First trip being marked up.

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone!

I will hopefully be marked by monday and I was curious to how other railroaders handled their first day being marked up. I'm nervous, and I know I do not know everything yet, I am looking very fondly at the security blanket called training behind me. I wish more things had happened during training so I would feel more prepared, but I guess the best way to learn is to just do things myself.

[edblysard]

No, not by yourself.
Your brakeman and engineer will know your new, if they dont, tell them so.
Then ask questions, and listen to the answers.
Each terminal has its own little quirks, each yard its own personality, trust the guys you make your first trip with to let you know what has to be done.
Let them know your counting on them to keep you cut in, they will take care of you.
Tey are not going to do it for you, but help you learn how to do it for yourself.

And trust me, it will all work out, it really will.

Let us know how it goes, and if its all you think it is was going to be.

Ed

[JoeKoh]

Good Luck
stay safe
Joe

[csxengineer98]

same thing applys now as it dose when you where training...... if you dont know something ..or know what to do...stop and ask.... if you dont understand some instructions.... stop and get someone to clearify them.... most of the time the engineer will be able to help you with this...he isnt going to let you get into trouble as long as he can help it... becouse if you go down...so dose he.... joint responsibily.... just take your time.... as you go out on your own more and more...the job will start to become second nature... and the better you will become at it.....
remember...dont be in a hurry...stop if you dont know what to do....and if its not safe..then dont do it....
welcome to the family....as disfunctial as it is..lol
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Yes, listen to the "old heads" above, n_. The worst thing you can do is pretend you know what you're doing, when you really don't. If you are not sure what's going on, ASK. Never fake it, you'll always be found out. Finally, I remember some old guy years ago telling me, "It's been 30 years; it seems like 8 or 9, but not 30!" He was right. In my case, it has been almost 35 years, and it DOES seem like 8 or 9, but 35? Whew! Have a great career, n_!

[Willy2]

Good Luck![:)]

Willy

[CShaveRR]

I still remember my first day of work, over 30 years ago. I arrived over an hour early (nervous about how long it would take to drive the 15 miles or so through Chicago to get there). The yard forman had two "pigeons" (newbies); the other helper had maybe a week or two of experience. The engineer, however, was an older guy whom (as I found out over the years) nobody enjoyed working with. I was on the head end, and he had an uncanny habit of telling me everything I knew already and nothing I needed to know. I spent most of the day throwing switches, but didn't have any idea about what we were really doing (in retrospect, we coupled up, doubled up, and shoved three manifests into the departure tracks). I was surprised that we got a quit, and gratified that the foreman went out of his way to tell me that I did a great job for my first trip.

So, along with all of the other good advice given here, you'll have to be patient with yourself. It things don't make sense now, either they will later or they won't matter (some things still don't make sense--but you can do your job anyway).

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your support as usual. I will most likely be on the road from Danville, IL to Chicago. I operate on the CSX between Danville and Woodland Junction. And then we run on UP controlled double main the rest of the way into Chicago up towards Dolton Junction where we can go any direction from there. fFrom Dolton we could jump on the Indiana Harbor Belt, back onto CSX, or go north and get on the Belt Railway. We can also take the Indiana Harbor Belt northwest up to Bensenville and enter the CP yard up there! Luckily I've been to just about every yard, I just would have liked to have put more trains away in them to know the yards better, but I promise I'll be good to my engineer!!! I feel comfortable running on the road and understanding my bulletins and other paperwork, it's more when I actually have to yard my train and then get the power to the service tracks. Then if I get lucky I can get called for the gravy road jobs that go south out of Danville down to Evansville, IN. There is also the yard, which I feel most comfortable in. But, I more than likely will not work the yard either, unless I get forced into Remote training, which is a possibility because I'm the lowest on senority right now and CSX just put a bid out on 2 positions. The biggest criticism engineers have given me is my radio communications. I give them too much information, I don't realize they know what I'm doing more than I actually do. Practice makes perfect, right??!! [C):-)]

[Anonymous]

Best of Luck Nathan. [:)]

I think you will do just fine. [;)]

Let us all know how it when when you fini***hat first trip. [;)]

[Anonymous]

I'm looking forward to hearing about how the first trip goes, good luck and stay safe!

[Anonymous]

I remember my first trip well. I was all nervous and jerky about it, spent WAAAAY too much time on the paperwork and walking the train inspecting every little thing. It was a through freight but we had only 23 cars.

