This is nuts!!!!

[Anonymous]

LC,

Thanks for your advice. I have already done some of the things you have suggested. I talked to my TM about a month ago and let him know my intentions of transfering to Indy as well as the fact my wife will be due in January. He said he would do everything he could to make sure I had time to be with my wife. As far as at home, we live with my mother-in-law, and she's a great lady. She will be helping us take care of the baby, she talks about little else. I also chose the neccessary evil of Remote Control Operator because it was a sure fire way to be home, and so far it has worked. Granted I make a little less money, but I sure am home more! The wife and I are very much ants, all we do is think about the future and try to prepare for it. So far things are falling into place nicely.
I got to see my little one via sonogram yesterday and I'm just on cloud nine right now. It was the first time I've seen "Herm" (him/her), and "Herm" was developing well. I have a few pics and I just can't wait for the day. Right now I'm just focusing on taking care of little momma and making sure she is as comfortable as she can be. I've actually been doing a lot of housework, but the wife still questions my abilties at dusting, so she still tries to do a lot of cleaning herself. [:-^]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by n_stephenson

A lot of you will probably think I'm crazy after reading this post, but I'll go ahead and say it. I should be happy sitting at home getting paid a decent salary working maybe once or twice a week. But, I'm actually going nuts! I have no hobbies that I can stick with and I'm so used to working that I don't know what to do with myself. A lot of people at my terminal love just sitting home making guarantee, but I find guarantee as a last resort. I'd much rather be pounding the freight pool making a ton of cash, that's probably the only hobby I really have!!!
What makes me nervous is that business is starting to slow down a bit and it will only do so more in the coming months. There are a lot of us on extraboards sitting around not really being used very much, so I'm just waiting for the old hook to come. My UTU chairman assures me that no one will be furloughed, but I find it hard to believe. During the weeks when Florida was being pounded by hurricane after hurricane CSX cut our roster down. I made the cut as the last man; and the company did that just for a few days of delays caused by hurricanes. I just can't see CSX holding onto all of us for the entire winter unless the weather gets really bad. I know I should be lucky just to have my job, but I just feel bad sitting around doing nothing. I mean, I guess I make a good "househusband." Since my wife is in veterinary school and studying all the time and pregnant I do stay busy helping out around the house with a little direction from my wife. I just got so used to making the good money during the summer and now its gone....[V].
Don't worry oldheads, I do know how good I have it; I just feel the need to whine every now and then. I'm just having a hard time adjusting from working all the time to not working at all. Maybe it's time to dust off my bowling ball and join that league I've been thinking about all summer....[;)]

Be the ant not the grasshopper. Save every nickel you can. There will be plenty of expenses when the little one arrives. As Ed, ValleyX and others have said these cycles are common. Things up this way usually pick up in february or march. Enjoy your time with the family and make sure you have a talk with your TM or Super about the projected birthdate and being able to mark off for it. When my second daughter was born I talked to the Superintendent a couple of months ahead and it worked great. No problems with permission or anything. While you have time do some planning and spend some time preparing with your wife. Some of the toughest times will come when she is home alone with the baby and you are out pounding the rails next summer...

LC

[ValleyX]

Sounds like there's a zone agreement in place but I can't begin to understand, without reading the agreement, why you'd have to give up your seniority in Danville if you transfer to Indy. If it's all part of the same roster, that makes no sense to me whatsoever, but that's an opinion based on what I know about our agreements and nothing else. I'd question that closely and read the agreement closely before signing anything. Local chairmen don't always have all the facts.

[Anonymous]

Valley,

This is the weird thing... on the CSX terminal you can enter in where you have seniority and where you are allowed to move. Since the CSX takeover of the Conrail in Indy and other spots and some union moves; most of the new hires in the midwest belong to the B&O Western Consolidated Conductors Roster. I happen to belong to the same seniority roster as those in Indy, BUT according to my union chair, I have to make a transfer because Indianapolis is outside my senority district (Chicago, Decatur, Washington, IN and Evansville, IN), which requires me to transfer; however, I still maintain my seniority. But, then my union chair says I may have to relinquish my senority in Danville if I want to move to Indy???? It's all very confusing to me. A year of seniority is huge right now because of all the hiring that has gone on, and I'll do just about everything I can to hold onto it when I transfer.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

Do you want . . . a sleepy shortline.

It does not sound like there would be very much work for a conductor onm there either.

[ValleyX]

You are making a seniority move, aren't you? When you say transfer, you're not meaning that you're starting over again, seniority-wise, are you? I don't know anything about CSX rosters and was wondering.

[Anonymous]

Oh, so you still have a while before the big move.

[Anonymous]

Macguy,

Well, I'm waiting for my house to be finsihed over there, and it should be done by April, so I will be transfering sometime around the completion of my new house. I have to transfer, but I've already been told by my trainmaster and the Indy trainmaster that it will be approved as long as I stay available to help out in the yard here at Danville over the winter.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by n_stephenson

Valley,

The boards in Indy are wide open!!! The switchman's board has 13 vacancies. I'm very content to be in my situation and you're right it could be much worse.
And thanks everyone else for your recomendations. My wife bought me a Chicago Bear's passenger train, and I have a few pieces of rolling stock around. I also had a neighbor, who is a carpenter, help me build a large table to set up a layout. Since I'm moving soon, I may just do as Tree suggests and do some brainstorming. [4:-)]

When are you moving to Indy?

