The recent query on the duties of Road Foremen of Engines caused me to wonder about who is in the cab with Ed Dickens as he runs 4014 over the UP system. Is there a qualified engineer-pilot aboard for each district? Does a RFE accompany for the entire trip? Who is whispering (probably shouting) in Ed's ear?
GeoPRRThe recent query on the duties of Road Foremen of Engines caused me to wonder about who is in the cab with Ed Dickens as he runs 4014 over the UP system. Is there a qualified engineer-pilot aboard for each district? Does a RFE accompany for the entire trip? Who is whispering (probably shouting) in Ed's ear?
The first question to be answered - what territories on the UP is Ed Dickens a qualified Engineer.
Officers, that qualified by being in the craft, in many cases want to maintain their qualifications even when they become officials.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
A local company officer (Manager of Operating Practices, UP's version of an RFE) rides in the cab. At least for the Midwest tour last summer, they called a regular freight crew; an engineer and conductor. On at least a few of the legs of the trip, the freight crews were prepicked
Currently, 4014 does not have a diesel controller in the cab. So the engineer actually rode the trailing diesel while the conductor rode in the 4014's cab. The conductor did most of the shouting into Ed's ear. The engineer on the diesel is also in radio contact and can advise about upcoming items.
I was the engineer pilot from Omaha to Boone, IA. I spent most of the day on the diesel, but the MOP riding that day exchanged places with me between Denison and Carroll IA so I could get a ride in the cab.
Jeff
Lucky you. Most of us will be jealous.
rrnut282 Most of us will be jealous.
Most of us will be jealous.
Except for me. Who is insanely jealous!
Lithonia Operator rrnut282 Most of us will be jealous. Except for me. Who is insanely jealous!
As was I when he originally recounted this story, shortly after it happened. Come to think of it, now that I've been reminded, I'm insanely jealous again. Please help me forget.
I'm just plain jealous.
Now if Jeff ever gets to pilot Mighty 611 then I'll be insanely jealous!
I had a really good year last year. Besides riding the 4014, I was able to ride the 844. No, not the steam engine, one of their corporate jets. It's registration number is N844UP.
Last March 13 I went west to Fremont, tying up at 1245pm. I remember it was raining with most of the rivers and creeks full of water. By the next day the line was flooded out east of Missouri Valley. Water was rising around the other lines around Fremont. On March 15, the line was almost ready to be reopened east of Missouri Valley so they called 4 crews to get trains tied down around the Omaha area. They also called 4 crews to deadhead from Fremont to Omaha/Council Bluffs motels for rest. We got down to the depot and the van dispatcher said we weren't going anywhere. The last road out of Fremont had gone under water. Boat or air was the only way in or out.
It wasn't long when the van dispatcher said the UP Corridor Manager had called and said they were going to try to charter a plane to take us out. If they couldn't get one, they would send one of the corporate jets. (I told others that the charter would end up being a WW1 surplus bi-plane.) They couldn't get a charter so they sent the jet. They took us in two groups, and I think they later took everyone else still in the hotel out that way. It was only a 15 or 20 minute flight.
Even at the airport, the UP maintains a little lounge area for the VIPs. Pretty nice all the way around. I'm sure they probably fumigated the plane after they were through hauling the help around.
After getting to our train, I heard the dispatcher announce emergency three times, and warn all employees along the original UP between roughly Fremont and Elkhorn to watch for flash flooding. A levee had failed and water was rising fast. That's when the main line in and around Valley and Waterloo, NE went underwater.
I'd take a ride on 4014 over one on 611 any day of the week.
Inevitably we always get back to why they make both chocolate and vanilla.
jeffhergert A local company officer (Manager of Operating Practices, UP's version of an RFE) rides in the cab. At least for the Midwest tour last summer, they called a regular freight crew; an engineer and conductor. On at least a few of the legs of the trip, the freight crews were prepicked Currently, 4014 does not have a diesel controller in the cab. So the engineer actually rode the trailing diesel while the conductor rode in the 4014's cab. The conductor did most of the shouting into Ed's ear. The engineer on the diesel is also in radio contact and can advise about upcoming items. I was the engineer pilot from Omaha to Boone, IA. I spent most of the day on the diesel, but the MOP riding that day exchanged places with me between Denison and Carroll IA so I could get a ride in the cab. Jeff
I thought they took 3985's EMU stand and installed it in the 4014?
