CSX in the hand of a Idiot. No right now CSX is in the hands of a total Moron that in Milspeak could not pour pee out of a boot with instructions on the heel on how to do it.
One thing to remember - You can't out think idiots! Idiots can be and frequently are more idiotic than any reasonable person can think can happen. CSX is currently in the hands of idiots.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Well, they did say
"...relocation was expected to occur between Aug. 31 and Oct. 15."
While there was no definite date given, I can understand why some could infer that that meant it would be done before Oct. 15. I'm not taking sides here.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
To add to the talk. Company worked that for moved domicile / cancelled but waited to move. Guess what ? 60 days later move cancelled. Boy a bunch of us were lucky ! Since the remote possibility of EHH not being the head of CSX any more is a possibility would wait to move home !
While I agree on jumping the gun, it wasn't hard to presume that the DS moves were going to occur. A number of other initiatives had already been announced and made to happen.
Given the realities of the housing market, kids in school, and all the other variables that have to be dealt with for such a move, I can't necessarily blame anyone for being proactive.
Hindsight is almost always 20-20...
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...
As I said before - UNTIL there is a firm, dated plan in place, all the rest is gum flapping. Even when there is a firm plan in place, it can be cancelled at the last second. Trying to be 'pro-active' in view of CSX's present lack of organization is being fool hardy!
Don't 'jump the gun' because then the gun is aimed at you!
n012944To move without a definite date is stupid.
So give a definite date. Kind of a joke all around.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmann To not give a definite date to move someone across the country is pure BS.
To not give a definite date to move someone across the country is pure BS.
To move without a definite date is stupid.
An "expensive model collector"
To not give a definite date to move someone across the country is pure BS. And there should be ample lead time. And because other places don't do it, doesn't mean it isn't any less pathetic.
zugmann Defending CSX on this move is disgusting, pure and simple.
How do you figure? The dispatchers that chose to move before a moving date was given took a chance, and lost. Amazinly in my office, who got the same notice that the office of the dispatchers that are now "homeless", no one moved. We were smart enough to know that without a firm date from the company, everything was subject to change. Some people in the effected office wanted to go back to Jax so bad that they jumped the gun. They are now looking for a scape goat, and need to look in the mirror.
People are relocated because of their employeer all the time, those that don't want to are free to quit. Some have, some have gone back to their previous craft. To think railroaders are somehow free from that challenge is sad, pure and simple.
n012944“EHH” is not doing anything, these dispatchers did it to themselves. The only offices that got an official timeline are the offices that have relocated. The others got a generic “around this time subject to change” date. Those that moved were trying to be slick, and took a gamble. They lost. They have no one to blame but themselves. The truth hurts sometimes.
And they wonder why they can't get real talent in the railroad anymore. Wasn't it EHH's idea to move the DS offices? If so, then yes, he had a huge part in this. It's one thing for a single guy with an apartment to pick up and move across the country on a whim, but for someone with a house and family - that is pure BS. Defending CSX on this move is disgusting, pure and simple.
n012944 blue streak 1 Cannot believe what EHH is doing to the CSX dispatchers. Any idea what happened ? IT screw up ? https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2017/11/20/employed-homeless-as-csx-changes-plans-dispatchers.html “EHH” is not doing anything, these dispatchers did it to themselves. The only offices that got an official timeline are the offices that have relocated. The others got a generic “around this time subject to change” date. Those that moved were trying to be slick, and took a gamble. They lost. They have no one to blame but themselves. The truth hurts sometimes.
blue streak 1 Cannot believe what EHH is doing to the CSX dispatchers. Any idea what happened ? IT screw up ? https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2017/11/20/employed-homeless-as-csx-changes-plans-dispatchers.html
Cannot believe what EHH is doing to the CSX dispatchers. Any idea what happened ? IT screw up ?
https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2017/11/20/employed-homeless-as-csx-changes-plans-dispatchers.html
“EHH” is not doing anything, these dispatchers did it to themselves. The only offices that got an official timeline are the offices that have relocated. The others got a generic “around this time subject to change” date. Those that moved were trying to be slick, and took a gamble. They lost. They have no one to blame but themselves. The truth hurts sometimes.
If there is one thing I learned in 51 years - don't try to 'out think' the company on their plans going forward. Plans can, and do, change on a 4:30 PM Friday afternoon meeting. Until official notice is issued the plan is not in motion; even then it can still be changed.
