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[Anonymous]

Has anyone noticed that Kevin is M I A again. I haven't seen him on the forums in days. [:(] I sure hope pol-E bear didn't eat him.

[Anonymous]

Wow Ed, very informative. Thank You. [:)]

You covered the topic very well. Now speaking of coverage ... oh never mind. [;)]

[Anonymous]

Wow Ed, very informative. Thank You. [:)]

You covered the topic very well. Now speaking of coverage ... oh never mind. [;)]

[edblysard]

Ok,
we will start with my buddy who got the acid bath, because all railroads will do this if they can.
Number one goal of the carrier is to NOT have to report any personal injury to the FRA, it goes in the records, and all railroads compete for the Harriman award, a safety award that carries a measure of prestige, along with a little million dollar award.
Plus their insurance rates take into account all injuries, and set the rates accordingly.
So, what the PTRA did is pay for his trip to the emergency room, his clothes, boots, any follow up medical treatment, and sent him home for a while, with pay.
Because there are no offical "lost" work days, (remember, he is still on the payroll) they dont have to report it to the FRA.
Once the company doctor releases him to go to work, even though he hasnt
officaly 'missed" any days, our claim agent will offer him a cash settlement for his injury.
If he accepts, then he will sign a waiver releasing the carrier from any futher legal liability, and promise to keep his mouth shut.
If he drops dead ten minutes after signing it, oh well, too sad.
After he accepts, the carrier will then report it as a injury, but with no lost days, and show him treated and released on the same day, which dosnt count against our safety record.
If he dosnt accept it, and sues, he will lose his job, or if he still keeps his job, he will be hounded and harrassed till he quits or accepts the carriers offer.
Sneaky?
You bet, but thats railroading.

As for damaged goods from derailments, once the carriers insurance agent has paided the shippers for their porduct, it becomes the property of the insurance company, they dispose of it at will.
For us, salvage and resale of the products we carry is kinda hard, its mostly petrochemical products, plastics, grains, coke, steel, things of that nature, we rarely get any general freight, other than a boxcar of bricks everyonce in a while.
We do handle autos, Volkswagons and Volvos, but I doubt they would resell them once they were in a railroad accident.

Heres a little history of the PTRA.
Founded in 1924, it is a netural terminal road, serving the Houston ship channel petrochemical industry, the Houston City docks, and most industries along the north and south shore of the ship channel.
The land the railroad sits on is owned by the Harris County Navagation district, who manage the ship channel, and all the bayous, bridges and rivers in Harris county.
The rail, locomotives and buildings, and all the physical property is owned by the Port Authority of Houston.
Both the Port Authority and Navagation District are public interest enties, or in essence, the citizens of Harris county and Houston own them.
We offer a netural terminal services and switching services to our member lines, which means we dont favor any one over another.
Due to the limited amount of space, it would be impossible for all of these railroads to build tracks into the ship channel area, you have 450 industries and refineries jamed along the banks of a 90 mile long channel, surrounded by suburbs and cities.
So there is one railroad along the channel, the PTRA, Port Terminal Railroad Assocation.
This allows industires to pick and chose who they ship with from our member lines, with no preference for one or another.
We pull and spot the industires, and then interchange the cars with our member lines at two of our major yards, North yard, and Pasadena yard.
This relieves the members of having to worry about how and when their customers are served, all they have to do is deliver the cars to us, we do the rest.

To give you a picture of the volume we do, today in North Yard alone, we took in 1100 cars to take to the customers, and sent out on BNSF, UP and Tex Mex 1500 outbounds.
Thats 2600 cars in one day, on a slow holiday weekend in one yard.

Our operating budget come from our member lines, the Navagation district and the Port Authority, or the taxpayers of Harris county.
Because we are a terminal road, and a class 3 railroad, our expenses are less than a class one, which allows us to charge less than the class ones for services, but we do make a profit, which retires our operating budget, and still leaves enough leftover to pay very nice bonuses to the officers.

