they will wave back. And please note, I'm not doing the hyperactive 5-year-old spastic wave, I do a simple cool hand gesture resembling a military salute...lol. If they don't wave back, I could care less because I'm sure they are doing something more important like watching the rail in front of them or working the throttle.

[NS SD70M-2]

Back in the old days, the engineeer or conducter would happily wave at you, and if there were will cabooses, they would wave at you to.

But today, there seams to be less egineers and conducoters waving, even if you wave at them. I have waved my hand off before but they never look at me or wave back. I have even had some conducters on a few occasions look right at me, and not wave while I wave them.

Is it them just not paying attention, or is it they dont want to wave? I dont really mind them not waving if they dont see me, thats fine, but its when they look at you, or notice you, but dont wave, that makes me mad. What has happened?

 

Grayson

The engineer usally toots at me because i'm a young railfan.

[magicman710]

Does it really bother you when they don't wave?

No, its dosent bother me, and Im kinda like you, I do the "I dont really care" wave, were you just raise your hand up, and let it down. Its just that it seams like they dont wave as much as they used to.

[Doc Murdock]

When I was in Calgary, Alberta I had one engineer give me the middle finger salute after I waved to him. I was not impressed in the least. Most of the front engine number had peeled off, so I couldn't take it down and report it. Would it have made a difference?

[wabash1]

The Rules of Engineer waving:

 

2. If you are a kid (under 10 or so) I will wave to you.

LC

Does 14 qualify? I doubt you would call the cops on a 13 or 14 year old.

It appeard our engineer friends here enjoy pressing them 3 digits......... And for the one who said: "Be gratefull I dont call the cops on you" Would a 18 wheeler driver call the cops on me for watching that truck on the side of the road? Does watching a intermodel train carring around an extra 100 semi trailers make it so I cant watch a train without the engineer calling the cops? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me..... What has happened since 9/11?

wrong the last time i called the cops was on a 14 year old also 2-10 year old several adult type foamers  several riders .  I dont have a age group. and 911 has nothing to do with it, i reported more people before 911 than now, you just dont get it,  the main thing is i dont care what you think you have rights to or what you want, the main thing is your saftey and my job, It says in the rule book if you are on company property ask you to leave if you wont leave call the cops. if you think of taking a picture better not i hate defending my actions caught on camera, the people i do wave at earned the respect and i have let some of them on board play with the controll stand blowing the horn release brakes even rev the engine, they was not your typical whinny teenager thinking we are not doing what they want,they was well manered teens and they got the respect they deserved. think about what you may have done in the past that may have cause this response from the crews, but also remember that this is the real world and that the actions of others may be causing your problem, this means if you want respect it may take a little longer for you to earn.

[Midnight Railroader]

other wise be greatfull i am not calling in on you.

Since I'm not on railroad property, you'd be wasting your cops' time by doing so.

if you think of taking a picture better not i hate defending my actions caught on camera,

If you didn't do things that need to be "defended," you wouldn't have to worry about this.

Your attitude is part of the reason railroads enjoy the absymal rep they do among the public. Good work.

[sanvtoman]

 

      I will wave if my grandson is with me otherwise i dont. I would feel like a boob waving without my grandson. My grandson is my excuse to watch trains. We were watching a NS crew kick cars and the engineer honked the horn blinked the lights and waved. A real nice guy!!

[k41361]

My wife and myself go up in the N.S. Horseshoe Curve area every once in awhile.Just about always get a wave.

Yes the engineer must concentrate on the road ahead,but if he is doing so ,he is aware of people along the tracks waving at him.He doesn't even have to look at them, but just pick up his arm and wave.They waved in the steam era and it took a lot more work and concentration to run those babies than the locomotives of today.

Terry

[Midnight Railroader]

An engineer who has to time observe people trackside and make a determination as to whether they are on the railroad's property and represent a threat (terrorist or otherwise) to his train, as we've been told in this thread, also has the time to lift his hand to return a friendly wave.

Unless he's purposely being a jerk.

[FJ and G]

engineers on CSX freights going thru Alexandria and Crystal City VA don't wave much as they're usually busy oogling the women on the platform; well at least a few of the women

[spbed]

Well now they have AC & in the old days no AC which could be the reason! Look at the recent pix I took in Southern California & you will see the cab windows are almost always closed on the locos

 

 

 

Back in the old days, the engineeer or conducter would happily wave at you, and if there were will cabooses, they would wave at you to.

But today, there seams to be less egineers and conducoters waving, even if you wave at them. I have waved my hand off before but they never look at me or wave back. I have even had some conducters on a few occasions look right at me, and not wave while I wave them.

Is it them just not paying attention, or is it they dont want to wave? I dont really mind them not waving if they dont see me, thats fine, but its when they look at you, or notice you, but dont wave, that makes me mad. What has happened?

 

Grayson