Had to laugh a bit about this.
Anyhow, a news story on the end of the Arthur television series (point is explained in the first 40 seconds - but I'll spoil it if you don't want to watch - see below):
https://youtu.be/-eBVCSYA7U4
From the above:
"I remember being 6 years old and watching my dad go to work on the railroad and he hated his job and it made such an impression on me, and I said to myself at six(!) I want a job that I love..." -- Marc Brown
(sorry, I can't get the video to imbed).
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
zugmannI remember being 6 years old and watching my dad go to work on the railroad and he hated his job
Jeez, even though he got two train rides a day out of it?
Flintlock76 zugmann I remember being 6 years old and watching my dad go to work on the railroad and he hated his job Jeez, even though he got two train rides a day out of it?
zugmann I remember being 6 years old and watching my dad go to work on the railroad and he hated his job
He said he worked on the railroad. He doesn't say in what capacity. He may not have gotten a train ride at all. Possibly not even riding a commuter train.
Maybe that's why he hated it.
Jeff
I'm sure working conditions on the railroad have improved during Arthur's 25 year run and the creator wouldn't make the same decision again, right? Right?
-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
There are many, many people that get involved in EVERY line of employment and at some point in time detest that they are in the form of employment that they are. Even within a single company there are multiple forms of jobs - jobs that for the wrong person are compensated torture and for the right person it is getting mana from heaven for something they enjoy - and it may very well be the exact same job.
Additionally there is the personality that is hostile to any and every 'job' that they find themselves in - as individuals they are destined for a unhappy life.
Railroading, at the operational level, is a lifestyle that is more than a job. Not everyone is suited to the livestyle.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
jeffhergert Flintlock76 zugmann I remember being 6 years old and watching my dad go to work on the railroad and he hated his job Jeez, even though he got two train rides a day out of it? He said he worked on the railroad. He doesn't say in what capacity. He may not have gotten a train ride at all. Possibly not even riding a commuter train. Maybe that's why he hated it. Jeff
Good point! I never thought of that.
BaltACDThere are many, many people that get involved in EVERY line of employment and at some point in time detest that they are in the form of employment that they are. Even within a single company there are multiple forms of jobs - jobs that for the wrong person are compensated torture and for the right person it is getting mana from heaven for something they enjoy - and it may very well be the exact same job.
Reminds me of something a past boss of mine said:
"I don't LOVE my job, I LIKE my job. Let's be honest, nobody LOVES to work, we'd all rather be doing something else. But if you LIKE your job, that's good enough."
Yes, God bless the individual who enjoys their job. I would hate to have a dead end spirit crushing thankless job that some people seem to find themselves in. I feel blessed having had a career where I felt appreciated, well compensated and challenging.
Sorry: I do not think I've ever seen the TV Program mentioned in this Thread....BUT !
WE have a long time poster on this Thread...PAUL,
Paul's Avatar-- CSSHEGEWISCH -- [Noted by Paul: on a recent Thread] "..This means that I'll never get the chance to meet him[ie; R.I.R. Carl Shaver:CS haveRR]. "... I always kept an eye open for him whenever I spent a day at Elmhurst,exercising my Canon A-1..|.
zugmann Had to laugh a bit about this. Anyhow, a news story on the end of the Arthur television series (point is explained in the first 40 seconds - but I'll spoil it if you don't want to watch - see below): https://youtu.be/-eBVCSYA7U4 From the above: "I remember being 6 years old and watching my dad go to work on the railroad and he hated his job and it made such an impression on me, and I said to myself at six(!) I want a job that I love..." -- Marc Brown (sorry, I can't get the video to imbed).
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Flintlock76Reminds me of something a past boss of mine said: "I don't LOVE my job, I LIKE my job. Let's be honest, nobody LOVES to work, we'd all rather be doing something else. But if you LIKE your job, that's good enough."
I'm fortunate to have made a total career shift at 35. I love my jobs as a clinical psychologist and professor.
He could have been in track maintenance too. While they usually have regular schedules those guys have a way tougher job than operating crews, and tend to get looked down on by the rest of the company (sometimes literally, if you are sitting in a locomotive).
I really like my job, operating heavy equipment, working outdoors and solving problems is fun to me. But I can't stand management and all the associated BS that for some reason has to exist here.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Having started out on the track side and branched out into bridges, I can say that I love my job. Sure there have been times it wasn't all that much fun. But overall, the last nearly 50 years of doing this, as amployee of Class 1's, commuter agencies and short lines, have been a labor of love. Being semi-retired now, I can spend more time giving back by teaching track and bridge inspection and on track safety to the newer people in the industry.
Murphy SidingTo be honest, I opened this thread expecting it to be about King Arthur, the mythical character. It would have made perfect sense to start another off-topic thread on a railroad forum. "King Arthur- did that dude ever ride a train, or what?"
Only when commuting to his job at the flour factory.
SD70Dude I really like my job, operating heavy equipment, working outdoors and solving problems is fun to me. But I can't stand management and all the associated BS that for some reason has to exist here.
