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british engineers verses american engineers

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Posted by 54light15 on Sunday, December 30, 2018 10:26 AM

Overmod- I have seen such sideways swing-open gates as you describe on heritage railways where they cross public roads but in the towns I mention, the gates drop down from a pivot point and most but not all have a series of vertical bars that are situated along the length of the gate that hang vertically when the gate is down. I wish they made those in N scale so I could put them on my layout. 

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Posted by zardoz on Sunday, December 30, 2018 10:09 AM

zugmann

 

 
zardoz
I dunno; my certificate says that I am a qualified Locomotive Engineer (p.s. I worked in the operating department, not the driving department).

 

Mine says Transportation Certificate or something. And there's this photo of this really ugly dude on it.   Probably so nobody would steal it.

 

Mine is from 42 years ago, way before fancy tech. The fancy typesetting has "Chicago and North Western Transportation Company" across the top; below that is text that states, "(my name), now employed as a Locomotive Fireman - Wisconsin Division, in the service of this Company, has satisfactorily passed the required examination, and is qualified for service as Locomotive Engineer - Wisconsin Division, this 2nd day of January 1976". No photo or other information.

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, December 30, 2018 12:05 AM

Ours don't have photos.

But they do say "only valid while employed by CN Rail".  Guess they're worried about us jumping ship!

Greetings from Alberta

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, December 29, 2018 11:50 PM

zardoz
I dunno; my certificate says that I am a qualified Locomotive Engineer (p.s. I worked in the operating department, not the driving department).

Mine says Transportation Certificate or something. And there's this photo of this really ugly dude on it.   Probably so nobody would steal 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

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Posted by jeffhergert on Saturday, December 29, 2018 10:34 PM

zardoz

 

 
awalker1829
(proper engineers design locomotives, not drive them)

 

I dunno; my certificate says that I am a qualified Locomotive Engineer (p.s. I worked in the operating department, not the driving department).

 

 

This comic appeared a few days before my 47th birthday.

https://www.gocomics.com/rubes/2010/04/22 

Jeff
 

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Posted by Overmod on Saturday, December 29, 2018 12:36 PM

54light15
Actually Mr. Klepper there are a lot of grade and level crossings in the U.K.

In part, though, these aren't the American-style "open until a train approaches" kind: they are locked gates through the fenced surround, and they often involve specific permission (via a telephone or intercom to a nearby signal box) before they are unlocked for passage.  I remember at least one YouTube video on the Web describing potential pitfalls if someone dawdled going across such a crossing (with a tractor and hay wagon IIRC) after obtaining permission.

It's interesting to consider whether access across 'gated' crossings could be enabled via contemporary RFID pass technology -- like the chips in automated toll systems, with the gates down otherwise.  This would tie in with a permanent camera system (linked to local response) as I've proposed for identifying crossing violators.

 

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Posted by 54light15 on Saturday, December 29, 2018 10:32 AM

There are close-to-Zero grade cfossings in Great Britain (OK, the UK if you like that better), and nearly all RoW is fenced.  One health hazard for North American engineers is mostly absent in the UK/GB.

Actually Mr. Klepper there are a lot of grade and level crossings in the U.K. Outside of London in many small towns such as Brockenhurst, Ford or Feltham, there are crossings adjacent to the stations. But, yes, the entire ROW is fenced in everywhere except along heritage lines such as the Bluebell or Mid-Hants railways.

One thing that they have at crossings are gates that block the entire road. You don't hear of many crossing deaths as you can't drive around the gates. 

At Ford (which is near Brighton,) you walk down the platform, walk across the tracks and on the left is one of the best model train shops I've ever been in, The Engine Shed Ltd. It's funny, that's about the only thing near to the station, there's not much more around there. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, December 29, 2018 8:30 AM

zugmann
 
Electroliner 1935
Most of us consider the souce. 

*looks around*. 

as valid a source as any and more valid than most.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, December 28, 2018 11:33 PM

Electroliner 1935
Most of us consider the souce.

*looks around*. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, December 28, 2018 11:32 PM

Most of us consider the souce.

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, December 28, 2018 10:57 PM

greyhounds
Zugman, it was a sarcastic joke.

You missed enginepony.

 

I can't recall the last time I took anything 100% seriously on here. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by greyhounds on Friday, December 28, 2018 9:59 PM

zardoz
greyhounds zugmann I always preferred the term engineman myself. Or motorman if you were running an electric. Totally unaccetable! Totally! Your terms are not gender neutral. Enginebeing......enginecreature........enginething.......engineentity......enginehuman..... Ya know....with the world situation as it is, with ice caps melting, democracies being subverted, self-serving politicians' only concern being reelected, etc, perhaps we should focus our energies and efforts to correcting the real problems, instead of being such whiny, oversensitive, spineless droids.

Zugman, it was a sarcastic joke.  

"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.
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Posted by zugmann on Friday, December 28, 2018 9:05 PM

Murphy Siding
Well, since zugmann isn't gender nuetral it would only seem fair that he be able to describe himsel in terms that are not gender nuetral.Mischief

Did you just assume my gender neutrality status? #something.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, December 28, 2018 5:47 PM

greyhounds

 

 
zugmann
I always preferred the term engineman myself. Or motorman if you were running an electric.

