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Why Companies continue to loose employees

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, July 22, 2022 8:31 AM

Backshop
 
BaltACD 
Backshop
I guess that you're not familiar with the bridge.

Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Bridge - Wikipedia 

I've passed it hundreds of times on the PA Turnpike - before the Turnpike Commission decided to make the Turnpike even more costly than gasoline.

In comparison trips to Akron, using I-70, I-68, I-79, I-70, I-77 is only about 15 minutes slower, more photogenic and NO TOLLS 

My comment was directed more at Ulrich, since I don't think graffiti artists would be clambering on that bridge.  The first time that I saw it in the mid 70s, we were on the Turnpike and there was a southbound ore train.  I thought that would be a common occurence but I never again saw a train on it during my numrous trips.

I was commuting between Akron & Baltimore for a number of years in the 1970's on a bi-weekly basis.  Seeing trains on the bridge was a infrequent happening.

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Posted by diningcar on Friday, July 22, 2022 9:18 AM

Today's news: Ford to lay off 8000 due to the requirement to build EV's. 

The UAW President expects to lose 35000 jobs because the manufacture of EV's have fewer parts.

With every innovation there is an adjustment in the workforce. Anyone ready to go back to the horse and buggy?

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, July 22, 2022 10:52 AM

Where's the electricity going to come from to juice all those EV's?

How about charging stations?  They're still far from universal.  And if you do find one if you need one plan on being there 20 minutes to a half-hour, assuming there isn't a line ahead of you.  No five-minute gas n' go like the Exxon station.  And plan on using up the battery charge faster if you're using the air conditioning or the heater. 

How will those huge batteries be disposed of when they wear out?  And they will.  Speaking of the batteries, do we really want to keep buying lithium from China, a major polluter in their own right and who could care less? 

Where's the funding going to come from for highway maintanance when the gas tax money isn't there? 

And EV's are a lot heavier than gas cars are, so has anyone thought about used tire disposal?  Tires will wear out sooner so there's going to be a lot more to get rid of.  Speaking of weight don't plan on pushing that thing any great distance if you're battery's dead.  Better have AAA on speed-dial.

Mind you, I'm not 100% against EV's, they do have uses in some applications but in my (and others opinions) they're not the panacea they're being presented as.  They're going to have issues all their own.  There's no such thing as a free lunch.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, July 22, 2022 3:14 PM

110 years ago:

Where's all the gasoline going to come from?

How about service stations?

How to dispose of those horseless buggies when they wear out? All that steel!!

How to pay for roads?

What to do with all those worn out tires?

Better get a horse, sonny,!!

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, July 22, 2022 3:57 PM

charlie hebdo
110 years ago:

Where's all the gasoline going to come from?

How about service stations?

How to dispose of those horseless buggies when they wear out? All that steel!!

How to pay for roads?

What to do with all those worn out tires?

Better get a horse, sonny,!!

140 years ago - what is all this unusuable liquid that is coming from refining crude oil into kerosene.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a24666/how-the-amish-build-a-buggy/

 

I notice 'road apples' when I travel US 11/15 when going to race at Watkins Glen, NY.

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Posted by Backshop on Friday, July 22, 2022 4:08 PM

Right now, my wife and I have two Subarus, which both get 30+mpg.  I can see us getting a hybrid in the future. Right now, I don't see an electic vehicle being in our future since we do a lot of road trips.

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Posted by Euclid on Friday, July 22, 2022 6:34 PM
 
If the market really wants electric cars, they will gladly buy them and say goodbye to fossil fuel and internal combustion.   So why not just offer them to the market and see if they sell?  Why do we need to kill the fossil fuel industry in order to force us into electric cars if they are so wonderful?  Even if the whole population wanted electric vehicles now, it will take many years to ramp up production of cars, charging facilities, and new power plants, all of which will require new technology.  This could take decades to get going.  Meanwhile we can completely eliminate present internal combustion private automobiles in just months or weeks.
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Posted by Backshop on Friday, July 22, 2022 8:13 PM

Euclid
  Meanwhile we can completely eliminate present internal combustion private automobiles in just months or weeks.
 

Care to explain how this would happen, Bucky? Enquiring minds are waiting to hear your plan.  Or is this just another of your off-the-wall comments that have no thought behind it?

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, July 22, 2022 8:19 PM

charlie hebdo

110 years ago:

Where's all the gasoline going to come from?

How about service stations?

How to dispose of those horseless buggies when they wear out? All that steel!!

How to pay for roads?

What to do with all those worn out tires?

Better get a horse, sonny,!!

