BoydAt the pizza restaurant/bar I work at I think some customers purposely sit at tables near the kitchen just to watch us work.
The diner where I eat breakfast when I'm on the railroad is usually entertaining, especially when they're busy and you can be amazed that they're keeping all those orders straight and finishing up at the right times...
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...
Almost 30 years ago I bagged groceries at a fancy grocery store. Speed bagging cans by tossing up with right hand and catching the bag with left hand gained me an audience. It was odd looking up to see people watching with glazed stares of amazement. For fun I'd ask a customer if she wanted the eggs on the bottom and the watermelon on top. Women customers would multiple times ask if they could bring me home to help put the groceries away. I was better looking then.
At the pizza restaurant/bar I work at I think some customers purposely sit at tables near the kitchen just to watch us work. Others came to the bar every day that one very good looking bartender worked as all mal heads turned when she walked by. She was fired last summer.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
schlimm BaltACD schlimm You do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets? Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense. Beyond the grieving process you describe, I was thinking more of union pressure when negotiating work rules or union lobbyists pressuring Congress and FRA, etc. for government rules. Your unions don't do that? They should for all the dues you pay.
BaltACD schlimm You do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets? Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense.
Beyond the grieving process you describe, I was thinking more of union pressure when negotiating work rules or union lobbyists pressuring Congress and FRA, etc. for government rules. Your unions don't do that? They should for all the dues you pay.
They do what they can within the framework that is presently stacked against labor. However, that is like trying to get your White House Lobbying law firm to step in to handle a dispute over unpaid parking tickets.
Union lobbying and real world railroading take place in different Universe's.
On our property there is a Company/Craft Overlap Safety meeting and process. Issues that apply to each craft get presented, get discussed and in some cases get resolved through this process. This is a part of the 'Safety Culture' the company emphasises. I am currently working on a section of the property that I worked on 35 years ago - at that time, if the Division went a month without a reportable injury it was a relative cause for celebration. Recently the Division celebrated 1,000,000 man hours injury report free - that is not just 'reportable injury free' - that is INJURY FREE. Railroaders know what can make an injury, even though minor and not resulting in lost time a REPORTABLE injury. The Safety Culture has had a quantum shift in the past 35 years.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
CMStPnP Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain. The train crews will never spot you.
Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain. The train crews will never spot you.
That sounds like a great idea except that it would make me even more noticible standing on an overpass and would draw some unwanted attention on the way to the yard. . Anyways, thanks for the replies, it has put my mind at ease.
Lone Geep
\
As a railfan I try to make myself invisible to the railroaders.. It wasn't always that way. When I was a kid I had no problem standing at trackside and waving at oncoming trains like an idiot. But now that feels kinda weird. Time and age have jaded me somewhat.. and I don't want to be a distraction to someone else who is working. A wave could be misinterpreted as a wave for help etc. So i'm the guy behind the tree you don't see.
BaltACDschlimm You do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets? Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimmYou do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets?
Union 'representation' only begins to come into play after a person is charged with an offense. An offense that the company intends to take to an Investigation (trial). In taking the proceeding to a Investigation, YOU WILL BE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED WHAT THE COMPANY CHARGED YOU FOR, with the 1st level verdict an you will be assessed 'discipline' (depending upon the offense, discipline can be anything from a Formal Repremand to Dismissal from the company with a range of other penalties in between). Through this procedure you Union Rep will attempt to be your 'defense attorney' (in most cases your Union Rep is a working stiff just like you, whose only TRAINING in Investigations is by attending the ones he has in cases before yours and what he has learned from those experiences). Your Union Rep will be compensated 'a basic day's pay' for attending your investigation by the Union (your dues at work - and potentially a reason for higher Union dues).
Once Discipline has been assessed your Union Rep will then appeal the results through channels. 1st stop will be the Division level manager that assessed the discipline. 2nd stop will be the company 'Labor Relations' department. 3rd stop will be National Labor Relations Mediation Hearing.
Remember, the orignal Investigation will be scheduled so that AT A MINIMUM you will lose at least one day's pay, since under the Hours of Service Law, one must be FULLY RESTED to participate in your own Investigation, and you cannot return to duty until you are FULLY RESTED at the conclusion of the Investigation. Even if on the 'snowballs chance in hell' you are not assessed discipline from the investigation you still will have lost one or more days pay in participating.
The 17 YO at Wal-Mart was looking for a job when he got the Minimum Wage Wal-Mart job and besides Burger King is hiring. Railroad employees have jobs that compensate them so they can raise a family and put their children through college.
There are those in 'management' that think 'It's good to be the King'. (History of the World Part 2)
schlimmAs I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched? Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job. Why is it so objectionable for you folks?
Perhaps the story of a rogue railfan is appropriate.
I don't know if there was animosity between the parties involved, but a railfan posted a photo on line of a conductor that got the latter in trouble with his boss. The fan was promptly ostracized and banned from that forum. Not sure what happened to the conductor, but I'm sure he now has a reason he does not want to be photographed.
