Railroad Crew Transport Vehicles

[Anonymous]

How did the vehicles used to transport railroad come to be called "limos"? And how many different companies perform this service?

[Anonymous]

Railroads contract with taxi/limo companies to transport operating crews.

[eolafan]

DEFINIATION OF THE WORD LIMOUSINE CONTAINS "MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVEN BY CHAUFER AND SEPERATED FROM PASSENGERS.

[Anonymous]

The term "limo" is a bit tongue-in-cheek. Usually these contractors use minivans and some use larger SUV types. In some cases, at some locations railroads still haul crews in company vehicles. Contractors do over-the-road crew transport or, at terminals, a dedicated van and driver There are several large crew hauling contractors scattered about the conuntry and railroads try to spread the business in order not to become too dependant on one contractor. In smaller volume locations, crew haulers will not bid on the business, because it is not profitable for them to place a vehicle and driver(s) for the number of trips required. In those cases, local taxi companies are used. All crew haulers are subject to contract requirements regarding safety, reliability, cleanliness of personnel and vehicles. These haulers will generally hire ex-railroad employees as drivers from retired or furloughed lists. These people already know the territories and, with the aid of a carrier channel on their own radios, can readily locate a train and get a relieving crew there and bring the outlawed crew back to the terminal. Needless to say, this is not a perfect system. Drivers are not always the best quality of employee and are not paid very highly. An over- the-road driver will make a percentage of the total fare which provides an incentive to cheat. All that negative being said, most drivers are safe, honest and reliable and the vehicles are adequate, although maybe not as clean as you'd keep your own car. They crank up a lot of miles quickly and have to go to some raggedy places.
Fares from locations are established in the service contract and provide for one-way, roundtrip, empty returns or triangular trip costs. Railroad service contract personnel, local operating supervisors and others try to keep a close eye on the haulers to ensure their compliance with the contract. Any crew member seeing a hauler do something unsafe, or if a van is filthy should report it. Different railroads enforce these conditions with varying degrees of diligence. But there are not a whole lot of crew haulers, so there's not a lot to choose from. Apparently you gotta love the business!
Crew haulers bill the railroads once or twice a month and each trip is verified through the dispatcher and has to be approved as legitimate before payment is made. It is the responsibility of the crew hauler to issue correct billing. Crew haulers sometimes haul for several railroads in one location. Some even haul for companies such as airlines at locations where they haul for railroads.
This has been a long answer to your question, but I hope it has given you a slight insight to this operation. gdc

[eolafan]

gdc, very nice reply.

[Anonymous]

Anybody got change for a nickle? 'cause heres my two-cents worth. When I was a youngster in Battle Creek MI, hanging around the Grand Trunk Western, the road crews were transported everywhere in company owned Chevy Suburbans, and later, in Ford vans. I'd hardly call these beaters "Limos", I suppose these days with "down-sizing", the RR contracts out these services to private companies.
I agree, that the term "Limo", was a reference made in humor. I recall, that around 1980, or so, an Amtrak conductor whom I had known for years, was retiring. Battle Creek was the crew-change point for the Toronto train. On his last run, a bunch of the fellows chipped in on a stretch-limo,
to pick him up at the depot and whisk him off to an impromptu "retirement party" at the local watering hole. The ride was only a few blocks, but the drinks flowed until well after normal closing time.
Todd C.