using spell check

[Mookie]

Wabash: I love it when you talk caps to me!

Jen

[wabash1]

OH BABY....

[edblysard]

But it does, in a way, affect the way you come across. And I like the way you write.
Ed

[vsmith]

Did it occur to anyone that this is not as "insant Message" forum and that all you have to do is simply re-read your message BEFORE you hit that "post reply" button. Seams a lot of errors could get caught if spelling is that big issue for you. Just a random thuoght.

[Anonymous]

Only somebody from MN. would think this is such a problem. Perfect TRAINMASTER material.


Tom
retired switchman

[mnwestern]

I like apples — most any kind, except crab apples.
Anyway, I know that not all railroad people care so little for the words they use and how they present them. The vast majority, I suspect, are very literate and well-read. In fact, one of my best friends, a CP engineer, is both, and to a high degree. Just goes to show you don't have to be a dropout of the "Evelyn Woodhead Sped-Reddin' Course" to be an engineer.
By the way, why do so many railroad people attack those of us on these forums as "foamer" railfans and model railroaders who don't know anything. Isn't Kalmbach's main audience for TRAINS and Model Railroader, after all, both of those groups?

[wabash1]

HA HA HA HA HA ..... this is good ...... this man is a instant unihead.... soory blue. he got ya

[wabash1]

thanks ed

sometimes i write so fast so i dont lose the thought and it looks like i am mad. when you work the hours i do sometimes you just say it with out caring how it comes across. im not like misouri in that the only thing that keep me from high school was grammer school.

[sooblue]

*lol* Understood and agreed with Ed.
I'd like to see some story sharing. I can't get enough TRUE tales.
Spelling matters not. Someone on another post had said that they couldn't get spell check to work that's how I got the idea for this posting.
I think I'm still getin feedback on it too.
Sooblue

[sooblue]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't really get to be a trainmaster with out mastering the train do you?

Or a yardmaster with out mastering the yard

Or a masterbaiter with out knowing how to hook your worm.

I mean...its not like you can sleep your way to the top in RRing is it?
I know you start off on the bottom, but eventually you should end up on the top...if you are good.
Sooblue

[edblysard]

GET A ROOM!

[Mookie]

Hey slick! You snuck that one thru pretty neat!

Jen

[edblysard]

Hi Terry,
As to the last statement, not all of us think "foamers" are bad, nor do all of us attack you guys. I like fans, was one myself for years, and still am.
But, most of the old heads went railroading when they were kids, its about the only thing they have ever done. And the attitude comes from being around this stuff for so long, to them, a locomotive is just a tool, nothing more or less.
I mean, you typically dont see airline pilots driving out to the airport to watch planes, or a truck driver sitting on the side of the freeway, checking out Kenworths, do you? So for most railroaders, its just a motor, it makes no difference if its a SD90MAC, or a SD40-2, as long as it works, they could care less what kind of motor it is.
Now, thats not to say a few railroaders are not fans, but are just closet fans, traditionaly, its been looked down on from inside the railroad culture. But, lucky me, as I am both a fan, and a modeler, I get to do some hands on research. Had a old GP7 in the yard yesterday, it was Santa Fe #1373, with a Cleburn cab, but still a GP, in the blue and yellow paint. Went over, climbed up and nosed around, you could see where the Cleburn shop had cut the round roof off, and added plate to raise the roof and make it angled. They also chopped the high short front hood down. But still kinda neat, it had to be around 50 years old, but still in service daily, it is used to do yard transfer work, and short local runs.
Wondering who attacked you on this forum, as most of the railroaders I have met here seem very interested in answering fans questions, and passing on information to you guys.
Well, Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Careful, the demagogue morality police will report you...
And why would you want to be a trainmanster?
Because, if you come from the rank and file, as most do, at some point in time, the carriers wishes will force you to have to lie to people who were your firends, and do and say things that are not true or honest.
Most of the trainmaster I have met suffer from a ego problem, either too little, and they couldnt cut it as switchmen/conductors, and took the promotion because they couldnt earn others respect anyway, or the opposite kind, way to much ego, and they took the promotion, so they could screw people over at their leisure, for no reason other than they can.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

I think it was General Patton who once said "Americans and English are two peoples divided by a common language". Evey since America began, English has been written and spoken as Americans felt like it and that is one of the endearing this about this country. MN, how do you spell colour? probably color and how do you say toMAHto? probably toMAYto. So everybody out there murder this common language you see fit. You have my permission.
Pop.

[wabash1]

im from the south we call them maters

[Anonymous]

I'm from Chicago, we call them expencive.

[sooblue]

Well it doesn't happen often I'll tell ya!
Sooblue

[sooblue]

Is that really true?
Are there no trainmasters who know the job and have the confidence to do it honestly?
I would have thought that they would be looked up to and respected for their knowledge.
What does a trainmaster actually do?
Sooblue

[sooblue]

Thank you oh wise one.
As they, whom ever "they" are, say.
A rose by any other name is still a rose. (thank goodness)

As I have traveled around this great land I have come across many American peoples who would be considered the "serial killers" of the English language. Why, I could have hired an interpreter on more than one occasion (if one could have been found)

Now lets look at England and we'll see that there is no difference.

people from London talk one way.
people from Liverpool another way.
Upper class, lower class.
Yet a tomato always tastes the same.
That is one of the endearing things about England.
Sooblue

[edblysard]