For upper management, we have a superintendent, who reports to a President, who is also the CEO.
These two make the day to day and long range decisions of our operations.
Both of them report to the board of directors, which made up of a person from each of our member lines, BNSF, UP and the TexMex, the Harris County Navagation District, the Port Authority of Houston, and a representive from the City of Houston, and the Harris County Commissioners Court, the goverment of Harris county and the PetroChemical manufactors Assocaton of Harris County, a trade group.
These heavy hitters make the long, long range decisions on operations.
No member of our labor union particpates in these meetings, and labor is not represented at all.
Go figure!

Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Ok,
we will start with my buddy who got the acid bath, because all railroads will do this if they can.
Number one goal of the carrier is to NOT have to report any personal injury to the FRA, it goes in the records, and all railroads compete for the Harriman award, a safety award that carries a measure of prestige, along with a little million dollar award.
Plus their insurance rates take into account all injuries, and set the rates accordingly.
So, what the PTRA did is pay for his trip to the emergency room, his clothes, boots, any follow up medical treatment, and sent him home for a while, with pay.
Because there are no offical "lost" work days, (remember, he is still on the payroll) they dont have to report it to the FRA.
Once the company doctor releases him to go to work, even though he hasnt
officaly 'missed" any days, our claim agent will offer him a cash settlement for his injury.
If he accepts, then he will sign a waiver releasing the carrier from any futher legal liability, and promise to keep his mouth shut.
If he drops dead ten minutes after signing it, oh well, too sad.
After he accepts, the carrier will then report it as a injury, but with no lost days, and show him treated and released on the same day, which dosnt count against our safety record.
If he dosnt accept it, and sues, he will lose his job, or if he still keeps his job, he will be hounded and harrassed till he quits or accepts the carriers offer.
Sneaky?
You bet, but thats railroading.

As for damaged goods from derailments, once the carriers insurance agent has paided the shippers for their porduct, it becomes the property of the insurance company, they dispose of it at will.
For us, salvage and resale of the products we carry is kinda hard, its mostly petrochemical products, plastics, grains, coke, steel, things of that nature, we rarely get any general freight, other than a boxcar of bricks everyonce in a while.
We do handle autos, Volkswagons and Volvos, but I doubt they would resell them once they were in a railroad accident.

Heres a little history of the PTRA.
Founded in 1924, it is a netural terminal road, serving the Houston ship channel petrochemical industry, the Houston City docks, and most industries along the north and south shore of the ship channel.
The land the railroad sits on is owned by the Harris County Navagation district, who manage the ship channel, and all the bayous, bridges and rivers in Harris county.
The rail, locomotives and buildings, and all the physical property is owned by the Port Authority of Houston.
Both the Port Authority and Navagation District are public interest enties, or in essence, the citizens of Harris county and Houston own them.
We offer a netural terminal services and switching services to our member lines, which means we dont favor any one over another.
Due to the limited amount of space, it would be impossible for all of these railroads to build tracks into the ship channel area, you have 450 industries and refineries jamed along the banks of a 90 mile long channel, surrounded by suburbs and cities.
So there is one railroad along the channel, the PTRA, Port Terminal Railroad Assocation.
This allows industires to pick and chose who they ship with from our member lines, with no preference for one or another.
We pull and spot the industires, and then interchange the cars with our member lines at two of our major yards, North yard, and Pasadena yard.
This relieves the members of having to worry about how and when their customers are served, all they have to do is deliver the cars to us, we do the rest.

To give you a picture of the volume we do, today in North Yard alone, we took in 1100 cars to take to the customers, and sent out on BNSF, UP and Tex Mex 1500 outbounds.
Thats 2600 cars in one day, on a slow holiday weekend in one yard.

Our operating budget come from our member lines, the Navagation district and the Port Authority, or the taxpayers of Harris county.
Because we are a terminal road, and a class 3 railroad, our expenses are less than a class one, which allows us to charge less than the class ones for services, but we do make a profit, which retires our operating budget, and still leaves enough leftover to pay very nice bonuses to the officers.

