September 2003 TRAINS

[Anonymous]

CFNR,

I know an engineer in woodland and he wasn't very happy about it either. I wish all of you good luck in your fight with this. Also feel free to e-mail me and we can swap stories .

[Anonymous]

CFNR,

I know an engineer in woodland and he wasn't very happy about it either. I wish all of you good luck in your fight with this. Also feel free to e-mail me and we can swap stories .

[Kathi Kube]

CNFR,

Can you email me offline, please?

Thanks,
Kathi Kube
[e-mail]

[Kathi Kube]

CNFR,

Can you email me offline, please?

Thanks,
Kathi Kube
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I'm an Engineer/Conductor for a Northern California shortline. I am getting tired of the industry and the trade journals pushing the remotes. Have any of you folks had to work with one for 12 hours? It's not much fun. I does NOT increase productivity, but rather increases the time need to do switching. One must go slower in order to use remotes more safely.......safely is a relative. As far as I'm concerned remotes are not safe. We ourselfs had a bad accident recently where one of our Engineers lost a leg using one of our remote units.

Let's face it everyone, corperate America is getting more and more greedy. Their answer to making more money has been and always will be to try any scheme that involves cutting back employees to gain more money in their pockets. Remotes do this by cutting out one person on a crew, the engineer.
For a while, my company was considering having us run with just one guy on the train while using the remotes. Imagine the fun of having to make the cuts, the joints, throw stiff switches, climb up and down equipment, etc, all the while you having to wear a chest pack tranmitter that weighs about 4 to 6 pounds. Doesn't sound like much until the end of a 12 hour day , but you try it and see how your shoulders and back feel.

Now the railroads want to use NO MAN TRAINS!?! This is really getting out of hand. It's bad enough that you can't feel the train when you use a remote....and by the the way, the term remote is being used incorrectly in the industry. A remote is any device that you move via a connected cable and a device using a radio signal is a radio control unit. At least with a remote and a person nearby it's not as bad becuase you can at least see most of what's going on. That is you might be able to see that those rear two cars have come off the track back there at the switch it they just split. With No Man trains how are you going to tell what's going on in back of the units? Put more electronic devices to monitor the train movement and spend the same amount of money that could have spent on the crew members to operate the train.

I would like to add that remotes not only jeapordize the safety of the those who use them it also jeapordizes the general publics safety. Just think of what No man trains are going to do.

Sorry, I can't sign my name in fear of the company seeing this.

[Anonymous]

I'm an Engineer/Conductor for a Northern California shortline. I am getting tired of the industry and the trade journals pushing the remotes. Have any of you folks had to work with one for 12 hours? It's not much fun. I does NOT increase productivity, but rather increases the time need to do switching. One must go slower in order to use remotes more safely.......safely is a relative. As far as I'm concerned remotes are not safe. We ourselfs had a bad accident recently where one of our Engineers lost a leg using one of our remote units.

Let's face it everyone, corperate America is getting more and more greedy. Their answer to making more money has been and always will be to try any scheme that involves cutting back employees to gain more money in their pockets. Remotes do this by cutting out one person on a crew, the engineer.
For a while, my company was considering having us run with just one guy on the train while using the remotes. Imagine the fun of having to make the cuts, the joints, throw stiff switches, climb up and down equipment, etc, all the while you having to wear a chest pack tranmitter that weighs about 4 to 6 pounds. Doesn't sound like much until the end of a 12 hour day , but you try it and see how your shoulders and back feel.

Now the railroads want to use NO MAN TRAINS!?! This is really getting out of hand. It's bad enough that you can't feel the train when you use a remote....and by the the way, the term remote is being used incorrectly in the industry. A remote is any device that you move via a connected cable and a device using a radio signal is a radio control unit. At least with a remote and a person nearby it's not as bad becuase you can at least see most of what's going on. That is you might be able to see that those rear two cars have come off the track back there at the switch it they just split. With No Man trains how are you going to tell what's going on in back of the units? Put more electronic devices to monitor the train movement and spend the same amount of money that could have spent on the crew members to operate the train.

I would like to add that remotes not only jeapordize the safety of the those who use them it also jeapordizes the general publics safety. Just think of what No man trains are going to do.

Sorry, I can't sign my name in fear of the company seeing this.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a great idea! I am in the same position however I do have a subscription which is slightly less costly than getting it at the magazine stand.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

Has the publisher considered putting out an on-line subscription to TRAINS? I do like to read it, but I have no room for hard copies and I refuse to spend $5 just to read it and then throw it away.

How about an online subsctiption that has all of the photos and print of the paper copy and then once a year, a CD-ROM for those of use who wi***o have a permant copy????

