zugmann wrote: MilwaukeeRoad wrote:Ridiculous 10.I think this has been a pretty good discussion of an issue I never gave much thought to prior. No one is making you read it or take part, sir. 10 pages! woo-hoo!
MilwaukeeRoad wrote:Ridiculous 10.
I think this has been a pretty good discussion of an issue I never gave much thought to prior. No one is making you read it or take part, sir.
10 pages! woo-hoo!
The 10 DANCE...
LC
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
railroadjj wrote: Willy2 wrote: railroadjj wrote:After all the idiots that are out at the crossing and anywhere inbetween them, there are a lot of peopl that throw rocks, bricks and everything else at us train crews. I personally do not wave for that reason. If we are stopped, or something I might come down and talk with you until we are ready to go. Even the videos shown in class, say not to wave and keep your mind on your work.That seems a little harsh, if you ask me. There are just as many (if not more) good people trackside as there are bad people. Is there always work you're doing that would make it unsafe to look up for three seconds and wave? I always wave and I almost always get a wave back if the engineer or conductor is looking. I figure that seeing someone smiling and waving might brighten the crews' day a bit. Well, from the railroaders stand point (or my stand point being a railroader) there are a lot of people out at the tracks. Most from what I have seen are very rude, mean, and throw objects sucks a rocks, spikes that are laying about, and even shout. So are just dumb kids that dont know any better due to the parents not teaching them about how dangerous trains are. Me personally I think every school distric at least here in the US, should bring in Operation Life Saver. These kids need to see what can happen, and what happens everyday. Now there are some adults that are good, and wave, video tape, and take pictures. But then you have adults that walk the tracks, and when the conductor leans out the window to warm them by yelling over the Engine noise, then they throw a brick and just about kill the man. Just for being kind and trying to dave his life. Now you tell me why should we wave and take a risk of life or death. I mean you know if you are out the day after day and the crew starts to know your face, fine I will wave everytime, but how often does the same crew see you there, unless you are chasing a shortline. BTW the Conductor getting hit with the brick is a true story, not even a year old. It happened in South Dallas, on the UP Main line.
Willy2 wrote: railroadjj wrote:After all the idiots that are out at the crossing and anywhere inbetween them, there are a lot of peopl that throw rocks, bricks and everything else at us train crews. I personally do not wave for that reason. If we are stopped, or something I might come down and talk with you until we are ready to go. Even the videos shown in class, say not to wave and keep your mind on your work.That seems a little harsh, if you ask me. There are just as many (if not more) good people trackside as there are bad people. Is there always work you're doing that would make it unsafe to look up for three seconds and wave? I always wave and I almost always get a wave back if the engineer or conductor is looking. I figure that seeing someone smiling and waving might brighten the crews' day a bit.
railroadjj wrote:After all the idiots that are out at the crossing and anywhere inbetween them, there are a lot of peopl that throw rocks, bricks and everything else at us train crews. I personally do not wave for that reason. If we are stopped, or something I might come down and talk with you until we are ready to go. Even the videos shown in class, say not to wave and keep your mind on your work.
That seems a little harsh, if you ask me. There are just as many (if not more) good people trackside as there are bad people. Is there always work you're doing that would make it unsafe to look up for three seconds and wave?
I always wave and I almost always get a wave back if the engineer or conductor is looking. I figure that seeing someone smiling and waving might brighten the crews' day a bit.
Well, from the railroaders stand point (or my stand point being a railroader) there are a lot of people out at the tracks. Most from what I have seen are very rude, mean, and throw objects sucks a rocks, spikes that are laying about, and even shout. So are just dumb kids that dont know any better due to the parents not teaching them about how dangerous trains are. Me personally I think every school distric at least here in the US, should bring in Operation Life Saver. These kids need to see what can happen, and what happens everyday. Now there are some adults that are good, and wave, video tape, and take pictures. But then you have adults that walk the tracks, and when the conductor leans out the window to warm them by yelling over the Engine noise, then they throw a brick and just about kill the man. Just for being kind and trying to dave his life. Now you tell me why should we wave and take a risk of life or death. I mean you know if you are out the day after day and the crew starts to know your face, fine I will wave everytime, but how often does the same crew see you there, unless you are chasing a shortline. BTW the Conductor getting hit with the brick is a true story, not even a year old. It happened in South Dallas, on the UP Main line.
I respect your decision to not wave to people except for those you see frequently. I never said that I didn't. If I came across as being critical earlier, then I apologize. In case you didn't read the last eight pages of this topic, I pretty much support you and the other engineers on this issue. I just wanted to make a point in my first post and that was to point out that not everyone is going to throw a brick at you.
Now we're one post closer to making 10 pages!
Willy
http://www.youtube.com/user/pavabo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvbox
Soo 6604 wrote:Can we get this to a page 10? That would be kinda cool. NOT!
