I cant even tell you the amount of times I have had an engineer ask me to keep an eye on the Alerter or sound the horn while they either step down to lhe restroom or out the back door , You folks just keep forgeting that there are two countum two people in that cab and I have the same concerns as that Hogger. and the same restrictions. as far as use of electronic devices are concerned.. They only have to worry about the power , I have to worry about the train coupled to the power , When will you realize that that hogger isnt God and that the conductor isnt going just for the rideThen you will understand that I get a little hot under the collar about "just the Hogger" Larry
cnwfan51 I cant even tell you the amount of times I have had an engineer ask me to keep an eye on the Alerter or sound the horn while they either step down to lhe restroom or out the back door , You folks just keep forgeting that there are two countum two people in that cab and I have the same concerns as that Hogger. and the same restrictions. as far as use of electronic devices are concerned.. They only have to worry about the power , I have to worry about the train coupled to the power , When will you realize that that hogger isnt God and that the conductor isnt going just for the rideThen you will understand that I get a little hot under the collar about "just the Hogger" Larry
No offense larry, but the hogger also has to worry about what's back behind the engines. I'm not just a conductor/brakeman, but am also a RCO-dude ( I know, I know, but they forced me to qualify on it*) . Let me tell you... I have 100x more respect for engineers after I get a shift of playing rock-em sock-em robot engines. It's a team thing. Crews get taken out in pairs for the most part.
*- and yes, I think hoggers should have gotten first pick of any remote control job, flowback if you will... but another subject for another day/forum.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
No Offence taken Just mark this up to a very long day of snow ,cold and dispatchers Larry
cnwfan51No Offence taken Just mark this up to a very long day of snow ,cold and dispatchers Larry
zugmannalways 70 and sunny in the cab!
Reminds me of a CSX train stopping for a pickup at Utica a couple of winters ago. The engineer was comfortably ensconced in his seat, wearing a golf shirt, as the well-bundled conductor hit the ground to do his thing.
On our trains the engineer is often alone, so if he needs to take a break, he either has to wait till we're back at the station, or has to stop and find a spot where the passengers can't see him (or come back to the consist). There's no "facilities" on the locos...
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...
wabash1 they can eat, read, text, surf internet, talk on the phone, wave at people, do puzzels, drink , go to the bath room, listen to music or a nascar race and a few other things.
they can eat, read, text, surf internet, talk on the phone, wave at people, do puzzels, drink , go to the bath room, listen to music or a nascar race and a few other things.
I do not wave. My dignity and professionalism prohibit it.
I guess this means they can't moon people,, right?
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
Only trainmasters!
Who are not permitted to respond in kind. (Rule 12.250 (B).)
They get compensated with free calendars every year. Sometimes a pen with the company logo on it.
Should I stop?
RRKenwabash1 they can eat, read, text, surf internet, talk on the phone, wave at people, do puzzels, drink , go to the bath room, listen to music or a nascar race and a few other things. I do not wave. My dignity and professionalism prohibit it.
rji2 I am once again utterly perplexed by some of the answers to what seems a reasonable question, particularly that offered by wabash1. In a sense, yes, an engineer CAN do all those things. He CAN jump off at 55 m.p.h. He CAN thrust his finger toward the trainmaster should he be seen along the right-of-way. He CAN do anthing within his physical and mental capabilities, but I thought the question was asked what could the engineer lawfully or judiciously do when operating a locomotive in train service. How do nonsensical answers serve any need?
I am once again utterly perplexed by some of the answers to what seems a reasonable question, particularly that offered by wabash1. In a sense, yes, an engineer CAN do all those things. He CAN jump off at 55 m.p.h. He CAN thrust his finger toward the trainmaster should he be seen along the right-of-way. He CAN do anthing within his physical and mental capabilities, but I thought the question was asked what could the engineer lawfully or judiciously do when operating a locomotive in train service. How do nonsensical answers serve any need?
Holy cow ...do you ever need to lighten up.
What if Eleanor Roosevelt waved???
zugmannAnd I am utterly perplexed on why you fail to understand (or have a problem with) a little railroader humor. If you just want cut and dry lame answers, fine here they are: I don't even know why I bother to post on here at times. I'm serious. A lot of people sucking the fun out of this place lately.
I don't even know why I bother to post on here at times. I'm serious. A lot of people sucking the fun out of this place lately.
Hear Hear Zug! Good on ya!
For goodness sakes...lighten up rji2 will ya?
tree68 On our trains the engineer is often alone, so if he needs to take a break, he either has to wait till we're back at the station, or has to stop and find a spot where the passengers can't see him (or come back to the consist). There's no "facilities" on the locos...
How can they get away with no sanitary compartment on the locomotive? That kind of situation can sure rack up some delays on a schedule.
Murray What if Eleanor Roosevelt waved???
Actually, after some research, she did wave, and it was completely in her place to do so.
Boyd I guess this means they can't moon people,, right?
We have an engineer who can be quite a character at time. He's been known to moon trains he's meeting or passing. One time when the moon rose early, his MOP (road foreman) happened to be riding on the other train.