Had a great engineer and it all went fine. Funny thing is, a week later I was sent to Engine School and went straight into the seat. Later on I was set back and worked for a fair time as a conductor again, but that's another story...

LC

[Anonymous]

The most important thing is...be safe. I've only been out here 3 yrs, but can already say that almost every time something has gone wrong was when I got in a hurry. When you hurry, you forget little details like lining switches, taking off (or putting back on) derails. Also, if you start thinking about something way down the line that you have to do, you won't be paying attention to what's in front of you...something you must never let yourself do. You may feel rushed by a fellow crewmember, or even your own expectations...don't...it's your life, handle it with care.

[Anonymous]

There is another time when things go wrong. Lack of experience. For example the difference between a guy who knows to cut an icy crossing in a January thaw with the power. Lost a friend that way. He was sent to Engine school after only 3 weeks on the ground in training. Shoved across an icy crossing and the 100 ton grain car he was riding flipped over on top of him...

Be careful out there and don't be afraid to ASK, even though you're not a Trainee any more...

LC

[wabash1]

Just one thing scared me reading your post. you said you dont know everything yet. let me tell you something every railroader will tell you. you never quit learning. if you thinnk you know it all then you are going to get hurt. take the things you have learned the exsperances you have had . dont forget them. use them and you will do fine. if you dont know ask. people are going to talk about you anyways ( just part of railroading) might as well give them something good to say. I have stop my train several times asking the new conductors what they was going to do. sometimes there ideas was good differant but good and sometimes not. with what others have said and good advise from who you are working with you will do fine. it seems like you have a good head on your shoulders. be confident in your ability of dong the jobs.

[Rodney Beck]

Hi group I remember my first trip I work out of Galesburg Il. my first trip was the m galihb got to the yard office the engineer was their we told each other our names got the paperwork done and went to the train we left town and got to Joliet Il. we had a set out it went ok. Just remember Rome was not bulit in a day take your time and ask your engineer for help if you need it they will help you out. You will do better as time and trips go by. Rodney Beck conductor BNSF

[Anonymous]

My first trip was as a fireman. I went directly from being a clerk to the Operating department. In retrospect, I think it's a lot harder that way because I had no ground experience to appreciate what the trainmen were doing. The old head engineers did'nt say much and resented you being there because they said it was costing them money. I think the difference was about six dollars a day less if you had a fireman. A few older engineers took me under their wing and taught me everything I needed to know that was'nt in the books. God bless em. As has been said, the main thing is let the crew know that you are new and they will keep you out of trouble. Don't try to fake it. I retired four years ago after a satisfying career. I wish you the best of luck on yours, Ray [:)]

[csxengineer98]

i remember my first solo trip as an engineer after being marked up............
you couldnt get a greesed toothpick up my butt with a 20lb sleghammer.... very tense to say the least.....and a chick flashed me her boobs....that made the trip even more memerable...lol....
but anymore its just like driving a car....it becomes second nauter.... as long as nothing out of the ordenary happens.... when you have complications such as a mechanical failer.... it tends to put a little "fun" into the run...lol
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Passed my GIT and Physical characteristics tests I'll be marked up in the morning! Time to make the $$$$$$$. There's five newbies rocking the board in Danville. Right now with vacations going on there are actually openings on the Freight Pool!!?? I wonder if it's even worth taking a freight pool spot when I know I'll get bumped.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by n_stephenson

Passed my GIT and Physical characteristics tests I'll be marked up in the morning! Time to make the $$$$$$$. There's five newbies rocking the board in Danville. Right now with vacations going on there are actually openings on the Freight Pool!!?? I wonder if it's even worth taking a freight pool spot when I know I'll get bumped.

now the real fun will begin.... that your marked up.... get ready to play the bumping and be bumped game...being a new guy...your in for a rockey start as far as trying to get a pay check... the vacations will be a help..but when they are done for the year.... you will find out how young on the pole you are....
i wish you the best of luck..and stay safe..... keep the wheels on steel....
csx engineer
oh yea
welcome to the family.....as screwed up as it may seem at times

[Anonymous]

thanks CSX, hopefully I can make some good money this summer before things start to get tight. Here in Danville no one has been furloughed for a few years now, but you never know when our luck will run out. and yes, i am finding out just how dsyfunctional my new and very large family is, but at least it keeps things interesting. [oX)]

[Anonymous]

Sorry i didnt get a chance to post ealier, everyone has given you great advice. The best thing i can say to you is, and you probably seen this by now is dont let anyone rush you into doing something. That is a quick way to get on the IR list at work. I think it was my first road trip solo and the engineer, who had 1 year more than me, but hired out with 40 years under his belt, tried to take a quit. That was the first time i was in Selkirk yard on my own. Needless to say we dog lawed. He was mad at me for quite a while. I looked at him and said look at the overtime we got and us and our train are in one piece. He told the trainmaster i was doggin along and the trainmaster laughed at him and told me i did OK for my first solo.