I dunno...we haven't had a thread this controversial in awhile, and it's always an interesting excercise in forum dynamics when we do. Besides, a thread like this can tell a lot not only about participant interplay, but about the individuals themselves. There's some fresher faces that I learned a lot about because of this thread.
Additionally, I don't think it really ever got that out of hand. I remember some Amtrak discussions that degenerated a lot quicker and a lot farther than this one ever will.
We should of set up the popcorn machine. It was definately a popcorn thread. You still have that around somewhere, Chad?
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Soo 6604 wrote: Can we get this to a page 10? That would be kinda cool. NOT!Paulps. I'll be the 6'6" 250lb guy with the 3 cameras, camcorder on a tripod, and waving like a school girl going away on summer camp for 3 weeks in Neenah Wi. If any engineers wave, they will receive $50 either at Point or FDL
Can we get this to a page 10? That would be kinda cool. NOT!
Paul
ps. I'll be the 6'6" 250lb guy with the 3 cameras, camcorder on a tripod, and waving like a school girl going away on summer camp for 3 weeks in Neenah Wi. If any engineers wave, they will receive $50 either at Point or FDL
Another Wisconsin Railfan?
Some of the people on this thread seem like there really tired or drunk because some of the remarks on here are for the stupidest reasons.
Anywho, I support railroad employees. Don't wave if you have a job to do.
Wow! What a thread! About hand waving?
Nothing's changed from my perspective. Thirty years ago if you waved, half the guys waved back at you, half didn't. Some of those who didn't would give you a dirty look.
It's exactly the same today.
Personally, I do wave all the time... not because I need a wave back, but because I want the engineer to know that I'm a friendly.
Hey CSX Eng, Zug and RRKen, what kind of stencil would look good on a cab for trespassers? Perhaps a Hamburglar stencil? Or a We BLO wolf?
I can see I missed a lot, NOT...
Hey, I have plenty of good lookin' gals in bikinis waving to me while I am holding the coal job on the lakeshore. I even have one brakeman who brings expensive binocs with him to watch from the 2d unit...
As far as calling the cops go I'll usually only go that route if you are obviously violating the law. Remember I have big brother with me (tv camera) on the nose of the loco most times so proving your misdeeds in court is no problem.
zugmann wrote: BRAKIE wrote:Oh thats what happen? I was told he was caught waving and was fired. Yeah, but the banana is now A-PEELING....
BRAKIE wrote:Oh thats what happen? I was told he was caught waving and was fired.
Oh thats what happen? I was told he was caught waving and was fired.
Yeah, but the banana is now A-PEELING....
Thats just peachy.
Must not carrot all about the seriousness of waving.
But lettuce not quibble or a wave or two.
Railfan1 wrote:Wow, 153 replies. Can we end it here?
Guess not.
zugmann wrote: wctransfer wrote: LOL! The banana is old news I guess! The banana didn't wave - so it was fired.
wctransfer wrote: LOL! The banana is old news I guess!
LOL! The banana is old news I guess!
The banana didn't wave - so it was fired.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
wctransfer wrote:LOL! The banana is old news I guess!
This makes 155 posts..Thankfully 99% of NS,CSX,WE and CFE crews I wave at returns the wave.I had crews to toss down employee time tables,cold water,old train consist,old track forms,old work orders, and other items to include a pair of safety glasses...I have even been given a short cab tour.
As far as the job goes its just that a job that is like none other..
Railfan1 wrote:Wow, 153 replies. Can we end it here? Railroad crews, If you want to wave, wave. If you don't want to/not able to, don't wave. Railfans ( including myself), the crews, just like anyone else, have a job to do. The railroad crews are working to provide for their families just like any other hardworking American. The are not here for our entertainment.If you have an interest in watching and taking pictures of trains that is all well and good but it just happens to be a JOB for the men and women at the controls which includes staying up for long periods of time without sleep and being incharge of a 120 car coal train with a three locomotive consist.I'm sure it is not their idea of FUN. Can't we just get back to the fact that we are all here because we enjoy railroading either as an employee or a spectator?
I don't think it could have been said any better....
I live right on UP's double track mainline in Iowa. Sometime they wave and sometimes they don't. I don't wave first as these guys are working and have a job to do and I don't want to be responsible for anything bad happening due to me distracting someone driving thousands of tons of fatal metal. They should not be worried about hurting feelings by not waving to people as they should be looking forward and doing their job.
But they have been know to scare the hell out of me. My property butts right to the tracks and they seem to love it when I'm mowing. They'll wait till they are right behind me then they lay on the horn. I come right out of my skin and usually kill the mower.
Now if you want to complain about a real problem how about the police. Shoot those guys get paid decent and by the taxpayers and they hardly ever wave. Even in this small town. Leave those guys working alone and let them do their jobs.
Jeremy
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.