Remote Control Rail-Roading?

[Anonymous]

Managers are resented,and their lack of presence does wonders for morale.Good managers are heaven-sent..the rest spend the majority of their working hours justifying their existence.Here's what I want from my manager:Provide me the necessary resources and get out of my way...and sight.

[Anonymous]

I can remember when the yard I work in had a superintendent, an assistant superintendent and one trainmaster. Then on each shift in a two hump yard there were five yardmasters. Now there are a superintendent and a assistant superintendent. On each shift in what is now a one hump yard there are two trainmasters and three yardmasters. We run five switch engines a shift and have five supervisors on every shift except days when we have seven supervisors. In my humble opinion it ran better with fewer bosses.

[Anonymous]

Our operation runs much better when the "dead weight" isn't around.Coincidence...I think not.Here's a novel approach:promote individuals based on their behavioral competence firstly,and technical competence secondly.Here's how it works now:When the boss makes deragotory remarks about another,laugh..and laugh a lot.Those who laugh the loudest and with the greatest frequency get promoted.

[wabash1]

this is the only industry that by far we have to many chiefs and not enough indians. and if they would fire about 75% of all trainmasters and road formans the railroads would just about run by themselves. but i guess we need someone hiding in the weeds watching and waiting. i love to see then place a banner in front of a rco. who they going to fire then...

[Anonymous]

On the BNSF they seem to leave a token engineer on every shift to dogcatch or move engines that the yardmaster had parked in the wrong place as well as pick up the slack the RCOs leave. Also the switchman don't get lonely. Except you would be surprised how many of them now say boy is it nice to have an engineer for a change.

[Anonymous]

You go Terry. Tell it like it is! You forgot to mention building the Z-DENKCM train with about 5000-7000 tons of Coors beer.I like you hope no one gets hurt or loses their job on account of a mishap using theses RCL's.We all know its a foregone conclusion that any accident will be the crew's fault.By the way I found a site that I think you'll like.Its www.thetrainforum.com Don't forget the,the,in the adress,if you do you'll get another site that doesn't compare.This site is run and operated by BN employees.It gives one a chance to voice our opinions to fellow employees,including manangment who also post on this site.Non-censored tell it like it is, which I know you LOVE to do.lol By the way who is our favorite switchman going to argue with once the RCL's become a reality? Keith

[Anonymous]

Good on you for waking up, man. I too was a pup RFE, and even at that young age I felt I couldn't do it because I liked people too much. 30 years later I never looked back. Taking peoples' jobs for sport and conversation around a coffee pot, accusing good people of not being perfect at 3 AM, never mind my own shortcomings, just wasn't for me. I think my parents would be proud!

[Anonymous]

It's a pathetic plight.They think they must employ the "two-faced"role to be effective.I guess that's why they are managers-not very astute or intelligent.And that is why many refuse the position/function-they know it's a lose/lose proposition.When I was "union", I acted and performed my job differently than I did when I was in management.When I made the transition from "union" to "Management", I told those I supervised that my role had changed and that I had to function in a way that would alienate many,if not all.I had no choice.I had a job,and I wasn't going to fail.Losing long time friends was a consequence I was prepared to endure.I didn't employ the "two-faced",stone-age technique like many of my peers.People knew where I stood.I tapped out of management-got tired of answering for incompetence up the line.Now I'm back in the rank and file,savoring every moment as I watch the managers try to figure out why their scheems don't come to fruition.

[Anonymous]

I love that management guy! More productivity for what? So Matt and the boys can buy/lease another Gulfstream 4! Here in Denver, we have a trainmaster we call Doogie Houser, but he tells everyone how to do their jobs, probably calls points blades, and they all love RCO. You gota love the phonies, though, who tell you to your face what a bummer RCO is, then get on the conference call to Ft Worth and and go GREAT IDEA, you go guys. I love the attitude that we're train tra***o these guys. I finally finished my MBA in network management, which makes me better educated than any manager around here, and love to let them know that. My job is one in the yard on the 1% grade being eliminated. We typically handle newsprint (20 loads), 40 cement loads, etc. For some reason, I like my switchmen and really hope they can stay safe and out of trouble. Take care guys!!

[Anonymous]

Tell 'em J.They can cram all they want,but people can make almost any initiative fail if they are so inclined.Occasionaly,something is developed or structured where the reluctant behavior of the individual/group is negligible or inconsequential.That is rare however because it requires an immense understanding of the dynamics of a particular issue/problem and the accompanying
objections and concerns.Managers rarely have their finger on the pulse because it isn't detectable...by design of course.

