so today...

[Anonymous]

...i was cruisin through arlington, IL which is on the BNSF's main between princeton and mendota....and i saw a UP train with a solid trainload of CSX containers...the second of such i've seen the past couple days. he was stopped there right west of the crossing and had just gotten underway as i came up to it. an impressive sight indeed watching it get up to speed by the time the end of the train cleared the crossing. 2 things....i see more UP on the BNSF than i do BNSF and the other is just a retarded observation...the left seater looked like he couldn't have been a day over 30. most i see are fairly old.

[edblysard]

You will see a lot more younger guys riding shotgun, the new contract allows those 60 or older, with 30 years or more of service, to retire will full benefits.
Lots, and I mean lots of guys are getting out, which is one of the main reasons UP and most of the Class 1s are in desperate need of warm bodies.

Ed

[Anonymous]

Yup, the new generation is on it's way....

It's weird to see guys my age up in the loco.

[Anonymous]

hmm....30 years and retire?.....crap, that would be nice, retiring at 53

[CShaveRR]

No, Farmer, read it again...you have to be 60 to retire after 30 years of service. Otherwise, it's still 62. I had my 30 years in well before 53, but I have a few years to work yet.

[daveklepper]

glad to see the UP is solving its problems by running trains over BNSF and that interchange business still exists. Three railroads in one train sighting!