Crew Calling

[Anonymous]

I read an article in a recent trains magazine where the author goes back to visit a friend who now works for BNSF. He mentioned that they are using automated crew calling. He said that allowed the crews to have a rough idea of when they might be called. Are ofher railroads using this or are they still using people?

[csxengineer98]

csx is useing as much autoimation as it can in crew calling and crew managment... thier is talk of an automaic system for calling crews to work..but i dont know if it has gone into affect yet..or has gone into affect in some "trial" areas but not system wide yet... but for us crewmen when we want to make a senority move..its all done over the phone without any crew managment personel involved unless thier is a problem with the computer system...
also..we have had for some time on csx a 1-800 unber to call in for crew standings and train lineups, as well as access to the csx mainframe from the internet at home to check crew standings and train lineups....
csx engineer

[Jordan6]

It's all automated like you mentioned. Very seldom does a "live" person actually call you, unless you're not in the room at the hotel. Then they call my cell and wonder why I wasn't in my room!
When they call it mentions the train ID and time on duty and gives you the option of finding out who you're working with and the lead engine, tonnage, and length. Oh ya, and the final destination.

[arbfbe]

I still like the human interface version. You get to know the callers and they get to know your habits and hang outs. They can cut you a little slack the machines will not. Besides it is a lot nicer to talk to a real voice about 0330 when the phone rings and it is 35 below and they are telling you it is time to get out of bed and come to work.