NS6770fan jeffhergert A local company officer (Manager of Operating Practices, UP's version of an RFE) rides in the cab. At least for the Midwest tour last summer, they called a regular freight crew; an engineer and conductor. On at least a few of the legs of the trip, the freight crews were prepicked Currently, 4014 does not have a diesel controller in the cab. So the engineer actually rode the trailing diesel while the conductor rode in the 4014's cab. The conductor did most of the shouting into Ed's ear. The engineer on the diesel is also in radio contact and can advise about upcoming items. I was the engineer pilot from Omaha to Boone, IA. I spent most of the day on the diesel, but the MOP riding that day exchanged places with me between Denison and Carroll IA so I could get a ride in the cab. Jeff I thought they took 3985's EMU stand and installed it in the 4014?
Interesting. Have a friend who is a good friend of Ed and the steam crew. She was able to get us a private tour of the Cheyenne steam shop on our trip west a few years ago. We did meet Ted at that time and met Austin at W. Chicago this past summer. She had a very nice visit with Ed when they came to KC. We did go to 150th but was never able to get close to the engines or talk to any crew. But we did get a lucky catch at Echo Canyon when we caught up with the train and paced it for at least 25 mins. It was close and then veered away and then came back closer, it was an awesome experience. Plenty of pics and a video. So I never heard that they needed a pilot on the routes, and she has never mentioned it either. Just assumed Ed was familiar with the whole UP route system, but it always helps to have an extra set of eyes and ears in unfamiliar territory.
SunnylandJust assumed Ed was familiar with the whole UP route system, but it always helps to have an extra set of eyes and ears in unfamiliar territory.
Engineers need to be more than just 'familar' with the territory they are traversing; the Amtrak incident on the new WSDOT route is proof, engineers must KNOW the territory. That being said, the Engineers of today have little if any knowledge or ability in the operation of a STEAM locomotive (no 8th notch, no dynamics and on and on). The operation of any locomotive and train has to be planned far in advance to the train's location of any instant - preparing for grades, curves and a whole host of other operating conditions.
Ed Dickson may operate the engine but he is dependent upon QUALIFIED engineers to prepare him for the challenges that the train will have to face in forthcoming miles.
Quoting Jeff: "I'm sure they probably fumigated the plane after they were through hauling the help around." How often do you wash?
I had a good laugh at your statement--not quite rolling on the floor (If I did that, I might have to call for help in getting up).
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Johnny
This reminds me of a 1980s incident on the SP west of San Antonio. The SP4449 had been on a tour and was returning to the West Coast. There was no diesel helper so I imagine the cab of the 4449 was crowded with various officials. Likely there was a crew aboard but I imagine they were in one of the coaches. The old SP crew district west for engine crews was San Antonio-Del Rio and Del Rio-Sanderson. Train crews for passenger were San Antonio-Sanderson. Just beyond Del Rio the drawhead on one of the tenders failed, disabling the train for hours. Road Foremen of Engines at the time were still titled as such. One of the RFEs aboard spent a night in the hospital after that trip. First of all, it was an incredibly hot day even by Texas standards. Add to that the locomotive heat and working to get the drawhead repaired was too much for the guy. I remember his fellow management folks later quipping, with joy, that "he just wasn't made of the 'Right Stuff'". At that time, the movie, "The Right Stuff" had recently been released.
I had the opportunity to visit the steam shop in September a week before the grand west coast tour. Ed Dickens showed us around. About the EMU panel in 844, as I recall it, he tokd that they were not fully satisfied with its operation and that, for 4014, contact with the engineer in the diesel would be by radio. I got the impression that it would stay that way in the future but may be wrong.
sclm046This reminds me of a 1980s incident on the SP west of San Antonio. The SP4449 had been on a tour and was returning to the West Coast. There was no diesel helper so I imagine the cab of the 4449 was crowded with various officials. Likely there was a crew aboard but I imagine they were in one of the coaches. The old SP crew district west for engine crews was San Antonio-Del Rio and Del Rio-Sanderson. Train crews for passenger were San Antonio-Sanderson. Just beyond Del Rio the drawhead on one of the tenders failed, disabling the train for hours. Road Foremen of Engines at the time were still titled as such. One of the RFEs aboard spent a night in the hospital after that trip. First of all, it was an incredibly hot day even by Texas standards. Add to that the locomotive heat and working to get the drawhead repaired was too much for the guy. I remember his fellow management folks later quipping, with joy, that "he just wasn't made of the 'Right Stuff'". At that time, the movie, "The Right Stuff" had recently been released.
High levels of physical exertion and high ambient temperatures are a surfire recipe for heat stroke. Heat stroke has killed numerous athletes over the years, not to mention out of shape older individuals.
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