For upper management, we have a superintendent, who reports to a President, who is also the CEO.
These two make the day to day and long range decisions of our operations.
Both of them report to the board of directors, which made up of a person from each of our member lines, BNSF, UP and the TexMex, the Harris County Navagation District, the Port Authority of Houston, and a representive from the City of Houston, and the Harris County Commissioners Court, the goverment of Harris county and the PetroChemical manufactors Assocaton of Harris County, a trade group.
These heavy hitters make the long, long range decisions on operations.
No member of our labor union particpates in these meetings, and labor is not represented at all.
Go figure!

Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

OOOOOHHHHHHHH NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO [:0] [:0] [:0]

This thread seems to be waning again. [|)] Think we might wax it a little. [;)]

HHHHHHmmmmmmmmmm

I guess I will have to wax it myself.

So here goes. Ed, this isn't the stupid question thread, but since this accident is posted in this thread I will ask a question here. Years ago I heard the statement that the railroads were self-insured. One year mother (who retired from Frisco with 36 years service) bought a very nice charcoal grill from the railroad. It was of course salvalged. She stated that a train had derailed and the railroad was selling the grills. The one we received was still in the carton and had no damage. It gave us many years of fine service. Things might or might not be the same now. I don't know. Things might be different with a terminal railroad verses a long haul class 1, there again, I don't know. So even though I am posting this question in other than the stupid question thread I believe our crowd will still see it. Talk, please, about the railroad's insurance in reference to their locos and boxcars, etc., and about your friend who had the acid accident. Do the railroad's carry workman's comp insurance? Do they foot the bill themself and have no insurance? The locos are financed correct. If so the holding company or trust or whoever holds the note would require insurance. I was sorry to hear about his accident. It does, however, fuel these questions. Once again, this is not intended as a test. None of my question will ever be so.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

OOOOOHHHHHHHH NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO [:0] [:0] [:0]

This thread seems to be waning again. [|)] Think we might wax it a little. [;)]

HHHHHHmmmmmmmmmm

I guess I will have to wax it myself.

So here goes. Ed, this isn't the stupid question thread, but since this accident is posted in this thread I will ask a question here. Years ago I heard the statement that the railroads were self-insured. One year mother (who retired from Frisco with 36 years service) bought a very nice charcoal grill from the railroad. It was of course salvalged. She stated that a train had derailed and the railroad was selling the grills. The one we received was still in the carton and had no damage. It gave us many years of fine service. Things might or might not be the same now. I don't know. Things might be different with a terminal railroad verses a long haul class 1, there again, I don't know. So even though I am posting this question in other than the stupid question thread I believe our crowd will still see it. Talk, please, about the railroad's insurance in reference to their locos and boxcars, etc., and about your friend who had the acid accident. Do the railroad's carry workman's comp insurance? Do they foot the bill themself and have no insurance? The locos are financed correct. If so the holding company or trust or whoever holds the note would require insurance. I was sorry to hear about his accident. It does, however, fuel these questions. Once again, this is not intended as a test. None of my question will ever be so.

[Anonymous]

OOOOOHHHHHHHH NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO [:0] [:0] [:0]

This thread seems to be waning again. [|)] Think we might wax it a little. [;)]

[Anonymous]

OOOOOHHHHHHHH NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO [:0] [:0] [:0]

This thread seems to be waning again. [|)] Think we might wax it a little. [;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

He is going to be ok, well, except his hair, thats a really odd color, kinda coppery green tint...
He gets a week off with pay out of it.
Hard way to get a weeks vacation!
Mookie, your welcome to come on down anytime, with the way things have been going, we may just need your help.
Ten days and counting, and I get my regular engineer back!!
Stay Frosty,
Ed

Coppery green tink hummmmmmm so that is what the punks call it. The only ones around here who "color" their hair need to be in juvy (and throw away the key).
I didn't say that--you all know--the devil made me do it. [}:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

He is going to be ok, well, except his hair, thats a really odd color, kinda coppery green tint...
He gets a week off with pay out of it.
Hard way to get a weeks vacation!
Mookie, your welcome to come on down anytime, with the way things have been going, we may just need your help.
Ten days and counting, and I get my regular engineer back!!
Stay Frosty,
Ed

Coppery green tink hummmmmmm so that is what the punks call it. The only ones around here who "color" their hair need to be in juvy (and throw away the key).
I didn't say that--you all know--the devil made me do it. [}:)]

[Anonymous]

I Karamba

sounds like that burned!