 

 

1.  Gasolene was a waste byproduct  of oil being refined into kerosene.  No-one knew what to do with it until the gasolene engine came along other than to use it as a solvent.

2.  110 years ago?  That's 1912. There were thousands of automobiles on the road by that time and filling stations had been established.  If you couldn't get it at a filling station you could get it at the general store.

3.  How to dispose of all those horseless buggys?  Easy.  They melted 'em down into more horseless buggys.  Or during the 1940's they made tanks, ships, artillery, and other things useful at the time.

3.  How to pay for roads?  At first, drivers licences.  Later, gas taxes.  Later, tolls. Later, run screaming to Uncle Sugar.  Just like a lot of people do now anyway for other things, like high-speed rail.

4.  Worn out tires?  We've still got the problem.  And we'll still have it. 

Get a horse?  Imagine the pollution problem if the 90+ million cars on the road were 90+ million horses.

Your turn.

By the way, the answer to $4.00+ a gallon gasolene is not a $40,000 electric car, not if you're a person of limited means.

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, July 22, 2022 8:38 PM

Flintlock76
Get a horse?  Imagine the pollution problem if the 90+ million cars on the road were 90+ million horses. Your turn.

My first response is ...NEIGH....

But seriously, I am 86 and living in a senior community and driving a 2008 GMC Envoy that has 58k miles on it. I am doubting whether I will ever buy a new car again. Driving less than a 1000 miles a year now. It is four wheel drive but lacks all the new safety tech (lane avoidance, back up camera, etc.) that I would like. 

Also, I would have to have a charging station installed on our campus just for me. Not going to happen.

But I can dream...

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, July 22, 2022 9:15 PM

Flintlock76
...

By the way, the answer to $4.00+ a gallon gasolene is not a $40,000 electric car, not if you're a person of limited means.

Locally, in the past 6 or so weeks price has gone from $5.01 for Regular down to a observed $4.19 today.  How low it will go, remains to be seen.

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Posted by Gramp on Friday, July 22, 2022 11:20 PM

Backshop

Right now, my wife and I have two Subarus, which both get 30+mpg.  I can see us getting a hybrid in the future. Right now, I don't see an electic vehicle being in our future since we do a lot of road trips.

 

Outbacks or Legacys? Our Camry Hybrid is coming to end of lease. Neither Subaru nor Toyota dealers here have any new cars on their lots. I lucked out to reserve a Venza that's due in in six weeks. Everything else is six months or more out. The only thing I don't like about our Outback is the slow response screen. Camry's been good with mpg in the 40's.

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Posted by azrail on Saturday, July 23, 2022 1:36 AM

BaltACD

 

 Winter is coming..both here and in Europe. Expect oil prices to go up again, especially without Russian oil supplies to Europe.
Flintlock76
...

By the way, the answer to $4.00+ a gallon gasolene is not a $40,000 electric car, not if you're a person of limited means.

 

Locally, in the past 6 or so weeks price has gone from $5.01 for Regular down to a observed $4.19 today.  How low it will go, remains to be seen.

 

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Posted by azrail on Saturday, July 23, 2022 1:40 AM

And what about farm equipment, construction equipment, trucks, Diesel locomotives, ships, aircraft...there are little or no electric alternatives for those.

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Posted by azrail on Saturday, July 23, 2022 1:56 AM

 "Trucking companies will have to raise their driver pay too.  These pay raises for truckers and railroaders will have to be paid for by the shipping revenue."

There will always be an independent truck driver that will do it for less...especially immigrants-look at some of the names on the trucks.

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Posted by Backshop on Saturday, July 23, 2022 7:20 AM

Gramp

Outbacks or Legacys? 

Outback and Impreza.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Saturday, July 23, 2022 12:07 PM

Backshop

Right now, my wife and I have two Subarus, which both get 30+mpg.  I can see us getting a hybrid in the future. Right now, I don't see an electic vehicle being in our future since we do a lot of road trips.

 

The ranges are increasing dramatically.  Even so, if you have two cars, replace one with a cheaper EV, use other for long trips if you aren't adventurous.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Saturday, July 23, 2022 12:10 PM

Flintlock76

 

 
charlie hebdo

110 years ago:

Where's all the gasoline going to come from?

How about service stations?

How to dispose of those horseless buggies when they wear out? All that steel!!

How to pay for roads?

What to do with all those worn out tires?

Better get a horse, sonny,!!

 

 

 

 

1.  Gasolene was a waste byproduct  of oil being refined into kerosene.  No-one knew what to do with it until the gasolene engine came along other than to use it as a solvent.