I don't know if he's given up this practice, but if he still does it, it's once in a blue moon. (Sorry, couldn't resist)
Jeff
jeffhergertI don't know if he's given up this practice, but if he still does it, it's once in a blue moon. (Sorry, couldn't resist)
Will he moon if the blue moon was over Texas?
------sorry if I got the song title off but---gee--it sounds good!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
On another note--
Just how do you engineers get assigned specific routes or engines anyhooooo---?
Is it done still by seniority?
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCL5x63OvUY
Who cares what they CAN do...the more important point is what they SHOULD do. Like all of us, they should be focused on the job at hand..and not on texting, chatting, clipping their nails... or on any other activity that isn't germane to the work at hand.
Ulrich Who cares what they CAN do...the more important point is what they SHOULD do. Like all of us, they should be focused on the job at hand..and not on texting, chatting, clipping their nails... or on any other activity that isn't germane to the work at hand.
But what if the job at hand is chatting texting or clipping thier nails, then are they giving it their full attention?
Ulrich ...or on any other activity that isn't germane to the work at hand.
...or on any other activity that isn't germane to the work at hand.
Dan
CNW 6000 Ulrich ...or on any other activity that isn't germane to the work at hand. "The gosh-dang Germans ain't got nothin' to do with this!"-Buford T. Justice
And if I would have done that they would have burn up the report abuse button on me.LOL
wabash1 Ulrich Who cares what they CAN do...the more important point is what they SHOULD do. Like all of us, they should be focused on the job at hand..and not on texting, chatting, clipping their nails... or on any other activity that isn't germane to the work at hand. But what if the job at hand is chatting texting or clipping thier nails, then are they giving it their full attention?
Sure it is... if you're Jay Leno then your ability to chat and be interesting is most relevant to the job...but not so much for engineers I think.
How many of you railfans actually read the first and second paragraphs of Fred Frailey's column "Seven ways to become a better railfan" in the Feb. 2010 issue?
I will let you in on a little secret that most of you infidels haven't caught onto yet. If a railroader finds something to pick at you about or finds a way to get under your skin, then you might as well grin and bear it cause he ain't gonna let you forget about it.
.
Infidels?
One professional railroader, in answering a similar question, pointed out that technically he wasn't allowed to bring a cell phone to the cab with him...but that when a problem or emergency arose, employees often had to use a cell phone to contact someone. So generally people just accepted the "Catch - 22" and brought cellphones and kept them out of sight, and management didn't try to hard to find them.
Ulrich wabash1 Ulrich Who cares what they CAN do...the more important point is what they SHOULD do. Like all of us, they should be focused on the job at hand..and not on texting, chatting, clipping their nails... or on any other activity that isn't germane to the work at hand. But what if the job at hand is chatting texting or clipping thier nails, then are they giving it their full attention? Sure it is... if you're Jay Leno then your ability to chat and be interesting is most relevant to the job...but not so much for engineers I think.
If your driving your car do you or have you ever talked on your phone , ate a burger how about taken a drink of water or that morning coffee, how about raising up on the one cheek and letting it rip. all while driving. did you wreck? probley not , but you seem to think that engineer cant eat or take a drink while running, ive talked on the phone while running but not very long as the engine noise really makes it hard to have a coversation. then you come off with clipping nails and texting and chatting and what ever else,
Well here is a flash for you Us engineers can read, while running a engine we can talk I talk all the time to the conductor about things at home , vacations what the wifes are saying about us and guess what we didnt crash derail run signals Die or any other thing you like to see. we can clip our nails paint them what ever we want to them and dont need a trainmaster permission or yours because there is no rule against it. Eating is allowed and there is no rule say it is not. The only rule is Electronic devices are not to be used by the crew while engine is in motion. thats it. anything else is ok to do, I dont even turn mine off
I'm not looking for a fight..thus will not engage. All I stated is that engineers (and the rest of us as well) SHOULD not be so concerned about what we CAN do on the job...we should be more concerned with focussing on the job at hand...Don't you think the world would be a better more productive place if everyone did that? Sure.. I CAN chitchat all day when I'm at work..I CAN do handstands... I can sleep..I can eat and drink...but so what... I'm sure you CAN do many of these things as well.. but who cares.. the important question is what should you and I be doing...no?
Compare with the practices of airline pilots. If the pilot has to 'go' during a flight, he comes out of the cockpit and uses the forward head, and the 1st officer = co-pilot = our conductor [auto-pilot, really = our tracks] is solely flying/ responsible for the plane until he gets back. The plane doesn't have to stop for that to occur. Of course, note that this usually happens during level flight at cruising altitiude = our through the level countryside, not during take-off/ascent or descent/ landing = our approaching terminals or interlockings, etc.
- Paul North.
Well, on the nice road runs, the conductor can do just about anything. The engineer is too busy working the controls to do much of anything other than eating. When he goes to the bathroom, the conductor takes over running if he's experienced enough. Of course, some of these things depend on a series of factors.
As for the bit about wanting 2 sets of eyes on the road, that's untrue given the trains are about to become 1-crew run from now on. Sure, there'll be a fight to the death (literally) against that happening, but you know with teh current push, it's going to. And a flat-out ban on possession of cell phones is just retarded and should be illegal anywhere. I know you're banned from using when while running the show, but to keep you from having it in case of an emergency where radio contact is lost!?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.