I failed

[Willy2]

Nora - I'm really sorry to hear about that. As said by so many others, you have not failed. Keep on working at it!

[Randy Stahl]

Hi,
I found a computer to use here in Maine. I will check in as often as I can. I havn't got my own computer yet so I'm borrowing time on the storeroom computer.
Nora, A real failure is someonewho doesn't try...
Randy

[Anonymous]

don't feel bad, you made it farther than most people. i appied with NS twice and didn't even get close to an interview. i failed a personality test for CSX. you know how dumb that made me feel? so i re-took it and passed it. i never once gave up because i'm an extremely determined person. so hang in there and keep trying, if you want it bad enough it will happen.

[jeaton]

I assume that the test is made with a mock-up or a stationary car spotted over a "soft" landing. After you do the suggested strength training and you are again up for the test, convince yourself that letting go would cause you to drop into a switch stand or other less desireable landing area. I wouldn't suggest that anyone go into it without having passed the test, but you would be surprised at how danger can strengthen your grip and muscle stamina.

Not that it is necessarily the best way to do it, but I recall holding so tight that I could have been squeezing the juice out of the grab iron or railing.

Jay

[dehusman]

The thing that always made me realize how big a railcar or engine was was grabbing ahold of a moving car. It is a real jolt when it picks you up an carries you away, you instantly respect how small you are and how heavy it is.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

At least it's fixable, as stated above it's a simple matter of building up your strength a little more.

If you can do something about it, you should, and you should be ready to go back for the next round..... at this time it seems that there will be lots of opportunities in the next few years, so just fix that and you can go do it all over again.

Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Nora- I failed that test a good number of times-

Luckily I was allowed to redo it to give you the exact amount- well let's just say-- a few

I started pumping Iron, buying bigger garbage bagsand filling them to the top and taking them out, holding them up for longer- then putting them in the trash- and then after 2 months when i went back, 2 minutes felt like nothing, i could of held on for hours-

Trust me, just work on the arms and you'll do perfect next round.

[jchnhtfd]

Hey Nora -- courage! And hang in there; I'm sure you can do it! Of course it's a disappointment now, but come back and have at the dang thing again. It's worth it!

[CShaveRR]

I don't think I'd want to arm-wrestle with Nora! It's been decades since I've had to do my railroading from the side of a freight car.

Around here, the remote operators have to ride and control the hump shoves for the entire length of the lead, several thousand feet. That would involve holding on with one hand while one's operating the control.

I know I used to climb up to the bottom rung (as opposed to the stirrup) to ride the cars when I had to--I just figured that it was more comfortable for me, at my particular height.

And Nora, when I told Pat, her response was "She's going to try again, isn't she?". And that was before I mentioned the four-second figure. You've gotta go for it!

[mudchicken]

Setback? - Yes
Failure? - NO

Keep pluggin' !

[Anonymous]

While you didn't pass, you really didn't fail, either. You should be proudof yourself for going as long as you did andcoming very close. Ofcourse it isa disappointment to come so close and not make it, but you will definetly get it next time. And then, it will be all worth it! Keep it up! We're rooting for you!

[rrnut282]

[#ditto] To almost everything said above. You have come closer to living your dreams than 99% of Americans, so why stop now? This is only a setback. It will only become a failure if you do not dust yourself off, pull yourself up by the bootstraps, and try again.

To answer somone's earlier post about setbacks: Thomas Edison tried 1600 times to make a light bulb and failed before he found the right combination; Ullysses S. Grant suffered 5 business failures in his civilian life before finding success in the military (and some could argue he had several mis-steps there, too); Abraham Lincoln lost a business, lost a local election, and lost the senate election to Douglas before finding success in a presidential election, and he was greatly despised in the papers of the day, yet most consider him one of the great ones; I would go on, but you get the idea.

[Mookie]

Nora - a large pity party is in order - as only we females can do. But I know your determination and wish you the best on your next try....you know there will be one!

Mookie

[Rick Gates]

You only fail if you don;t get up.........by the way.....want to arm wrestle? Maybe, I can win?[D)]

[CShaveRR]

Nora, I'm sorry to hear about your setback. I think you'll know better where you stand after you talk with people today. These people will offer you encouragement if they think you're worth it. And you've gone through a lot to get as far as you did.

Don't give up on your dream just yet!