[wabash1]

in reading these post. it seems we have the truck minded people on here and they cant handle what they got now with a turn over rate industry wide of 70% i dont think the trucks will hurt us. and if frieght does go by interstate all the railroad does is cut the rate and its back on the rail. ok the next thing is managment minded people on here are trying to tell us they are not the enemy. well they are and will always be. the rco dont bother me couse if i lose my job as engineer ill bump the guys running the rco senority does have its advantage. railroads dont care about productivity they want the bottom line to show profit. regardless of cost.as far as over the road goes. not likely soon. as it only takes a few commercials and a few mailings to stop a no crew train from happening. if you dont believe me in 1995 the trucking industry wanted longer heavier trucks and triples, the AAA people along with a few comercial from the ata stopped it cold.

[Anonymous]

Just checked my mail and yes recieved the news flash from the BLE.A very sad day indeed.
The very same day that this accident occured a offical from carnac, makers of these RCL's, said in a interview that they hope to expand this technolgy to over the road operations.

[Anonymous]

I recently read an article by Bill Stephens on the safety of RCO operation. Neither Bill or the UTU mentioned that the death of a rail worker in Cleveland on August 8, 2002 happened while he was switching using RCO technolgy.

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=3621

[Anonymous]

The purpose of repeating phrases is not to desensitize anyone, but to keep safety in the forefront. While neither of us are a 26 year old neophyte, I care as much for the employees and the railroad now as then, just more experience. If we had not embraced technology and work rules changes there would be a lot more rails to trails and wouldn't that have been sad? I'm glad that you do not think of any fellow railroader as the enemy, because we're not. The real competition roars up and down the interstate. It is a shame that closed minds have prevented some truly good railroaders from part of the up-through-the-ranks management. You have a nice, safe day too, sir

[Anonymous]

Brakie, I knew your just trying to lighten things up a little and thats fine with me,but RCL's are here and the RRs are bound and determined to make them work.You do realize that brakemen are a thing from the the past.Oh once in a blue moon one is called to assist the conductor when the company gives in and decides he needs the extra help.One might be found on the locals here and there,but on through frieght he's a thing of the past.Well the same thing is now happining to the yard engineer.If this big experiment works you'll only find a engineer on the industry yard jobs that involve leaving the yards and the rare job where a RCL just won't work.The next step is the conductor on through frieght.Don't think so sports fans?Well the hand writting is already on the walls.When the technology advances enough the road engineer will be a thing from the past also.Oh well.Progress! Now its time to hear all about the fireman and how he was nothing but a feather bedder from all the fans who think they know about RR operations.But thats ok,get it out of your system.Sooner than you think there won't be any of us around anymore to poke fun at and show us jow smart you are.Wave at the engineer while you can because some day he'll be just like the caboose,a dinosaur from the past.Danm the social issues.Forget about how we contribute to the enconomy.Think its a small matter?I've seen small towns dry up on account the RR's decided to lengthen runs and bypass them.But thats progress!Damn the torpedoes full speed ahead.Good blue collar jobs are going to be a thing from the past.Not just in this industry but nation wide.But thats ok also.Progress! Get out of its way or it will run you down,just like the train that has no one on it.Ask yourselfs while going by one of those abandoned steel mills in the rust belt where all the workers have gone and wonder what their doing now.Or the auto workers.Where those loss of jobs have killed entire cities.Think hard.Because someday it might be you.
I'm gald I only have 10yrs to go with my RR career.I should be able to survive that long.One thing that hasn't survived is the romance I once had for railraoding.

[Saxman]

I am glad to see that somebody else has observed that the CN is not (presently) adopting remote control on their U.S. properties. I brought this up in an earlier post. Again the question has to be asked: Why is CN, who has been a pioneer in remote control operations and extols its virtues, NOT progressing with this technology in the U.S.?

Inquiring minds want to know.

TLH

[Anonymous]

You do realize that the CN owns Canac the leading manufacturer of RCO equipment. It is the CNs vested interest to put the best light on the RCOs as they can, if that means cover up than so be it. This link is to a accident report for an accident in Winnipeg on the CN in 1995 that was too big to coverup.

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/reports/rail/1995/er95w0291.html

This accident involved not one but two RCOs. Also the IC and the Soo Line are owned by the CN. Guess what, there are no RCOs on these railroads. Maybe the CN has learned something.

[Anonymous]

You have to wonder about the number of crashes that happened in the last you months with RCOs, especially considering the low number of these locomotives actually in operation. Management always says, well it could have happened with an engineer on board. The truth is switching procedures have changed with the use of RCOs. When an engineer was running the locomotive a switchman would often stay at a switch and let the movenent pass him to set a cut of cars over and send them back to the other switchman. This was fine the engineer protected the movement. Now with managements blessing switchmen still set 10 or 15 cars over in this manner with no one out in front. I'm not talking about into a RCO no protect zone or down a clear track, I am talking about pulling up a lead filled with switches. Is it any wonder that when they look one or two football field lengths up the lead that a misaligned switch is missed and a crash occurs. Why do they have managements blessing? It is not hard to see that getting as much work done with no engineer is extremely hard at best, so any shortcuts are condoned in the name of productivity.

