Observations from a rookie conductor

[Anonymous]

I've been marked up as a conductor on CSX for two weeks now. Just as everyone told me already, I have learned more marked up on my own than I had in all 12 weeks of training. I was scared to death for the first few trips because I knew I didn't know everything I had to do. I now realize that asking questions and tripping over myself is the only way I will learn. I am very thankful I have worked with some great engineers, they watch me carefully and answer all my questions. I also realize that the engineers are put in an unfair situation by being assigned to new hires. If I mess up, the engineer gets in trouble too, so they have that much more pressure on them. Of the five of us who marked up in my terminal, one ran through a switch, and another quit because he go into it with a yardmaster in Chicago. When he got home he went on rest and then got called for another train just to show up at the yardmasters desk and throw his keys and radio on the desk to quit. I have worked on 13 trains already and I get called out on my rest just about every time. In the last week there have been twice as many trains as normal running through my terminal. When I came home yesterday, there were five trains sitting without crews on them because there's no one to man them!!! [:0] All I know is that I enjoy my job and I sure do love making money! Here's advice for anyone getting close to marking up or contemplating a career on the rails. If you take things personally out here or let things get to you, you'll end up going nuts or quitting like of my fellow new hires already did. Just do what you're told and CYA (cover your @$$). You can never be too careful!!!

[jeaton]

Curious-Are they rerouting traffic that normally would move via other CSX routes to Chi?
Otherwise, sounds like you are off to a good start. Since you obviously don't have time to spend it, sounds like a good time to save it. Then IF you get furloughed, you'll have the time AND the money.

Good Luck

Jay

[Rodney Beck]

Join the list of being marked up for the first time. Mine frist time was 2 years ago and I was scared out of my mind. My first trip being marked up was to Chicago after the 15 week cra***raining on BNSF I did not know the line that we were operating on. I must have drove all the engineers that I worked with nuts with all the advice that I asked for but now after 2 years the advice is asked less beings that I pounded the ground and learned the job and I am still learning. Stay safe. Rodney Beck conductor BNSF

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a lot of fun.

What was one of the most suprising things you've found out so far, that you didn't realize or think about before?

Good luck, stay safe, and keep us all up-dated!

[csxengineer98]

get job insurance...if you dont already have it...GET IT NOW!!!!
csx engineer

[mudchicken]

nstephenson & Rodney - Stay away from the guys that don't think this job is a continual learning process (it never stops!)....

Don't ever get buffaloed into doing something you don't fully understand either...

[Anonymous]

mudchicken is right.

Railroading is a constant learning process. Pay attention to the guys who want to show you things, even if it is not directly related to your job. You never know when it will come in handy.

There will always be guys who think they were born to railroad and know it all. No one does. The easiest way to stay out of trouble is to carry your rule book with you and refer to it often. Going by the book will never get you fired.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Yes, I do my best to avoid getting buffaloed and often use the rules to defend myself. When I put a train together in one of the Chicago Yards i barely know, I often brief the yardmaster that I'm new and that it would be wise on their part to give me a little extra time so I can do things right. Most of the time everyone is helpful and courteous, but if they get out of hand...... I just pull out the rule books and shake them threateningly.[swg]

[Rodney Beck]

You got that right rules change and no trips are ever the same. Rodney

[UPTRAIN]

Congrats, you been throught the "initiation process" yet, rookie? See ya on the rails (maybe).

[Anonymous]

Yeah, keeping your rulebook handy helps. There are lots of times when you and your engineer will both be scratching your heads about a rule. I always get it out, and we both learn something. When you're new, you remember the rules because you studied them for your test. Later, you learn them "as you go," or how to apply them to a situation. When you become an old head engineer, the young guys will be looking stuff up for you.