Carl

[Anonymous]

Nothing I can say that hasn't already been said...so just....believe in yourself.
Those exercises can't hurt.

~Ra'akone

[Anonymous]

Nora -

Practice walking a half-mile with a ten-pound potato sack in each hand. When you get where you can do that easily, start putting a couple of potatoes into each sack.

Seriously, Nora - it's an occupation which has its drawbacks, but if you can handle the hours, etc., the rewards are worth it.

Hang in there. You know what's required, now, so raise your capabilities and keep your eye on the prize.

And, above all, BE SAFE!

Old Timer

[dharmon]

Good on you Nora for going as far as you did. You know what you need to improve on....and it actually has application, not just an arbitrary means for attrition, so ...as nike says...just do it! We're all behind you.....though maybe I wouldn't put that on an appliction[;)]

[Anonymous]

NOoooooooooRA.

Well, its like a driving test or whatnot. (You remember my whole renewal thing [:|]. May take a few trys, but usually the first will help you pass the second. How about getting 2 12 packs of soda cans, putting them in plastic grocery bags with handles, and walking for 10 minutes a day. (I had to do that with 3 6 packs of 24 oz. water today). seems to me it would help streingth and get you used to force of having the bar forcing against your fingers when leaning.

Just my advice. And don't be hard on yourself. You tried, and you have the determination. thats what matters.

[Nora]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement etc. I do totally understand why I have to be able to do the test, and that's why I'm not angry or bitter at anyone but MYSELF about being sent home.

For the test, we HAD to hold on with ONLY our hand; no wrapping our arm around the ladder rungs. We had to use an overhand grip as well. It was not nearly as easy as it sounds, and a number of the people who did pass looked like they were getting very close to their breaking point by 2 minutes.

The instructors did suggest some exercises I can do to increase my arm strength and grip strength and that's what I'm going to do.

[arbfbe]

Wrapping your arm through the hand rail is frowned upon account you are hung up in the equipment which might impede your getting off in a hurry should the need arise. You see it every day but that proceedure would likely disqualify you from the test and result in failure.

[oskar]

sorry about that nora and where in GA



kevin

[UPTRAIN]

I was curious if I could hang. Today, I hung for 3:24 seconds from a former UP baggage car. If I can do it, anyone can. I wrapped my arm around the grab iron and it worked.

[Anonymous]

Nora,

You were so close! Try talking to someone there to give you one more try. If you have to back home just strengthen those fingers and arms a bit and you'll be fine. Like Ed and LC said it is imperative that you can hang on because your safety depends on it!!! There is no "try" there is DO or DO NOT. You can do it Nora, that's all you need to tell yourself.

Junctionfan,

When being tested you have to have your feet in the sill step and both hands around the grab irons. It is considered cheating to wrap your arm around as you suggest, but in the real world I end up climbing higher on the car I'm riding and I do wrap one arm around a grab iron and I grab on with my other hand. It is a lot more comforable to ride long distances that way; I just make sure I have a good grip and that my feet won't slip.

[Junctionfan]

Aren't you supposed to kind of wrap your arm around the ladder and stand at the side of the car?

[edblysard]

Nora,
Take Overmod and LCs word for it, holding on one handed and giving hand signals is one of the most important skills you have to master, it make the difference in you staying safe or getting hurt or killed.

Believe it from someone who hangs on the side of cars all day, you can learn how!

If thats all they had to bump you, and they encouraged you to try again, then let Overmod help you develope the strength.

If this is really what you want to do, then get after it....

Ed

[JoeKoh]

Nora
pick yourself up and TRY TRY AGAIN!
stay safe
Joe

[espeefoamer]

Nora,do some excercises,and next time you will be able to handle it.Remember,you haven't failed until you quit.I know you will suceed the next time you take the test[:)].Good luck[:D]!!

[Anonymous]

Nora-

Like others above I think you caqn do it. It is very important to be able to do this as you will have pretty long shove moves where you must be able to hang on to the cars. Based upon the fact that you were only 4 seconds off I think a little practice and perhaps a bit of weight lifting or other upper body strengthening exercises will help. Women typically (on average) tend to have less upper body strength than men and it shows in these types of tests. One woman in my Trainman's training class actually fell from a boxcar when she was trying to release a high handbrake. Luckily all she had were some bumps and bruises...

Don't give up...

LC