[BRAKIE]

You know you have to watch those careless "hogs",they just "Root" with out watching where they are going.

[Anonymous]

After reading through all these postings, I can't help but throw a can of kerosene on the fire. With management-employee relations like these, why do any of you need enemies? C'mon guys, the other side isn't the Taliban fer crying out loud. I don't work for a railroad, so I have no firsthand experience, but isn't there any middle ground here somewhere. One side claims that RC is the greatest thing since sliced bread and the other side is convinced that it is the work of the devil. What is the difference between the experience of the CN and the experiences so far on US Class 1's? Is it insufficient training, insufficient experience, old junk, unreliability or what? Here's a novel approach: why not work to solve the problem(s) instead of adopting such an adversarial and confrontational relationship. Wait, that's just naive. Silly idea, never mind. You guys just keep doing what you're doing and just keep watching that freight move from what is perceived as slow, unreliable rail "service" to trucks. Labor, just keep on with that good reactionary approach to technology and change. Management, just keep on worrying about counting your beans and don't worry that you're treating your employees like crap. And yep, one of you will have the last laugh all right.

[Anonymous]

Been union,been management and "union" has been much more fun.If they only knew how deep and hard we insert.Sure,they laugh and make deraggatory remarks about a perceived lack of education or questionable origins,but we laugh too...and with great frequency.If you stopped treating people so poorly and treated them more like friends and neighboors,the productivity increases would make their heads spin.But that makes too much sense.And sense has no place in the business environment.Never wonder why equipment fails,quotas/schedules are not met,things disappear,people don't show for work etc..it's us,and we are speaking..I believe someone need their ears examined.And yes,you'll have the last laugh(just keep repeating that mantra to yourself...real slow)

[Anonymous]

Accidents happening in this country are almost a daily event and are being attributed to human error.But wait that can't be as you state the only kind of human error is the result of a "hogs" mistake.

[Anonymous]

You are so correct about our 'exempt's' being bogged down with rediculous paper work review. Our road-conductors now fill out 'signal-awareness forms' for each signal, what time by each signal, speed by signal, any and all track notices encountered etc. etc.. Then there are the piles of 'delay reports'. What a joke! If a yard like ours in Seattle has only R.C. operations and a road-crew on 'short-time' goes 'dead', things really get out of control. There is no 'dog-catching' with R.C.. So everyone waits 2-3 hrs. for a engineer to show up for 1 hr. of work. Wow, I love this place...Hommie

[Anonymous]

You don't think a hog ever ran anyone over when they were checking switches? The vast majority of railway accidents are human error. The remotes are a pain in the ***, but they work. We have used them for 10 years now and somedays I am wish I had a beltpak instead of a hog, depending on the hog. The older guys don't repeat instructions,or car lenghts. When I have the beltpak the engine doesn't move unless I make it!The remote isn't perfect but the ones you are getting in the US now are far better than the ones we started with, they are lighter and have more functions and respond better. Give them timeand you will like them unless you are a hog.

[Anonymous]

I'm new to this webforum stuff, But I do have a thought on remote operations. We here all sorts of figures on reduced accident rates, I wonder what the productivity rates are? I mean, if you go from switching tw0 hundred cars per shift and one accident per week to two cars per shift and one accident per quarter, something just doesn't seem right. But what do I know, I've only been switching for 30 years?

[Anonymous]

Sir,During my 26yrs of RRing have only had one P.I.Piece of brake shoe flake lodged in my eye.Safety is very important during the execution of railroad work.Safety isn't about catch all phrases and safety slogans.Its about living and doing.I don't think of managment as my enemy, their just doing the job their paid to do like myself.Use to be that supervisors came up from the ranks hopefully gaining experience and knowledge along the way.But alas not that way anymore.I do take offense when some twenty something college educated neophyte tells me how to do my job especially when he's way off base.Now I'm not saying your one of those types,but good front line supervisors are few and far between anymore.When something is repeated over and over again one becomes numb to what is being said.Have a nice day.

[Jackflash]

Believe me, not everyone in management is
FOR remote control locomotives!!!

[BRAKIE]

Speaking as a former brakeman,the very thought of R/C locomotives scares the living daylights out of me.I have looked into this and fail to see how it can be safe to work a yard with.Thank God I don't have to work with that accident waiting to happen.How many bloody ties will it take before this thing is done away with?
Gentleman,Railroading has always be a dangerous job,we all know that to be true.Back in the early days a brakeman's life expectancy was 6 months before he meet his death or injury of losing a arm or leg.Are we returning to those days for the almighty bottom line? God forbid.

[Anonymous]

I beg to differ, management is the problem not the solution. Management in the old days knew what was going on because they went out into the field. Today they sit in their office and read reams of stats supplied by computers till they think they know what is going on. Litle do they know that the people entering in the data often put in lies to make themselves look better. Check the switch BLADES