[Anonymous]

I think this is a great idea! I am in the same position however I do have a subscription which is slightly less costly than getting it at the magazine stand.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

Has the publisher considered putting out an on-line subscription to TRAINS? I do like to read it, but I have no room for hard copies and I refuse to spend $5 just to read it and then throw it away.

How about an online subsctiption that has all of the photos and print of the paper copy and then once a year, a CD-ROM for those of use who wi***o have a permant copy????

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Well, you didn't think it was ME, did ya???!

LC

[:p] LC - join the club - e-mail me your photo and I will put it in the rogue's gallery - and since I am a Madam - I am very discreet and won't share it with anyone!

But it has to be one of you, otherwise I will put it in a round file - I was going to say this differently, but there are young eyes out there and as I said - I am discreet! [:I]

La Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Well, you didn't think it was ME, did ya???!

LC

[:p] LC - join the club - e-mail me your photo and I will put it in the rogue's gallery - and since I am a Madam - I am very discreet and won't share it with anyone!

But it has to be one of you, otherwise I will put it in a round file - I was going to say this differently, but there are young eyes out there and as I said - I am discreet! [:I]

La Mookie

[Anonymous]

Railroad blueprint was an outstanding article.

[Anonymous]

Railroad blueprint was an outstanding article.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Well, you didn't think it was ME, did ya???!

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Well, you didn't think it was ME, did ya???!

LC

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Yeah, that was me. Everyone was bugging me for a profile picture so I had the cam capture that when I was in Rochelle for the UP Global III intermodal yard grand opening (read about it here: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/004/534tzogv.asp). I've updated the photo to my normal mug shot because everyone gave me static about the web cam picture. I thought it was cleaver! It's so hard to please you guys sometimes! [:D]

Erik

Erik - don't try to be clever - leave that to the rest of us. You just do your job and talk once in awhile. We will do the comedy routines!!! [:X]

Mook

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Yeah, that was me. Everyone was bugging me for a profile picture so I had the cam capture that when I was in Rochelle for the UP Global III intermodal yard grand opening (read about it here: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/004/534tzogv.asp). I've updated the photo to my normal mug shot because everyone gave me static about the web cam picture. I thought it was cleaver! It's so hard to please you guys sometimes! [:D]

Erik

Erik - don't try to be clever - leave that to the rest of us. You just do your job and talk once in awhile. We will do the comedy routines!!! [:X]

Mook

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

When does the october issue hit stands in Canada?

It hit the newsstand in American today, September 9 (or it was scheduled to). I don't have the full dates in front of me. I'll find out and let you know.

Erik

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

When does the october issue hit stands in Canada?

It hit the newsstand in American today, September 9 (or it was scheduled to). I don't have the full dates in front of me. I'll find out and let you know.

Erik

[Anonymous]

When does the october issue hit stands in Canada?

Oh and also, as i e-mailed the Trains magazine staff, maybe Erik can answer this.. did you know that it's only 10-20 dollars cheeper to subscribe to trains magazine then it is to pick it up at the grocery store?

Because to start off, it's 40 bucks AMERICAN just to get the magazine here, now on a good day that's 60 dollars canadian, plus the momney order converted into american funds... 10 bucks so over all those charges it wonds up to be at least 70-75 bucks...

I really would subscribe to the magazine, but i jsut don't have 75 bucks to send in all one shot... sorry

So anually i pay 7 bucks a shot, 12 issues, provided i don't miss any which is.. 84 bucks over 12 months...

yes at any pint i do have 10 or so dollars in my pocket...

[V][:(] I really wanted to subscribe too... sorry guys.

[Anonymous]

When does the october issue hit stands in Canada?

Oh and also, as i e-mailed the Trains magazine staff, maybe Erik can answer this.. did you know that it's only 10-20 dollars cheeper to subscribe to trains magazine then it is to pick it up at the grocery store?

Because to start off, it's 40 bucks AMERICAN just to get the magazine here, now on a good day that's 60 dollars canadian, plus the momney order converted into american funds... 10 bucks so over all those charges it wonds up to be at least 70-75 bucks...

I really would subscribe to the magazine, but i jsut don't have 75 bucks to send in all one shot... sorry

So anually i pay 7 bucks a shot, 12 issues, provided i don't miss any which is.. 84 bucks over 12 months...

yes at any pint i do have 10 or so dollars in my pocket...

[V][:(] I really wanted to subscribe too... sorry guys.

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

The Article on remotes could have been more informitive. It offerd very little information on how the device actually works. Such as, How is the box inside the cab wired so it can control the movements. What frequency do they use and how do they control possible interference. Most of the information the article gave, I could have figured out looking at a picture. I have subscibed to TRAINS mag. for over 10 years, I have a question: Do the Publishers at TRAINS hold back some of there information so we are forced to buy there books??
TIMOTHY ARGUBRIGHT
Buffalo Grove, ILL.

