The Life of a Freight Conductor

[Anonymous]

I was wondering just what does a freight conductor do, and what is an average day like for one

[arbfbe]

Theoretically, the conductor is in charge of the train. You will not know for sure until about 90 minutes before the railroad wants you on duty. Any time from 0001 to 2359 on any day. Tomorrow's shift will have no relation to the start time of today's start. It will be from 4 hrs to 40 hours or more after this shift ends.

When you report to duty you will have to secure the General Track bulletins and Track Warrants for the crew. You will also need to get the wheel report listing all the cars in the train. You will review the GTB and related TWs and discuss them with the engineer to insure both of you understand what they contain and how they will affect your trip. You will have to go through the wheel report line by line to see what is in your train, noting the dangerous and high wide cars and any cars with speed restrictions. You will have to compare placement and speed restrictions against the printed data on the wheel report, special instructions in the timetable and general orders form the wall or computer screen.

The yard master may have work for you to do before you leave town and he will give you instructions.

You may then go to your train or power You will set out any cars for that station or cars that are bad order. You will asssist the engineer in perfroming any needed air tests on the train or cars. You may have to walk a 9000' train more than once to accompoli***his. Rain, snow -30 or +115 you still must do these tasks.

After you depart the terminal, you are responsible with the engineer with rules compliance in all matters affecting the train. You will call out signals, monitor radio transmissions, dispatcher's instructions and alert the engineer to coming track restrictions and work messages contained in the Track Warrants you received at the intital terminal. You may have to set out short cars or pick up cars to add to your train. You will have to inspect any cars tagged by trackside detectors to see if they are safe to move or must be set out. You must inspect any trains you meet from the ground. You will keep a detailed report of delays your train encountered for the entire trip. You will keep the wheel report up to date with regard to cars you have added or removed from your train.

Upon arival at the final terminal you will perform any work as directed by the yardmaster or your work papers. You may have to take the power to the round house. You will tie up on the computer or with a paper form and then you are free to go home. Be ready to return in 8 hours and do not expect the figure on the lineup that tells you the train you stand for will hold up while you are sleeping. This trip has likely taken 6 to 12 hours but you may have died on the hours of service law and be 12 to 20 hours between terminals.