Being watched

[lone geep]

When I go to the yard closest to where I live, I usually watch the yard action from an overpass. Though it does afford me great viewing, I do feel slightly guilty since I personally don't like to be watched from a distance when working. I'm just wondering how the professional railroaders feel when they have an audience. Do you dislike it, or not even notice?

[tree68]

I run on a tourist railroad.  I expect to have an audience.  

There have been those here who don't like an audience.  A rather acrimonious thread some time back hinged largely on "I don't wave..."

I'm sure there are those in the construction industry who dislike(d) the observation points cut into the wooden fences around construction sites so people could watch the progress.

Virtually every industry that works where the public can see it has its fans.  Some in said industries embrace that, some can't see why anyone would be interested in what they do.

[MikeF90]

I think that's why plumbers aren't shy about showing, ahem, trouser cleavage. I don't even want to watch the mental image, much less the real thing.

[samfp1943]

MikeF90

I think that's why plumbers aren't shy about showing, ahem, trouser cleavage. I don't even want to watch the mental image, much less the real thing.

 

Well, Between Larry's(tree68) comment and what Mike (Mike F90) said....They have covered the subject from top to bottom.....

[Firelock76]

I'm a copier repair technician by trade, so it's not unusual for me to perform before an "audience."

Unless they're keeping me from doing what I have to do I don't mind in the least.  Actually, most times it's fun.

Other times, I might as well be the "Invisible Man."  Depends on the place.

[CMStPnP]

Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain.   The train crews will never spot you.

 

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Guide-Series-Full-Body-Ghillie-Suit&i=763020&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=37363330323057444c434d4f4d2f4c&s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhvbABRDOp4rahNjh-tMBEiQA0QgTGiHMzHBmB4YYiaaA6QgwnJKASEllREFjXl3Fp5TZ5tcaAkEA8P8HAQ

 

[schlimm]

Many people work in front of the public and even supervisors.  Why should rail folks object?

[Deggesty]

CMStPnP

Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain.   The train crews will never spot you.

 

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Guide-Series-Full-Body-Ghillie-Suit&i=763020&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=37363330323057444c434d4f4d2f4c&s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhvbABRDOp4rahNjh-tMBEiQA0QgTGiHMzHBmB4YYiaaA6QgwnJKASEllREFjXl3Fp5TZ5tcaAkEA8P8HAQ

 

 

Is that what the Scots ghillies wore? 

[Mookie]

If the crew is in the cab, you generally can't see them anyway.  I watch the train...not the crew per se.  Unless it is MOW and then I watch what they are doing, not how they perform.  

[Firelock76]

Deggesty

 

CMStPnP

Go buy a ghillie suit and binoculars at Gander Mountain.   The train crews will never spot you.

 

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Guide-Series-Full-Body-Ghillie-Suit&i=763020&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=37363330323057444c434d4f4d2f4c&s_kwcid=adwords__&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhvbABRDOp4rahNjh-tMBEiQA0QgTGiHMzHBmB4YYiaaA6QgwnJKASEllREFjXl3Fp5TZ5tcaAkEA8P8HAQ

 

 

 

 

 

Is that what the Scots ghillies wore? 

 

 

Very, very similar Johnny.  The term as we know it today goes back to World War One when British snipers adopted a camoflage suit adapted from what the Scottish gamekeepers, or "ghillies," wore.  The term found it's way into US Army and Marine Corps sniper usage not long afterward, and now it's found it's way into hunting terminology.

There's some film footage of World War One snipers moving into position (certainly staged for the camera) and the ghillie suits they wore 100 years ago are amazingly similar to what's used now.

 

[wanswheel]

 

[Deggesty]

AIEE! It's Bigfoot!!

[kgbw49]

Big Foot - the undefeated World Champion of Hide and Seek.

[Murphy Siding]

tree68

Virtually every industry that works where the public can see it has its fans.  Some in said industries embrace that, some can't see why anyone would be interested in what they do.

 

No kidding!  You should see the line outside my office of onlookers trying to get a rare glimpse of me actually working at my desk and not just madly looking for misplaced paperwork. 

[CShaveRR]

I was proud to show off what I did, and would invite people up into the tower... figured that if they got past security, it was worth it for them to get a good show.

[edblysard]

Never bother me at all....as long as they stayed off property.

The few times they didn't, depending on how they act, we either politely guide them where they belong, or have our gumshoes take care of them...for the most part, never had a problem.

[samfp1943]

CShaveRR

I was proud to show off what I did, and would invite people up into the tower... figured that if they got past security, it was worth it for them to get a good show.