What, do you think we're going to do a book about remote control locomotives? Just kidding, I know what you mean. [:o)]

I don't think it's practice to hold things back for book use. Especially in TRAINS, which is often information of a time-sensitive nature (like the remotes). Plus, the magazines and books are two different entities. While they often work together in unison, I don't think TRAINS is going to hold off on something so you'll be forced to buy a book. They want to provide a product with such a high level of detail that you'll be happy to subscribe or purchase the magazine on the newsstand. Now granted, there are only so many pages in each magazine, so you can't cover every single aspect of a topic. For example, how the innards of the remote control unit works. I think they were focusing on the effects of the device on the industry, not the technical aspect of it.

Take care,
Erik

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

The Article on remotes could have been more informitive. It offerd very little information on how the device actually works. Such as, How is the box inside the cab wired so it can control the movements. What frequency do they use and how do they control possible interference. Most of the information the article gave, I could have figured out looking at a picture. I have subscibed to TRAINS mag. for over 10 years, I have a question: Do the Publishers at TRAINS hold back some of there information so we are forced to buy there books??
TIMOTHY ARGUBRIGHT
Buffalo Grove, ILL.

What, do you think we're going to do a book about remote control locomotives? Just kidding, I know what you mean. [:o)]

I don't think it's practice to hold things back for book use. Especially in TRAINS, which is often information of a time-sensitive nature (like the remotes). Plus, the magazines and books are two different entities. While they often work together in unison, I don't think TRAINS is going to hold off on something so you'll be forced to buy a book. They want to provide a product with such a high level of detail that you'll be happy to subscribe or purchase the magazine on the newsstand. Now granted, there are only so many pages in each magazine, so you can't cover every single aspect of a topic. For example, how the innards of the remote control unit works. I think they were focusing on the effects of the device on the industry, not the technical aspect of it.

Take care,
Erik

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Yeah, that was me. Everyone was bugging me for a profile picture so I had the cam capture that when I was in Rochelle for the UP Global III intermodal yard grand opening (read about it here: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/004/534tzogv.asp). I've updated the photo to my normal mug shot because everyone gave me static about the web cam picture. I thought it was cleaver! It's so hard to please you guys sometimes! [:D]

Erik

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by David3

Hey Erik, I would have to go with the cover story of the NO MAN TRAINS, because it was very informative to me since I want to be an engineer when I grow up. By the way in the picture of Rochelle in your profile is that you down there? [^] David

Yeah, that was me. Everyone was bugging me for a profile picture so I had the cam capture that when I was in Rochelle for the UP Global III intermodal yard grand opening (read about it here: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/004/534tzogv.asp). I've updated the photo to my normal mug shot because everyone gave me static about the web cam picture. I thought it was cleaver! It's so hard to please you guys sometimes! [:D]

Erik

[Mookie]

Tim - sounds like a plan to me! Good marketing?

Also, I think they read the forums and get some of their ideas from what we post. Which makes us unpaid idea specialists! Insert Brilliant Idea Specialists.

Hmm..... we may want to speak to them about this.....

Mookie

[Mookie]

Tim - sounds like a plan to me! Good marketing?

Also, I think they read the forums and get some of their ideas from what we post. Which makes us unpaid idea specialists! Insert Brilliant Idea Specialists.

Hmm..... we may want to speak to them about this.....

Mookie

[Anonymous]

The Article on remotes could have been more informitive. It offerd very little information on how the device actually works. Such as, How is the box inside the cab wired so it can control the movements. What frequency do they use and how do they control possible interference. Most of the information the article gave, I could have figured out looking at a picture. I have subscibed to TRAINS mag. for over 10 years, I have a question: Do the Publishers at TRAINS hold back some of there information so we are forced to buy there books??
TIMOTHY ARGUBRIGHT
Buffalo Grove, ILL.

[Anonymous]

The Article on remotes could have been more informitive. It offerd very little information on how the device actually works. Such as, How is the box inside the cab wired so it can control the movements. What frequency do they use and how do they control possible interference. Most of the information the article gave, I could have figured out looking at a picture. I have subscibed to TRAINS mag. for over 10 years, I have a question: Do the Publishers at TRAINS hold back some of there information so we are forced to buy there books??
TIMOTHY ARGUBRIGHT
Buffalo Grove, ILL.

[CShaveRR]

I couldn't vote...my favorite thing about that issue was the coverage of the Chicago Plan. I hope I get to see that put in place by their deadline. Mike Blaszak did his usual thorough job. There are a few inaccuracies (even between the map and the text), and more than a few unanswered questions, but I think this is about the biggest news in railroading, or will be once it moves forward.