The Chicago Dispatchng office was supposed to go to Jacksonville sometime in the mid 90's. Official notices were made and a firm date was set, Dispatchers involved made domicile plans (selling, buying & moving etc.). Day before the effective date the plan was cancelled - the idea of a centralized Chicago Area Dispatching Office was confirmed among all the carriers servicing Chicago. The CSX Chicago Dispatchers stayed in Chicago (other carriers have been slower in staffing the centrailzed Chicago Office). I am of the belief that CSX in some manner made the affected Dispatchers whole for all the aggrivations they suffered (I could be mistaken).
You can't out think company's - they don't think straight.
blue streak 1Cannot believe what EHH is doing to the CSX dispatchers. Any idea what happened ? IT screw up ? https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2017/11/20/employed-homeless-as-csx-changes-plans-dispatchers.html
In the past - pre EHH - Relocation contracts were negotiated between the company and the ATDA for the protection and organization of the moves. That included the orignal centralization of the 1988-1992 period for one 'side letter', and the decentralization of 2008 for a separate side letter.
There was NO NEGOTIATIONS done and NO PLAN presented to the ATDA or individual dispatchers for the moves to Jacksonville. The Baltimore Office was 'scheduled' to relocate on September 25, 2017. That was delayed a week and then individual desks began relocating the week of October 1. My understanding is that the last desk departed Baltimore on October 20. My understanding is that the Florence Office preceeded Baltimore in the move - I have no idea what was done during the Florence move or when it actually happened.
I visited the Baltimore Office on September 20 knowing the move date had been scheduled for September 25. In conversation with dispatchers that had been through the decentralization move - there was absolutely NO THOUGHT OR PLAN displayed by the company on how the relocation was to take place nor how operations would be maintained during the relocation.
So much for Precision Schedules!
Loved the line: leading Harrison to admit he overlooked "the people side of the ledger" when making operational changes. He sure didn't short himself when he got the $84,000,000.00 bonus. What a way to ruin a railroad. Running a railroad is a TEAM effort. Unfortunatly too many upper levels make it into a war and want to beat up on those below them. The troops need managers that support them, provide them with the tools to do their job and the training to do it. Give the men support and they can make you look good. Screw them and they can bring the railroad to the ground. I doubt that EHH will get much loyality from the dispatchers or many others. Let the beatings begin.
oltmanndNS still has trackage rights on NEC thru VA ave tunnel in DC. They exercised them, maybe 10 years ago, running Atlanta to Croxton and return with trailers and containers in well cars. Ex-Conrail GP40-2s did the honors, along with a couple Amtrak P42s.
Having the rights and being able to use them in a time sensitive, effective and economic manner with Amtrak calling the tune will continue to be impossible.
When CSX had their Anacostia Bridge issues in 2006 and had to negotiate with Amtrak to operate their I-95 UPS trains via the Union Station Tunnel and WUT trackage between CP Virginia and CP F Tower - CSX was required to use a specified series of GP40's only as the only power on the train, CSX Management had to be represented ON PROPERTY when the trains were operated as well as Car Department Personnel and a fully stock 'block truck' to rectify any mechanical issues that may happen. The permitted hours of operation were Midnight to 4 AM. Outside of that no special conditions were imposed.
Amtrak's train frequncy, both on the NEC and the I-95 corridor is higher now than it was in 2006.
NS still has trackage rights on NEC thru VA ave tunnel in DC. They exercised them, maybe 10 years ago, running Atlanta to Croxton and return with trailers and containers in well cars. Ex-Conrail GP40-2s did the honors, along with a couple Amtrak P42s.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
daveklepperNot to mention that anything Amtrak does to benefit CSX they will also do to benefit NS. Which they may do anyway, without CSX participation.
NS has no 'Westward' route to leave Baltimore, their only route is East to Perryville and up the Port Road to Harrisburg. CSX controls all Westward routes out of Baltimore. It is beyond the pale of no probability that Amtrak would allow NS freights to operated from Baltimore to Washington and through Union Station and its hyper restrictive clearances to reach NS tracks at Arlington using CSX trackage rights from CP Virginia to CP AF. Current Class 1 road power does not clear through the Union Station tunnel.