 

During my high school years, I was fortunate to have access to the Tower at a major railroad yard in Memphis.   Carl, you're right, that was the place to see some serious railroad activity. 

   There is no way, these days to even get close; let alone, an invite, to just watch. It is a different world we live in these days.

[daveklepper]

Age 15-17, 1947-1949, Spuyten Dyvil, junction of the Hudson lines to GCT and West Side, Herman Rinke the operator.

[Firelock76]

daveklepper

Age 15-17, 1947-1949, Spuyten Dyvil, junction of the Hudson lines to GCT and West Side, Herman Rinke the operator.

 

Wow David, now THAT must have been an exciting place to visit!  Non-stop action all day long, I'll bet.

[54light15]

Wanswheel, thanks so much for posting that. I was a little too old for Sesame Street when it first came out. I see now what I missed. Funny as hell!

Do you think the Ghillie (if that is what that was above Oscar) was the inspiration for Wookies?

[tree68]

Murphy Siding

You should see the line outside my office...

We had a secretary in one office I worked in who didn't rest her fingers on the "home row" of the typewriter - she held her hands above the keyboard.  For those of us who learned the "regular way" to type, it was a wonder to behold...

[wanswheel]

54light15

Do you think the Ghillie (if that is what that was above Oscar) was the inspiration for Wookies?

Nope.

 

[jeffhergert]

If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched.  The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries.

Jeff

[BaltACD]

jeffhergert

If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched.  The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries.

Jeff

And you can add the FRA and State Inspectors to the category of company weed weasels.

[schlimm]

BaltACD

 

 

jeffhergert

If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched.  The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries.

Jeff

 

 

And you can add the FRA and State Inspectors to the category of company weed weasels.

 

As I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched?  Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job.  Why is it so objectionable for you folks?

[zugmann]

schlimm

 

 

BaltACD

 

 

jeffhergert

If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched.  The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries.

Jeff

 

 

And you can add the FRA and State Inspectors to the category of company weed weasels.

 

 

 

 

As I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched?  Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job.  Why is it so objectionable for you folks?

 

How many people deal with people watching them from the weeds? And then nitpicking you on rules they barely understand because you were trying to actually do your job? 

[BaltACD]

schlimm

 

BaltACD 

jeffhergert

If you work for a railroad, especially a class 1, you can expect that when working in yards or terminals that you are being watched.  The ones with the cameras/railfans are the least of the worries.

Jeff

And you can add the FRA and State Inspectors to the category of company weed weasels. 

As I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched?  Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job.  Why is it so objectionable for you folks?

Go through all the rules in the Book of Operating Rules, The Train Handling Rules, The Air Brake Rules, The Radio Rules and The Safety Rules and figure that the weed weasels have the power to observe you breaking ANY of those rules (some of which are almost mutually exclusive - if you observe one you break another).  Outsiders have no idea of the pressure that all organizations place on FAILED efficiency tests.

How long does a 'highway cop' remain employeed if he doesn't write tickets?  Every organization that observes rail operations has but one goal in mind - FIND A FAILURE.  A Trainmaster or Road Foreman can't submit their monthly E-tests without having 'some failures'.  State and Federal inspectors can't go on a rail property and submit their activity reports without having 'some failures'.  If inspectors don't find failures they don't keep their jobs very long.

Rail employees may have been born at night, however it wasn't last night and they know the presence of these 'dings' against their record can affect their continuing future employment.

[schlimm]

You do have unions.  Doesn't that offer some protection, say a bit more than the 17-year old working at the local WalMart gets?

[zugmann]

schlimm

As I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched? Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job. Why is it so objectionable for you folks?

It also doesn't have to do with being a RRer.  I hate being watched when I do stuff. Just leave me alone to do my job.  I know, that's not possible, but it's how I feel.   Like when a RFE stands over my control stand.  Drives me nuts.  Sit down over there.  If I do something wrong, you'll feel it.

[Norm48327]

schlimm

As I have said before, why do railroaders object so strongly to being watched? Many/most folks are seen by the public and/or bosses quite often as a part of their job. Why is it so objectionable for you folks?

Perhaps the story of a rogue railfan is appropriate.

I don't know if there was animosity between the parties involved, but a railfan posted a photo on line of a conductor that got the latter in trouble with his boss. The fan was promptly ostracized and banned from that forum. Not sure what happened to the conductor, but I'm sure he now has a reason he does not want to be photographed.