I sometimes have the "Apocalypse Now" feeling expressed by Martin Sheen's character in the beginning. (Parapharsed) "When I'm there, I wish I was at home. When I'm at home, I wish I was there."
I can say I generally love my job. I don't love the railroad I work for. It's not the same railroad I hired out on years ago, and certainly not the same railroad it once was. Most coworkers feel the same. It's not the job, but the company that they don't like.
jeffhergertMost coworkers feel the same. It's not the job, but the company that they don't like.
And so much of it is just unnecessary. Just out of spite anymore, I swear.
As Mr. R. King said, "CAN'T WE JUST GET ALONG."
zugmann jeffhergert Most coworkers feel the same. It's not the job, but the company that they don't like. And so much of it is just unnecessary. Just out of spite anymore, I swear.
jeffhergert Most coworkers feel the same. It's not the job, but the company that they don't like.
Murphy Siding zugmann jeffhergert Most coworkers feel the same. It's not the job, but the company that they don't like. And so much of it is just unnecessary. Just out of spite anymore, I swear. I don't think that feeling is unique to the railroad industry. Anymore, it's seems like it's an integral part of the American working experience.
I don't think that feeling is unique to the railroad industry. Anymore, it's seems like it's an integral part of the American working experience.
For the past 9 years I worked for a state agency here. Within the limits of what they could do, my boss and his boss were very good to me. During my mother's extended fatal illness and my wife's many chronic ailments they never once turned down a request for leave, as long as I had leave time available. They treated me with respect and at least appeared to listen to my input.
A week ago today I started a new job with a different agency, doing the same job. Why? A 15% increase in pay, better office space (no longer sharing what should be a 1-person office) and no more 1/4 mile walk including a 40-foot climb to get from my designated parking area to the door of the building where I worked. Despite having great bosses, the old agency didn't value my contributions
Hello Jeff (and others),
I am a journalism student writing a story about the re-opening of the Amtrak Cascade route and hoping to gain more insight on the general workings of what it takes to re-open a line, the people that work to both re-open the route, as well the those who run the line itself. Y'all seem like a very knowledgeable bunch and I would love to hear your thoughts and insight on both the Amtrak Cascade route and general train workings in the US and Canada.
If you are interested in talking more about general train logistics and personal stories, feel free to shoot me a message here or an email at Joshuagross18@gmail.com, would love to learn from you and hear your stories working for a railroad.
Thank you!
SALfan1 For the past 9 years I worked for a state agency here. Within the limits of what they could do, my boss and his boss were very good to me. During my mother's extended fatal illness and my wife's many chronic ailments they never once turned down a request for leave, as long as I had leave time available. They treated me with respect and at least appeared to listen to my input. A week ago today I started a new job with a different agency, doing the same job. Why? A 15% increase in pay, better office space (no longer sharing what should be a 1-person office) and no more 1/4 mile walk including a 40-foot climb to get from my designated parking area to the door of the building where I worked. Despite having great bosses, the old agency didn't value my contributions
I think most large corporations feel that any success is due to the upper echelons of management. Any failures are due to those worthless employees who do the day to day work that brings in the money.
(A former conductor who became a dispatcher, which is management on my employer, overheard other management/mgmt support people talking about "train trash" in the HQ cafateria. He asked them what they were talking about. "Train trash" is what they call those of us who work the trains and yards. He asked them if they realized that the work that "train trash" did was what made the money for the company.")
I can't say for the others that have adopted the harsh attendence policies, but the management of the policy has been removed from local field management. I suspect because the local people know who is abusing attendence and those who aren't. The local people will be understanding when someone in their charge has an emergency. We can't be having that.
Train Trash
Down here years ago it was fairly common to hear oil field workers referred to as "oil field trash". They countered by calling themselves "oil field class". I don't think anybody's opinion was affected.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
jeffhergert He asked them if they realized that the work that "train trash" did was what made the money for the company.")
It's seemed to me for many years now that people who get their hands dirty were looked down on by the self-styled upper class.
Paul of Covington Down here years ago it was fairly common to hear oil field workers referred to as "oil field trash". They countered by calling themselves "oil field class". I don't think anybody's opinion was affected.
"Rig pigs" is more common in these parts.
Paul of CovingtonIt's seemed to me for many years now that people who get their hands dirty were looked down on by the self-styled upper class.
There was a time when being sun-tanned was a sign of lower class. Folks who had to be out in the weather, laboring. The rich took their paleness as a badge of their priviledge.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 Paul of Covington It's seemed to me for many years now that people who get their hands dirty were looked down on by the self-styled upper class. There was a time when being sun-tanned was a sign of lower class. Folks who had to be out in the weather, laboring. The rich took their paleness as a badge of their priviledge.
Paul of Covington It's seemed to me for many years now that people who get their hands dirty were looked down on by the self-styled upper class.
That basically remains in effect to this day. Those that get paid to 'think' are paid more than those that actually DO.
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