[Anonymous]

Valley,

The boards in Indy are wide open!!! The switchman's board has 13 vacancies. I'm very content to be in my situation and you're right it could be much worse.
And thanks everyone else for your recomendations. My wife bought me a Chicago Bear's passenger train, and I have a few pieces of rolling stock around. I also had a neighbor, who is a carpenter, help me build a large table to set up a layout. Since I'm moving soon, I may just do as Tree suggests and do some brainstorming. [4:-)]

[tree68]

To expand on the model railroad idea - there are many things you can do before you erect the first benchwork and lay the first track:

Develop a rationale for your railroad. Do you want a modern transcon or a sleepy shortline. Are you interested in a historical representation or do you want to create an original work? This might be a snap decision, or might take a while, as you investigate possibilities.

Plan your railroad. This will involve not only figuring out how the track will go, but researching what would be correct buildings, rolling stock, etc, for the railroad you envision. Maybe you can spend some of that downtime at the library instead of on the couch. Just set the cell phone to vibrate...

Armchair modelling. Even if you aren't ready to build the layout, you can begin amassing rolling stock, buildings, and other scenery items. Set aside a work area where you can leave a partially completed kit. Sometimes you have to wait a while before the glue or paint dries... This one can progress as time and money allow.

Building the layout. Volumes have been written...

Join a model RR club. If they have a modular layout, you can build a module. Maybe even at the club - no mess at the house. All of the previous suggestions come into play here, too. Plus, you get to run trains soon, too, depending on the clubs "seniority" rules.

And has been said, once the baby arrives, you'll be wondering what "spare time" is....

[MP173]

Had an interesting day yesterday, I called on an organization called Greater Chicago Area Foodbank, which is a nonprofit foodbank. I was really moved by all of the volunteers that were sorting food, loading, and deliverying. I am thinking of volunteering a monring a week or something like that. You might consider doing something like that in your hometown.

Also, a few years ago I picked up a guitar and between it and trains, I have quite a bit of hobby interests.

Lets see....you would rather work than sit around the house and get paid for it. Nice attitude! Pretty refreshing to hear actually, I think most of us feel that way.

ed

[Mookie]

I am with Nathan - I hate not working. I don't want to be a domestic goddess and there is only so much you can do at home. Need the 8-5 or in my case 5:30 to 3:30 work to keep me entertained. But remember the only thing constant it change. So it will change and when you have a new baby - you will never have enough time!

Mookie

[ValleyX]

There's always going to be some slow times where you don't think you're getting out enough but that'll change. Be glad you're working for a company that has provided a guaranteed extra board for those such as yourself. If you were working for my employer, you wouldn't be sitting on Easy Street right now.

Wonder what the boards in Indy are doing right now?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Nathan,

Hey, did you ever think about taking up model railroading?
You have the first hand experience now!

Ed

Took the words out of my mouth, I was going to tell you this exactly

[edblysard]

Nathan,
You will find it does this every year, about the same time.
It cycles through,and then picks up.

Trust me, we have a lot of freight on the rails...it will get to you some time around friday!

UP has two big ones from us to you, I sent them out today!

The cycle works like that down here too.
Around halloween, it will slow down, stay that way till after the new year, then dump on us, all in one week it seems.

Enjoy the slack while you got it, it isnt going to last!

Hey, did you ever think about taking up model railroading?
You have the first hand experience now!

Ed

[JoeKoh]

hmmm overtime one day and no ot the next .today they are ahead but then the customer wants it yesterday.take it from me take care of mamma and that little one coming the rest will take care of itself.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like sitting at home getting paid and having nothing to do is a nice problem to have.

Things are usually slower after the chistmas rush, because chances are not too many people are booking vacations like they were during the summer months...

Something to get used to I suppose.

[Anonymous]

A lot of you will probably think I'm crazy after reading this post, but I'll go ahead and say it. I should be happy sitting at home getting paid a decent salary working maybe once or twice a week. But, I'm actually going nuts! I have no hobbies that I can stick with and I'm so used to working that I don't know what to do with myself. A lot of people at my terminal love just sitting home making guarantee, but I find guarantee as a last resort. I'd much rather be pounding the freight pool making a ton of cash, that's probably the only hobby I really have!!!
What makes me nervous is that business is starting to slow down a bit and it will only do so more in the coming months. There are a lot of us on extraboards sitting around not really being used very much, so I'm just waiting for the old hook to come. My UTU chairman assures me that no one will be furloughed, but I find it hard to believe. During the weeks when Florida was being pounded by hurricane after hurricane CSX cut our roster down. I made the cut as the last man; and the company did that just for a few days of delays caused by hurricanes. I just can't see CSX holding onto all of us for the entire winter unless the weather gets really bad. I know I should be lucky just to have my job, but I just feel bad sitting around doing nothing. I mean, I guess I make a good "househusband." Since my wife is in veterinary school and studying all the time and pregnant I do stay busy helping out around the house with a little direction from my wife. I just got so used to making the good money during the summer and now its gone....[V].
Don't worry oldheads, I do know how good I have it; I just feel the need to whine every now and then. I'm just having a hard time adjusting from working all the time to not working at all. Maybe it's time to dust off my bowling ball and join that league I've been thinking about all summer....[;)]