Norm
It also doesn't have to do with being a RRer. I hate being watched when I do stuff. Just leave me alone to do my job. I know, that's not possible, but it's how I feel. Like when a RFE stands over my control stand. Drives me nuts. Sit down over there. If I do something wrong, you'll feel it.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
You do have unions. Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets?
schlimm BaltACD jeffhergert If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched. The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries. Jeff And you can add the FRA and State Inspectors to the category of company weed weasels. As I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched? Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job. Why is it so objectionable for you folks?
BaltACD jeffhergert If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched. The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries. Jeff And you can add the FRA and State Inspectors to the category of company weed weasels.
jeffhergert If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched. The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries. Jeff
Jeff
And you can add the FRA and State Inspectors to the category of company weed weasels.
As I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched? Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job. Why is it so objectionable for you folks?
Go through all the rules in the Book of Operating Rules, The Train Handling Rules, The Air Brake Rules, The Radio Rules and The Safety Rules and figure that the weed weasels have the power to observe you breaking ANY of those rules (some of which are almost mutually exclusive - if you observe one you break another). Outsiders have no idea of the pressure that all organizations place on FAILED efficiency tests.
How long does a 'highway cop' remain employeed if he doesn't write tickets? Every organization that observes rail operations has but one goal in mind - FIND A FAILURE. A Trainmaster or Road Foreman can't submit their monthly E-tests without having 'some failures'. State and Federal inspectors can't go on a rail property and submit their activity reports without having 'some failures'. If inspectors don't find failures they don't keep their jobs very long.
Rail employees may have been born at night, however it wasn't last night and they know the presence of these 'dings' against their record can affect their continuing future employment.
How many people deal with people watching them from the weeds? And then nitpicking you on rules they barely understand because you were trying to actually do your job?
jeffhergertIf you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched. The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries. Jeff
If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched. The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries.
54light15 Do you think the Ghillie (if that is what that was above Oscar) was the inspiration for Wookies?
Do you think the Ghillie (if that is what that was above Oscar) was the inspiration for Wookies?
Murphy SidingYou should see the line outside my office...
We had a secretary in one office I worked in who didn't rest her fingers on the "home row" of the typewriter - she held her hands above the keyboard. For those of us who learned the "regular way" to type, it was a wonder to behold...
Wanswheel, thanks so much for posting that. I was a little too old for Sesame Street when it first came out. I see now what I missed. Funny as hell!
daveklepper Age 15-17, 1947-1949, Spuyten Dyvil, junction of the Hudson lines to GCT and West Side, Herman Rinke the operator.
Age 15-17, 1947-1949, Spuyten Dyvil, junction of the Hudson lines to GCT and West Side, Herman Rinke the operator.
Wow David, now THAT must have been an exciting place to visit! Non-stop action all day long, I'll bet.
CShaveRR I was proud to show off what I did, and would invite people up into the tower... figured that if they got past security, it was worth it for them to get a good show.
I was proud to show off what I did, and would invite people up into the tower... figured that if they got past security, it was worth it for them to get a good show.
There is no way, these days to even get close; let alone, an invite, to just watch. It is a different world we live in these days.
Never bother me at all....as long as they stayed off property.
The few times they didn't, depending on how they act, we either politely guide them where they belong, or have our gumshoes take care of them...for the most part, never had a problem.
23 17 46 11
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
tree68 Virtually every industry that works where the public can see it has its fans. Some in said industries embrace that, some can't see why anyone would be interested in what they do.
Virtually every industry that works where the public can see it has its fans. Some in said industries embrace that, some can't see why anyone would be interested in what they do.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Big Foot - the undefeated World Champion of Hide and Seek.
AIEE! It's Bigfoot!!
Johnny
Deggesty CMStPnP Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain. The train crews will never spot you. http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Guide-Series-Full-Body-Ghillie-Suit&i=763020&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=37363330323057444c434d4f4d2f4c&s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhvbABRDOp4rahNjh-tMBEiQA0QgTGiHMzHBmB4YYiaaA6QgwnJKASEllREFjXl3Fp5TZ5tcaAkEA8P8HAQ Is that what the Scots ghillies wore?
CMStPnP Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain. The train crews will never spot you. http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Guide-Series-Full-Body-Ghillie-Suit&i=763020&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=37363330323057444c434d4f4d2f4c&s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhvbABRDOp4rahNjh-tMBEiQA0QgTGiHMzHBmB4YYiaaA6QgwnJKASEllREFjXl3Fp5TZ5tcaAkEA8P8HAQ
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Guide-Series-Full-Body-Ghillie-Suit&i=763020&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=37363330323057444c434d4f4d2f4c&s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhvbABRDOp4rahNjh-tMBEiQA0QgTGiHMzHBmB4YYiaaA6QgwnJKASEllREFjXl3Fp5TZ5tcaAkEA8P8HAQ
Is that what the Scots ghillies wore?
Very, very similar Johnny. The term as we know it today goes back to World War One when British snipers adopted a camoflage suit adapted from what the Scottish gamekeepers, or "ghillies," wore. The term found it's way into US Army and Marine Corps sniper usage not long afterward, and now it's found it's way into hunting terminology.
There's some film footage of World War One snipers moving into position (certainly staged for the camera) and the ghillie suits they wore 100 years ago are amazingly similar to what's used now.
If the crew is in the cab, you generally can't see them anyway. I watch the train...not the crew per se. Unless it is MOW and then I watch what they are doing, not how they perform.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.