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Hello all, time for another tale from the newbie conductor. <br /> <br /> About a week ago I got called for a "K" Train that was just 69 empty tank cars. The engineer I worked with had been very unfriendly with me in the past. I'd even just ask him simple questions related to our job and he'd just either say nothing or give me crud for not knowing. Anywho we were coming out of terminal and starting to gain speed. The engineer and not called a few signals and I asked him if I could. He said "Don't touch a damn thing!" I said "OK, fine". So, he goes to the second unit to do something and he doesn't tell me whether or not I should tap the alerter button. Well, the alerter goes off and I just sat there. Train goes into emergency and when we get stopped, it was quick because we had only 2,200 trailing tons, the engineer comes back up. He just glares at me in disgust. I said "you told me not to touch a damn thing, remember???" I said "All you had to do was ask me to touch the alterter." He just gave me a dirty look and wouldn't say anything. So, then I blew and told him "Do you have problem with me?!!!! What did I do to tick you off?!!!!" He just sat there not saying a thing. So to say the least the rest of the trip was not fun for me. On the return trip we were doubling our train together and I was just double checking with him about what track we were going into and he just said get down there and figure it out. a yes or no was all I needed, but I couldn't even get that out of him!!!! The remainder of the trip went OK, he actually decided to partcipate in a job briefing that I had been trying to get him to do since day one. We yarded our train successfully at our home terminal and that was that. My question is.... Should I have let the train go into emergency like that??? I knew the train was empty tanks, so I knew there would be no shiftable loads flying off. I was also just doing what the engineer told me to do, since he is in charge of the engines. Many people in the terminal have told me that is just the way he is, especially with new hires because he doesn't like that we have to rely on the engineers for help. I felt I didn't have to deal with his attitude like that, that's why I went off on him. I'm still not looking forward to working with him in the future. I've had other grumps to work with,but at least they talk to me and let me know what's going on. If an engineer needed me to tap the alterter I would, all he has to do is ask, but when I'm told not to touch anything, then that's what I'll do. Let me know what you think.
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