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BNSF Savanna IL Yard is torn up and Crew Change is outta service

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Friday, August 25, 2017 12:02 PM

Well there is a 3 track passing siding at Galena Jct. The boys in the office have no idea how bad the weather gets on the upper Miss. River. Its rained sleet sideways. Trains did a article not long ago about the BNSF River line

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, August 25, 2017 11:34 AM

samfp1943
 
BaltACD
 
jeffhergert
Short pools, not pulls.  I've been reading that BNSF has been instituting long pool runs, running through many traditional crew change locations.  Some of which had been home terminals.  It seems to be mostly on the old BN side from what I've read.

Jeff 

Carriers (or at least CSX during my employment) wanted to reduce 'crew starts' and by extension manpower required to move trains between A and Z.

"...If you are using 'minimum crew day' seniority districts and crew changes it will cost you two 2 man crews to go from A to Z.  If you create a ID run for this territory you will pay one 2 man crew the basic day plus mileage to go between A and Z.  Direct money is nearly the same, however, you are only obligated to pay the fringes (vacation, health care, RR Retirement etc.) for 2 employees not 4 employees.  As long as the ID run is successful a majority of the time crew expenses and head count have been reduced..." 

OK!   So I think ,I get the premis to make thses kinds of changes[ An attempt to 'squeeze out more pennys'  out of the budget, by trying, [tinkering with?] different manning tacts ?]  

  It would also, seem to smack of management types, who are 'new' in the business, who might want  to' play'(?) in the work environment without a full understanding of the, Whys's, and Wherefores, of the Work Rules (and those Contracts/Commitments,in place ?). 

  Sort of an attack on the ".. If it ain't broke,don't fix it..." school of management thought.  My 2 Cents

Depending on the territories such stategies are implemented on, it can be very successful.  Without due regard for the territory and it's issues, it can be an abject failure.

On my final working territory CSX's Baltimore Division, such runs were in place on a number of territories.  Cumberland-Baltimore, previously had a crew change at Brunswick.  Cumberland-New Castle previously had a crew change at Connellsville.  Richmond-Brunswick at one time had a crew change at Potomac Yard when two separate companies were involved.  Richmond-Philadelphia also had a crew change at Potomac yard in those days.  All these are successfull ID runs.  

At one time a run from Richmond-Cumberland was tried.  Since the trains involved weren't consitantly completing the run without being recrewed, after a period of time the run was abolished.

Because of the characteristics of the business handled, there are still pools that operate Connellville-Cumberland; Connellsville-New Castle; Cumberland-Brunswick; Baltimore-Philadelphia; Baltimore-Richmond.  Changes in the business plan eliminated the Baltimoe-Brunswick pool.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, August 25, 2017 10:36 AM

BaltACD
 
jeffhergert
Short pools, not pulls.  I've been reading that BNSF has been instituting long pool runs, running through many traditional crew change locations.  Some of which had been home terminals.  It seems to be mostly on the old BN side from what I've read.

Jeff

 

Carriers (or at least CSX during my employment) wanted to reduce 'crew starts' and by extension manpower required to move trains between A and Z.

"...If you are using 'minimum crew day' seniority districts and crew changes it will cost you two 2 man crews to go from A to Z.  If you create a ID run for this territory you will pay one 2 man crew the basic day plus mileage to go between A and Z.  Direct money is nearly the same, however, you are only obligated to pay the fringes (vacation, health care, RR Retirement etc.) for 2 employees not 4 employees.  As long as the ID run is successful a majority of the time crew expenses and head count have been reduced..."

 

OK!   So I think ,I get the premis to make thses kinds of changes[ An attempt to 'squeeze out more pennys'  out of the budget, by trying, [tinkering with?] different manning tacts ?] 

  It would also, seem to smack of management types, who are 'new' in the business, who might want  to' play'(?) in the work environment without a full understanding of the, Whys's, and Wherefores, of the Work Rules (and those Contracts/Commitments,in place ?). 

  Sort of an attack on the ".. If it ain't broke,don't fix it..." school of management thought.  My 2 Cents

 

 

 


 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, August 25, 2017 10:12 AM

jeffhergert
Short pools, not pulls.  I've been reading that BNSF has been instituting long pool runs, running through many traditional crew change locations.  Some of which had been home terminals.  It seems to be mostly on the old BN side from what I've read.

Jeff

Carriers (or at least CSX during my employment) wanted to reduce 'crew starts' and by extension manpower required to move trains between A and Z.

If you are using 'minimum crew day' seniority districts and crew changes it will cost you two 2 man crews to go from A to Z.  If you create a ID run for this territory you will pay one 2 man crew the basic day plus mileage to go between A and Z.  Direct money is nearly the same, however, you are only obligated to pay the fringes (vacation, health care, RR Retirement etc.) for 2 employees not 4 employees.  As long as the ID run is successful a majority of the time crew expenses and head count have been reduced.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, August 25, 2017 9:46 AM

Short pools, not pulls.  I've been reading that BNSF has been instituting long pool runs, running through many traditional crew change locations.  Some of which had been home terminals.  It seems to be mostly on the old BN side from what I've read.

Jeff

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,568 posts
BNSF Savanna IL Yard is torn up and Crew Change is outta service
Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Thursday, August 24, 2017 6:30 PM

Hotel Lady at the Savvana told me something about short pulls are abolished and Savanna is no longer a crew change. Had to pound dirt to Clinton IA.

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