Hi Blue,
A trainmaster is for the most part, the buffer between labor and top management.
Their function is to make the decisions that affect the train operations on a daily basis, arrange special moves to accomodate customers, make sure a plant order is filled, and generaly be a pain in the but..wait, the morality police are watching, so I should say pain in the keister.
They are to railroading what a district manager is to retail opperations, they give the ok to certain things, and if it works, they get the pat on the back, if it dosnt, they blame the yardmaster, dispatcher, or the crews. They are also responsible for rules compliance, and rule testing, and oversee the day to day operation of the railroad.
Most do come from the rank and file, but, if you ever work in the T&E of a railroad, which is what attracts most people in the first place, its either what you want to do for the rest of your life, or you hate it. Those who hate it either quit, and find another career, or become officers at the railroad, which dosnt require any real skill at railroading, per se.
And, in the six and a half years I have been at this, I have met only one who, although I wouldnt trust him to put his behind on the line for anyone but himself, he wouldnt go out of his way to screw you over, either.
Oh, and trainmasters are the guys who bring you up on charges, and hold the "invistigation" where you are fired, and get to decide how long you are fired for.
Note the regular rules and laws governing business do not apply at railroads.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Mookie]

well, ok - I can't resist this one -

In Nebraska we call them cardboard, unless they are out of your garden.

Jen

[Anonymous]

Yes my friend, but you forget, we invented the language and no matter from London, Liverpool or Newcastle we all spell the words the same. The only difference is regional accents.
Pop

[Anonymous]

LOL yeah at Jen's favorite Super Eight hotel.. or is it 6.. its some even didgit

Kev.

[sooblue]

Thanks Ed,
I have an observation about what you wrote.

As I read your post I saw myself in your description of a trainmaster. (not the pain in the BUT part)*smile* although there are some who I know think I am. Well, I am some times.

In my job I am the "buffer" between the owner and the crew.
I like my job (to a point)
However, I hate that I get to listen to the complaints not just from the crew but also from the owner. It's like a bloody stereo!
If there is a problem on either side I have to fix it.
If there is major trouble I have to investigate it and than correct it because the owner doesn't want to do the hard things i.e. reprimanding or worse.

I am the one that has to pu***he crew to get things done on time (I have no friends at work only aqaintenses) And I also have to object when the owner wants to do something that will disrupt the process. (which ticks him off but if I don't do it and things head south I have to endure his wrath for not saying anything)

There is a delicate balance that sometimes eludes me.

What I'd like to do is give everyone mickys and than do a but dance on their foreheads.

Why am I paid for being between a rock and a hard place? because I'm the only one who is willing to take on the challenge. (or stupid enough)

I know I'd like to be cut some slack.
Sooblue

[Anonymous]

OK well i'm back from a vacation.. thats why i havn't been on for a few days.. now lets see after re-reading this forum.. MN was only joking- ha. Well it's good to know you were joking.. i didn't like grinding you for that fact that you may not have been. that makes no sense.. but on from that.. there are some other less touchy topicsw that you can make jokes of.. Like for instance.. I think Toyota's cars are held together with chewing gum, chopsticks, and wild rice.. MY PERSONAL OPINION! or. Cabforward has pink elephants on his underware!! and NO i DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT, that was a guess.

Now Ed asked me a questions.. something like what was i doing in the washroom while my girlfriend was in there.. ok.. here goes.. Well i was shaving.. and you can't hear the water running.. and were Canadians we never close the doors or curtains.. so i wlaked in thinking it was empty... couldnt hear the shower running.. started shaving.. heard a good morning kev.. looked up in the mirror.. i went AHH! turned around... yadda yadda.. fainted.

so now she uses this aginst me.. she being a very open person.. ever tried arguing with a naked woman about 15 minutes worth of long distance charges? I have.. didn't work.. i kept saying uhhh well uhmmm you see, uhh, what was i saying... lost the agrgument without even saying a coherant word.. (if anyone intrested in the story behind that one.. i'll tell it)

So blah bvlah blah.. i'm back.. and glad to be home! good to see your all in good humor and well...

Cheers,
Kev.

[sooblue]

Oh!!
Nothing tastes as good as right from the garden.
And I know some roses stink too!
and you can't write "but" with two Ts but you can say fanny??. So they set up a computer scan to find offensive words.
Let the fun begin. 1001 synonyms
Sooblue

[sooblue]

Now Pop,
That's not what I heard.
I have it on good authority that the French invented English, but had such a hard time speaking it that they banished the inventor to a Island in the west near the edge of the world.
Sooblue

[sooblue]

Kev,
You wouldn't be "French Canadian" would you?

I wouldn't have walked in on my girlfriend
"accidently" and I would never "argue" with a naked woman either. HO HO HO ! ! !

Maybe that's just your story and your gonna stick to it too.
Sooblue

[edblysard]

Ill bite,
you said you saw yourself in my description of a trainmaster, but didnt say thats what you do for a living, so, if not a trainmaster, then what is it you do to keep the rent paid?
And before anyone thinks i dislike trainmasters, its the job that displeases me, it could, note could, be used in such a way as to make a railroad even more efficent, but instead, it seems to attract the guys who possess no people skills, and therefore fail to motivate the people who have to work under them. When i ran a few auto parts stores, I allway found it so much better to have a crew who works with you, as opposed to working for you.
Stay Frosty,
Ed