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Working for Union Pacific

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  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,103 posts
Posted by ValleyX on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 2:30 AM

Yes, and to add to it, it didn't matter to the railroad, if you were first out and stood to be called on a slow-moving board for four or five days, then you were expected to be available.  It was a nuisance, trying to do anything, keeping a caller advised as to your whereabouts, hardly being able to leave without calling the caller to tell them things like, "I'm going out, I'll call back in an hour to see if there're any changes".  Oh, and I'm not exaggerating about four or five days on a slow-moving board, either, pagers were a very welcome accessory, to say nothing of cellphones.

Missing calls was frowned on and would lead to discipline, then as now.

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • 526 posts
Posted by Mailman56701 on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 5:28 PM
 ValleyX wrote:

Yes, and to add to it, it didn't matter to the railroad, if you were first out and stood to be called on a slow-moving board for four or five days, then you were expected to be available.  It was a nuisance, trying to do anything, keeping a caller advised as to your whereabouts, hardly being able to leave without calling the caller to tell them things like, "I'm going out, I'll call back in an hour to see if there're any changes".  Oh, and I'm not exaggerating about four or five days on a slow-moving board, either, pagers were a very welcome accessory, to say nothing of cellphones.

Missing calls was frowned on and would lead to discipline, then as now.

  Ugh, what a pain.  Thanks for the info. guys !

"Realism is overrated"

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