BaltACDOn most properties, Yardmasters are contract employees - just like the T&E and Clerical employees they supervise. Trainmasters are non-contract Officials of the company they are employed by. In the olden days, it was desired to promote appropriate contract employees to become 1st level supervisors because of the knowledge they had acquired during their time spent in the contract positions. In today's world of railroading, contract experience among the non-contract officials is seen to be a detriment as they know too much about the BS that their superiors are shoveling at them + they can get better working conditions and more compensation by returning to their contract jobs. Today's railroads prefer to hire Trainmasters off the street so they can hold them hostage for their jobs as they have no contract positions to fall back on and no experience to know how badly they are being taken advantage of.
That pattern is not exclusive to the rails; it is seen in many other industries and organizations, often to their detriment.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
jeffhergert A few who have looked into going over to the dark side that our company is now asking a person to give up their seniority in their old craft to be considered. One or two said they were told they would have to give it up. Jeff
A few who have looked into going over to the dark side that our company is now asking a person to give up their seniority in their old craft to be considered. One or two said they were told they would have to give it up.
Jeff
I don't doubt for a minute that has occured, but I can't think of a more effective way to insure the first level supervisory employees have no clue what is going on. I wonder if that idea is coming from middle level managers or corporate staff?
BaltACD CShaveRR Just for you, Norm... (Oh, yeah, and Mookie, too.)A yardmaster is a supervisor of yard crews, both operating and clerical (though he's an operating employee and there aren't many clerks left).A trainmaster is a supervisor of a region and the employees therein. He doesn'thave crews directly underneath him, but is there as a troubleshooter to ensure that things run as smoothly, as efficently, and as safely as possible.Now, add little things like quotas for efficiency tests, quotas for failed efficiency tests, and trainmasters can become troublemakers instead of troubleshooters. They forget that their job is to ake things run smoothly and efficiently, but begin to think that their job is purely to make their superiors happy (unfortunately, that's true in many cases). Neither position feels like he's the "master" of anything, because he's always "Mr. In-between".And neither one likes it at all when an informed employee would take them to task about choices they've made. Please don't ask how I know that. On most properties, Yardmasters are contract employees - just like the T&E and Clerical employees they supervise. Trainmasters are non-contract Officials of the company they are employed by. In the olden days, it was desired to promote appropriate contract employees to become 1st level supervisors because of the knowledge they had acquired during their time spent in the contract positions. In today's world of railroading, contract experience among the non-contract officials is seen to be a detriment as they know too much about the BS that their superiors are shoveling at them + they can get better working conditions and more compensation by returning to their contract jobs. Today's railroads prefer to hire Trainmasters off the street so they can hold them hostage for their jobs as they have no contract positions to fall back on and no experience to know how badly they are being taken advantage of.
CShaveRR Just for you, Norm... (Oh, yeah, and Mookie, too.)A yardmaster is a supervisor of yard crews, both operating and clerical (though he's an operating employee and there aren't many clerks left).A trainmaster is a supervisor of a region and the employees therein. He doesn'thave crews directly underneath him, but is there as a troubleshooter to ensure that things run as smoothly, as efficently, and as safely as possible.Now, add little things like quotas for efficiency tests, quotas for failed efficiency tests, and trainmasters can become troublemakers instead of troubleshooters. They forget that their job is to ake things run smoothly and efficiently, but begin to think that their job is purely to make their superiors happy (unfortunately, that's true in many cases). Neither position feels like he's the "master" of anything, because he's always "Mr. In-between".And neither one likes it at all when an informed employee would take them to task about choices they've made. Please don't ask how I know that.
Just for you, Norm... (Oh, yeah, and Mookie, too.)A yardmaster is a supervisor of yard crews, both operating and clerical (though he's an operating employee and there aren't many clerks left).A trainmaster is a supervisor of a region and the employees therein. He doesn'thave crews directly underneath him, but is there as a troubleshooter to ensure that things run as smoothly, as efficently, and as safely as possible.Now, add little things like quotas for efficiency tests, quotas for failed efficiency tests, and trainmasters can become troublemakers instead of troubleshooters. They forget that their job is to ake things run smoothly and efficiently, but begin to think that their job is purely to make their superiors happy (unfortunately, that's true in many cases). Neither position feels like he's the "master" of anything, because he's always "Mr. In-between".And neither one likes it at all when an informed employee would take them to task about choices they've made. Please don't ask how I know that.
On most properties, Yardmasters are contract employees - just like the T&E and Clerical employees they supervise. Trainmasters are non-contract Officials of the company they are employed by.
In the olden days, it was desired to promote appropriate contract employees to become 1st level supervisors because of the knowledge they had acquired during their time spent in the contract positions. In today's world of railroading, contract experience among the non-contract officials is seen to be a detriment as they know too much about the BS that their superiors are shoveling at them + they can get better working conditions and more compensation by returning to their contract jobs. Today's railroads prefer to hire Trainmasters off the street so they can hold them hostage for their jobs as they have no contract positions to fall back on and no experience to know how badly they are being taken advantage of.
Chuck - this was a LOL moment for me - my very best girlfriend's dad was a conductor and his car was a Roadmaster. She managed to run into a wall at a local drive-in and rip off a door handle. She never did give me details of just exactly what he said, but I am sure it wasn't golly-gee....And looking back, I am so glad we had that car and not some of the little ones from today!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
MookieAnd a roadmaster - I know - this was a Buick!
I think the correct term was "roadmasher" wasn't it?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
And a road foreman (of engines) is NOT a roadmaster, but occasionally is also a trainmaster.
(there were two places on the old DRGW where one person wore all three hats, but usually not very well)
-and the management model / titles is all 1860's-1880's US Military. Best there was at that time.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Mookie And a roadmaster - I know - this was a Buick!
And a roadmaster - I know - this was a Buick!
I'm waiting with bated breath to hear some of the responses from the "rails". I think they're going to be interesting.
Norm
In smaller towns, where only one man worked in a station, he was the stationmaster even if his title was "agent". In larger towns, such as Charlotte, the man in charge of the station and other employees was the stationmaster. I am not absolutely certain, but I think it was the stationmaster in Charlotte who called the trains so that the passengers would know that it was time to board. And, the stationmaster in Charlotte did not have the same accent as those in Atlanta, Birmingham, or New Orleans.
Johnny
I was helped with this a few years ago, but unfortunately my brain misfiled the information and now I need help again.
Yardmaster, trainmaster. I do know that the names are pretty self-explanatory, but in general what does a yardmaster do and who reports to him.
Trainmaster - same thing. And does he work within the yard? I think I remember that sometimes they go on the road with a crew also.
Didn't there used to be a stationmaster - possibly now a station agent? There is more information out there on this job than most.
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