[Mookie]

Mookie is jealous, but she will get over it!

Keep us posted - and remember - almost everyone likes to talk, so ask!

[mudchicken]

(1) Be careful every day in every way (never be complacent),
(2) After Trip #1, hope you have a good mix of engineers to work & learn with and that your best instructor rides with you often enough that you can gauge your progress,
(3) Always keep learning, nobody knows it all,
(4) Keep an eye out for the shortline on the old P&E coming in from Olin to Danville,
(5) Be alert and keep an eye out for mudchicken's brood working around your line at Cayuga and Watseka...we and the flagman will be looking out for you...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by n_stephenson

Passed my GIT and Physical characteristics tests I'll be marked up in the morning! Time to make the $$$$$$$. There's five newbies rocking the board in Danville. Right now with vacations going on there are actually openings on the Freight Pool!!?? I wonder if it's even worth taking a freight pool spot when I know I'll get bumped.

HAWWWW HAW! n_, you've got to get bumped! You're a VIRGIN until you get bumped! I remember the first time I was bumped...wanted to punch the bumper out! But then I got to bump some one else. Boy, I've gotten used to being bumped in the years since; it doesn't happen as often now, but usually the guy bumping me today is three steps from the grave yard! :^)

[daveklepper]

I hope you will come back and let us know how you did and how you are doing. Keep us informed and we can continue to rout for your success! Dave Klepper

[Anonymous]

hey all,

Had my first trip yesterday. I got called for V500, which is a coal train that services a massive coal fired power plant in Cayuga, IN. The caller asked me if I had been there before and I said no, so luckily I was able to get a pilot conductor. We pulled the empties out of Cayuga and went down the CSX main to Hillsdale where we got on the Decatur Sudvision. There we have to get DTC blocks, something I hadn't had to do before. When we approached the old Conrail line by Ridge Farm, IL I had to call the Indianapolis dispather and get a Form D. Then we went through the interlocking, i got off at a switch lined it for straight, let the train pull through, lined the switch back to back the train up down the wye. Then we went north to Black Beauty Mine in Vermillion Grove, there we pulled the train in and circled around until all the switches were lined so that the train could be loaded. We taxied back up to Danville and had a 5 1/2 hour day. It was a very easy first trip for me and I got to learn a bunch of new and important things, like DTC blocks and Form D's, which some of you CSX guys out East probably use a lot more than I do.

Mudchicken, are you surveying out there by Cayuga and Watseka?? I will probably get called today, since I've already been bumped off my off day! Most likely I'll be heading north to Chicago, but with vacations I may also get to go south to Evansville. I do remember reading a dispatcher bulletin about contractors working near some tracks, I don't know if that was you or not, but is was further south of Cayuga.

I have heard of that shortline, is it the V V R ? I think they are buying the Old Conrail line all the way to Hillery Yard in Danville, so then they will service Teepak, Central States. I'm not sure if they will buy the Westville main as well that goes south and services CCL, Royster Clark, and something else. Anyways, I'll keep an eye out for a surveying crew, I'll be wearing a Clemson hat with blue bib overalls, and If I'm out on the ground I'll have my yellow training vest on. [C):-)]

[Anonymous]

Just finished my first solo round trip to/from Chicago. We went dead there and back! The UP is also going to start construction on Village Grove sub, which means they will probably go down to one main track instead of two. I already risk the chance of dog lawing every time I go up, with the construction its going to be a guarantee!! [oX)]

[edblysard]

Cool deal...
So, was it as hard as you though?

See, and you were worried you'ed get lost or something.

Ed

[espeefoamer]

Congradulations![:)]I envy you!Learn all you can,ask questions,and above all,STAY SAFE!!!

[Anonymous]

Good to hear that everything went well, looks like you're on your way to a great career!
Stay Safe.