GP40-2 wrote: Limitedclear wrote:JAX to lose 300 jobs in move to decentralize dispatching functions http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=18977That may not be the only jobs they lose. There is talk about moving the entire HQ operation back to the Mid-Atlantic area.
Limitedclear wrote:JAX to lose 300 jobs in move to decentralize dispatching functions http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=18977
JAX to lose 300 jobs in move to decentralize dispatching functions
http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=18977
That may not be the only jobs they lose. There is talk about moving the entire HQ operation back to the Mid-Atlantic area.
Maybe they will move to the Tidewater area, build a building within rock-throwing distance of the McKinnon Building, rather than move back to Richmond.
railroadpostoffice wrote: What????!!! Ok does that mean that they are moving the dispatch jobs to the Phillipenes??? Or If we really want decentralize we could bring back the towers!!
What????!!!
Ok does that mean that they are moving the dispatch jobs to the Phillipenes???
Or If we really want decentralize we could bring back the towers!!
Dont give them any ideas. With today's technology it might just be possible to pay a village to tell the difference between a red signal and a green one and always keep a yellow in the middle for a dollar a day.
I work in the Indy dispatching office for CSX and as Nick already stated the Indy office already received three new jobs. The Willard Chief, AT (New Castle, now IO desk), and BD (Willard Terminal, now IP desk) all moved up last September. The entire Great Lakes divison dispatchers are all together in the newly remodeled office in downtown Indy.
Overall I'd say 2/3 of the current dispatchers I work with have prior railroad experience. Of course road trips always help, it just happens to be rather difficult to get them every year like I'd prefer. It's nice to know where the best places to hold trains are, and where crews need a little heads up on a lineup if they have to hold back. Luckily, a lot of the territory I dispatch and chief over is what I used to run on as a conductor. I've been that conductor sitting in the hotel for 30 hours wondering why I'm still there. It's impossible to keep everyone happy; all I can do is be honest and explain why things are happening they way they are. I can tell you one thing. Dispatching was a great career move for me, and I really enjoy it.
Indianapolis probably wasn't mentioned because that move, along with a move to Chicago took place last year. I believe the move to Baltimore is next.
After several close calls (including one mass evacuation) over the past few years, CSX finally decided that Hurricane Alley was not a good location to centralize it's Command and Control location. I also think Homeland Security had something to do with it.
Historically, dispatchers usually started out as tower operators (at least that's where a lot of our's came from). Nowadays, they are just as likely to come from the Operating Crafts (T&E, Yardmaster, Trainmaster) as directly hired off the street.
Nick
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I wonder what Don Phillips thinks of this. He had called for de-centralization years ago, now it's happening. I would love to hear his thoughts on it.
George
beaulieu wrote: rrnut282 wrote: MC posted while I was typing my previous post.NS never centralized dispatching and neither did Conrail, which accounts for the INDY center on CSX. It must have been really expensive to fly the dispatcher to "his/her territory" for an annual ride.It probably was expensive, probably didn't happen often or at all. Any ride over the territory by the dispatcher probably happened because the dispatcher felt it would make them a better dispatcher. There is no requirement that the dispatcher ride the territory. Only that they know the relevant rules.
rrnut282 wrote: MC posted while I was typing my previous post.NS never centralized dispatching and neither did Conrail, which accounts for the INDY center on CSX. It must have been really expensive to fly the dispatcher to "his/her territory" for an annual ride.
MC posted while I was typing my previous post.
NS never centralized dispatching and neither did Conrail, which accounts for the INDY center on CSX. It must have been really expensive to fly the dispatcher to "his/her territory" for an annual ride.
It probably was expensive, probably didn't happen often or at all. Any ride over the territory by the dispatcher probably happened because the dispatcher felt it would make them a better dispatcher. There is no requirement that the dispatcher ride the territory. Only that they know the relevant rules.
I Would DEFINATELY want the dispatcher to get his *** out of the chair and pounding the ballast in the territory he runs. It will make him or her a much better dispatcher.
As long they sort out the pecking order from the top all the way down to the choo choo crew... Im content.
.....Finally, from what I've been hearing RR employees saying over the years on here....common sense is being put to use.
Quentin
Limitedclear wrote: JAX to lose 300 jobs in move to decentralize dispatching functions http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=18977
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
On Santa Fe, before consolidation, it was required (along with the roadmasters). Chief DS often put 'em on roadswitchers and made sure the trick DS was not aware of who was on the train that day. Made for some interesting conversations later. You can never stop learning.
So, how helpful is it for a dispatcher to "know" the territory? It would seem to me that it would certainly help.
Do many dispatchers move over from other positions, such as crewmen?
ed
rrnut282 wrote:MC posted while I was typing my previous post.NS never centralized dispatching and neither did Conrail, which accounts for the INDY center on CSX. It must have been really expensive to fly the dispatcher to "his/her territory" for an annual ride.
I found it interesting to visit Michigan and hear a distinctly southern accent on the dispatchers...
Selkirk never went away for the former Conrail lines up in this area, either.
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...
Somebody finally got smart in the operating department. Sounds like the maniacal meglo-micromanagers have either retired or have been told to "go away". When they all started centrallizing and consolidating in the eighties, the dispatchers lost touch with their territories and the railroads, especially the M/W folks, paid for it dearly.
Will they ALL trend this way now?
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