Not to mention that anything Amtrak does to benefit CSX they will also do to benefit NS. Which they may do anyway, without CSX participation.
blue streak 1Looking at CSX perspective they may be hoping that additional pressure on Amtrak, Maryland, and US government to speed up the B&P tunnel replacement project. Then CSX gets the advantage of just paying trackage fees thru that tunnel on a present basis and does not have to expend capital until Howard street project is complete. As well CSX may know something about Howard tunnel that will increase cost to modify over present figures ?
IF CSX would go that route they would be at the MERCY of Amtrak - Amtrak is not merciful of freight carriers. It would be Amtrak track under Amtrak control. Amtrak takes great delight in outlawing freight crews without letting them turn a wheel.
Looking at CSX perspective they may be hoping that additional pressure on Amtrak, Maryland, and US government to speed up the B&P tunnel replacement project. Then CSX gets the advantage of just paying trackage fees thru that tunnel on a present basis and does not have to expend capital until Howard street project is complete. As well CSX may know something about Howard tunnel that will increase cost to modify over present figures ?
Does NS have any presence in or near the Port Of Baltimore?
(edit): Never mind. I just saw my answer in the other discussion on this subject.
AgentKidthe above quote seems like a strangely long term play for a short term thinker like EHH.
I'm beginning to wonder if he thinks they'll cave and start throwing incentives at him (as you see municipalities doing for Amazon's business right now). Not to pull a Godwin, but I see some similarities to the Austrian paperhanger's early career in playing knotheads worried about economic depression for fools. Those plans worked quickly, well within the expected lifespan with all the medical care and perhaps 'bionics' that Hunter can now afford ... or have his backers pay for.
Overmodit may also be, less kindly, that this represents an opening shot in a war to get the most concessions out of the state and Federal Maryland delegations to minimize actual CSX dollars and service interference consequences needed for the actual tunnel construction work. Personally I see much more benefit to Baltimore in this project than to CSX in its current downsize-to-match-margins "precision" mode, and it may be that Hunter thinks the various political agencies will be as easy to logroll as the CSX stockholders were over making up the lost bonus money.
I have no quarrel with what you said except to say the above quote seems like a strangely long term play for a short term thinker like EHH. He wouldn't be around to see the final result.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
AgentKidI am not sure how this works but since this is not a legal demand to appear before Congress will EHH show up?
I took it as being more in the sense of an 'open letter' (which its being so promptly published probably bears out) to score points off the obvious party making the decision. I would be much more interested in the letter they send Paul Hilal, and the veiled threats therein, but I doubt we'll see that correspondence. I suspect you would need better-than-usual metaphors to describe the chances of EHH contacting them, let alone showing up for their 'media show'...
And, as I mentioned over on the other thread an hour ago, I think EHH has a dim view of the "new & improved" Panama Canal and just doesn't see any need to expend CSX dollars to provide services which complement it.
I am one of those people who thinks that Baltimore traffic, measured in container-loads or trainloads shipped intermodally via CSX, would be positive for the railroad regardless of where the 'opportunity ports' choose to route their shipments. I have not run the numbers, but I hadn't questioned the gains to be achieved by either inbound or outbound doublestack access, unmolested, all the way to the port facilities. I would like to think that Hunter, or at least Paul Hilal, actually ran an analysis that indicated their best interest was to 'cut and run'; it may also be, less kindly, that this represents an opening shot in a war to get the most concessions out of the state and Federal Maryland delegations to minimize actual CSX dollars and service interference consequences needed for the actual tunnel construction work. Personally I see much more benefit to Baltimore in this project than to CSX in its current downsize-to-match-margins "precision" mode, and it may be that Hunter thinks the various political agencies will be as easy to logroll as the CSX stockholders were over making up the lost bonus money.
AgentKid I am not sure how this works but since this is not a legal demand to appear before Congress will EHH show up? And, as I mentioned over on the other thread an hour ago, I think EHH has a dim view of the "new & improved" Panama Canal and just doesn't see any need to expend CSX dollars to povide services which compliment it. Bruce
I am not sure how this works but since this is not a legal demand to appear before Congress will EHH show up?
And, as I mentioned over on the other thread an hour ago, I think EHH has a dim view of the "new & improved" Panama Canal and just doesn't see any need to expend CSX dollars to povide services which compliment it.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Does anyone share with me some veiled concern for Hunter when reading this (from the Maryland Congressional delegation's letter):
Please be prepared to provide ... any other federal issues that are important to CSX such as limiting truck trailer size, federal tax issues and other priority public-private rail improvement projects around the nation.
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