 

Totally unaccetable! Totally!

Your terms are not gender neutral.

 

Well, since zugmann isn't gender nuetral it would only seem fair that he be able to describe himsel in terms that are not gender nuetral.Mischief

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by zardoz on Friday, December 28, 2018 12:14 PM

oops

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Posted by zardoz on Friday, December 28, 2018 12:05 PM

Semper Vaporo

If a woman objects to the syllable "man" in a title, I understand they like to substitute "person", (thus Engineperson, Motorperson), but note that also contains a gender specific word, "son", thus she should want to be referred to as a "Engineperdaughter", "Motorperdaughter", or generically, a member of the  "huperdaughter" species.

 

And on and on and on into infinity.....

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Posted by daveklepper on Friday, December 28, 2018 12:55 AM

Getting back to the original subject matter, the biggest difference between British Drivers and North Amerian Engineers si that:

There are close-to-Zero grade cfossings in Great Britain (OK, the UK if you like that better), and nearly all RoW is fenced.  One health hazard for North American engineers is mostly absent in the UK/GB.

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, December 27, 2018 9:37 PM

If a woman objects to the syllable "man" in a title, I understand they like to substitute "person", (thus Engineperson, Motorperson), but note that also contains a gender specific word, "son", thus she should want to be referred to as a "Engineperdaughter", "Motorperdaughter", or generically, a member of the  "huperdaughter" species.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by SD70Dude on Thursday, December 27, 2018 9:22 PM

greyhounds
zugmann
I always preferred the term engineman myself. Or motorman if you were running an electric.

Totally unaccetable! Totally!

Your terms are not gender neutral.

Near its beginning the Canadian rulebook states the the use of masculine gender includes the feminine.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, December 27, 2018 9:20 PM

greyhounds
Totally unaccetable! Totally! Your terms are not gender neutral.

I'll keep that in mind the next time my boss* calls me a "son of a ....".

 

Maybe I want to be the "Daughter of a ...." instead.

* - or anyone.  I'm sure many in this forum have referred to me as such.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by SD70Dude on Thursday, December 27, 2018 9:20 PM

Hoghead is still commonly used around here.  A trainee is a piglet.

The caboose used to be called the brain box...

Greetings from Alberta

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, December 27, 2018 9:09 PM

jeffhergert
 
zugmann
 
zardoz
I dunno; my certificate says that I am a qualified Locomotive Engineer (p.s. I worked in the operating department, not the driving department).

I always preferred the term engineman myself.  Or motorman if you were running an electric.

Locomotive tamer is also acceptable. 

How about Hog Head?  It was used a lot by the older CNW guys who hired out in the 1970s and earlier.  It's use is fading now, like other railroad slang.

Jeff

It's use was common on CSX and it's predecessor lines.  The 'southern' carriers employees (ACL, SAL, L&N) tended to us 'railfan' jargon more than the 'northern' carriers.  

Hog Head and Hogger were common on all parts of the property.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, December 27, 2018 9:00 PM

zugmann

 

 
zardoz
I dunno; my certificate says that I am a qualified Locomotive Engineer (p.s. I worked in the operating department, not the driving department).

 

I always preferred the term engineman myself.  Or motorman if you were running an electric.

 

Locomotive tamer is also acceptable.

 

How about Hog Head?  It was used a lot by the older CNW guys who hired out in the 1970s and earlier.  It's use is fading now, like other railroad slang.

Jeff

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, December 27, 2018 5:58 PM

Most muggles call somebody an "engineer" when it's workaday technology being controlled/repaired/managed by folks smarter than them. Get off in the weeds with the really weird stuff and they become "scientists". 

The press and the media lump them all together along with most other professionals, tradesmen, employees and craftsmen and call them "workers". They themselves tend to get into bed with politicians and lawyers. (and sink to that level in the ooze. There are only a very few real

Backshop

Yet, in Europe, people who we call airplane mechanics are called engineers...puzzling...

 

journalists left.)

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, December 27, 2018 5:27 PM

I have always considered "man" to be gender neutral... it is the female of the species that is afforded the special distinction of a gender specific title of honor.  Too bad most don't see it that way. 

We all would like an honorific in our lives and a woMAN gets it just by being born that way.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by Backshop on Thursday, December 27, 2018 1:23 PM

Yet, in Europe, people who we call airplane mechanics are called engineers...puzzling...

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Posted by greyhounds on Thursday, December 27, 2018 1:17 PM

zugmann
I always preferred the term engineman myself. Or motorman if you were running an electric.

Totally unaccetable! Totally!

Your terms are not gender neutral.

"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.
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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, December 27, 2018 1:08 PM

mudchicken
Steam era hoggers could get into serious trouble quickly, so they get my respect. Understanding how it works and functions came with the responsibility.

Indeed - the cause of the NYC Gulf Curve wreck was something that would have had little consequence on a Diesel - the engineer closed the throttle.  He reportedly recognized his error almost immediately, but it was too late.

LarryWhistling
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There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 9:24 PM

awalker1829

(proper engineers design locomotives, not drive them) 

MischiefWe also do the steering, but we aren't "civil" about it.Mischief

Steam era hoggers could get into serious trouble quickly, so they get my respect. Understanding how it works and functions came with the responsibility.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west

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