2.  110 years ago?  That's 1912. There were thousands of automobiles on the road by that time and filling stations had been established.  If you couldn't get it at a filling station you could get it at the general store.

3.  How to dispose of all those horseless buggys?  Easy.  They melted 'em down into more horseless buggys.  Or during the 1940's they made tanks, ships, artillery, and other things useful at the time.

3.  How to pay for roads?  At first, drivers licences.  Later, gas taxes.  Later, tolls. Later, run screaming to Uncle Sugar.  Just like a lot of people do now anyway for other things, like high-speed rail.

4.  Worn out tires?  We've still got the problem.  And we'll still have it. 

Get a horse?  Imagine the pollution problem if the 90+ million cars on the road were 90+ million horses.

Your turn.

By the way, the answer to $4.00+ a gallon gasolene is not a $40,000 electric car, not if you're a person of limited means.

 

I guess the sarcastic spoof was lost on you.  I should have put a sign at front:

 Achtung!  Sarkasmus voraus!!

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, July 23, 2022 12:53 PM

charlie hebdo
 Achtung!  Sarkasmus voraus!!

Try "Achtung!  Minen!"  THAT I'll get!  Wink

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Posted by Backshop on Saturday, July 23, 2022 3:48 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
Backshop

Right now, my wife and I have two Subarus, which both get 30+mpg.  I can see us getting a hybrid in the future. Right now, I don't see an electic vehicle being in our future since we do a lot of road trips.

 

 

 

The ranges are increasing dramatically.  Even so, if you have two cars, replace one with a cheaper EV, use other for long trips if you aren't adventurous.

 

They're each 2.5 years old and have 20K on them.  They won't be going anywhere for quite awhile.

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Posted by Gramp on Saturday, July 23, 2022 4:29 PM

A Ford mechanic I've had as a client detailed me on what they've had to do to be able to service electric Mustangs at the dealership. An example of the cost and complexity, they're required to wear hazmat suits to work on the cars. What fools we mortals be. 

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Posted by Euclid on Saturday, July 23, 2022 5:02 PM

test cannot paste. gives 403 forbidden error all day.

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, July 23, 2022 5:31 PM

https://www.trains.com

 

works here? 

 

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

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Saturday, July 23, 2022 7:47 PM

   Concerning lack of charging stations:  You guys are missing out on starting a new enterprise: little trailers with generators that you can pull with your electric cars when on long trips.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Saturday, July 23, 2022 7:53 PM

   Does anybody remember the original subject of this thread?

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, July 23, 2022 10:11 PM

Paul of Covington
   Does anybody remember the original subject of this thread?

Top levels of management, in their mind, still think they can get as many employees as the need anytime they want them at somewhere near the lowest possible labor price.  Reality bites.

The Board Room think the ONLY parties they have to satisfy is the shareholders, employees be damned.  Reality bites.

That is PSR.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Sunday, July 24, 2022 9:57 AM

BaltACD
The Board Room think the ONLY parties they have to satisfy is the shareholders, employees be damned.  Reality bites. 

That situation applies to a lot of other businesses besides railroads.  It seems to be fallout from the leveraged buyout binge of the 1980's.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, July 24, 2022 11:31 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH
 
BaltACD
The Board Room think the ONLY parties they have to satisfy is the shareholders, employees be damned.  Reality bites.  

That situation applies to a lot of other businesses besides railroads.  It seems to be fallout from the leveraged buyout binge of the 1980's.

Bean counters only concern themselves with beans - norhing but beans matter.

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Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 2:04 PM

azrail

And what about farm equipment, construction equipment, trucks, Diesel locomotives, ships, aircraft...there are little or no electric alternatives for those.

 

 
No alternative to diesel locomotives? Really? How about all those European railroads running on electricity - or the lines on the east coast of the USA? Perhaps if the US had electrified a century ago like the rest of the world, we'd be using a lot less petroleum now.
 
Besides, the point isn't to go 100% electric tomorrow. Maybe construction equipment and farm tractors will remain petroleum powered for a while (although both were originally run by steam - 'steamrollers', 'steam shovels' etc.)  
 
People who can afford electric vehicles now and buy them are helping now. As prices go down relative to incomes, the electric cars will become more affordable...just like before the Model T, automobiles were limited to the rich or at least upper middle class. Then mass production brought prices down, so most everyone could afford them. 
Stix
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Posted by Backshop on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 3:27 PM

The same people pushing for EVs are also the ones saying fossil fuels are bad.  Coal and oil was one thing but now they don't even like natural gas.  They better put up a wind turbine in their backyard and solar panels on their roof or they're going to be SOL.

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