I usually jsut ask for a week off and get it! i don't have to burn myself, or throw myself of a bridge or douce myself in benzine and light 'er up.

But i hope he's doing better...
Ed for a laugh.. tell him i'm dying my hair the same colour as his is.

[Anonymous]

I Karamba

sounds like that burned!

I usually jsut ask for a week off and get it! i don't have to burn myself, or throw myself of a bridge or douce myself in benzine and light 'er up.

But i hope he's doing better...
Ed for a laugh.. tell him i'm dying my hair the same colour as his is.

[edblysard]

He is going to be ok, well, except his hair, thats a really odd color, kinda coppery green tint...
He gets a week off with pay out of it.
Hard way to get a weeks vacation!
Mookie, your welcome to come on down anytime, with the way things have been going, we may just need your help.
Ten days and counting, and I get my regular engineer back!!
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

He is going to be ok, well, except his hair, thats a really odd color, kinda coppery green tint...
He gets a week off with pay out of it.
Hard way to get a weeks vacation!
Mookie, your welcome to come on down anytime, with the way things have been going, we may just need your help.
Ten days and counting, and I get my regular engineer back!!
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Mookie]

Get the feeling some changes will take place? Hope he is ok - you are sure having your problems down there lately. From Syrup to peas to leaving things lying around on the tracks! Sounds like I should come down there and straighten things out - boy would I love to do just that. Just as soon as I get Hobson Yard all straight!

Jen

[Mookie]

Get the feeling some changes will take place? Hope he is ok - you are sure having your problems down there lately. From Syrup to peas to leaving things lying around on the tracks! Sounds like I should come down there and straighten things out - boy would I love to do just that. Just as soon as I get Hobson Yard all straight!

Jen

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Currently 95, with a heat index of 109.
Sure glad i have a afternoon job, because the sun goes down after a few hours, so we work half our shift in the cooler evening early night.
Had one of our switchmen get splashed with hydrogen peroxide from a tankcar that had been overfilled.
No, not the 3% soultion you buy at the drug store, the 100% solution shipped by rail, its a strong acid.
He did exactly what we are taught to do, he stripped down and ran to the emergency shower, and hit the lever.
Only problem was, the pipe that fed the shower is above ground, and the water was about 100 degrees or hotter.
Imagine a total body sunburn, thats what he ended up looking like.
Acid burn topped off by a good scalding bath.
Dont think he is going to get a good tan out of this.
Ed

Poor guy [:(] How bad is he burned? Is it too early to tell or will there be any pernament damage? I am sure everyone will agree with me, we wish him a speedy recovery. Ed, please keep us posted?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Currently 95, with a heat index of 109.
Sure glad i have a afternoon job, because the sun goes down after a few hours, so we work half our shift in the cooler evening early night.
Had one of our switchmen get splashed with hydrogen peroxide from a tankcar that had been overfilled.
No, not the 3% soultion you buy at the drug store, the 100% solution shipped by rail, its a strong acid.
He did exactly what we are taught to do, he stripped down and ran to the emergency shower, and hit the lever.
Only problem was, the pipe that fed the shower is above ground, and the water was about 100 degrees or hotter.
Imagine a total body sunburn, thats what he ended up looking like.
Acid burn topped off by a good scalding bath.
Dont think he is going to get a good tan out of this.
Ed

Poor guy [:(] How bad is he burned? Is it too early to tell or will there be any pernament damage? I am sure everyone will agree with me, we wish him a speedy recovery. Ed, please keep us posted?

[edblysard]

Currently 95, with a heat index of 109.
Sure glad i have a afternoon job, because the sun goes down after a few hours, so we work half our shift in the cooler evening early night.
Had one of our switchmen get splashed with hydrogen peroxide from a tankcar that had been overfilled.
No, not the 3% soultion you buy at the drug store, the 100% solution shipped by rail, its a strong acid.
He did exactly what we are taught to do, he stripped down and ran to the emergency shower, and hit the lever.
Only problem was, the pipe that fed the shower is above ground, and the water was about 100 degrees or hotter.
Imagine a total body sunburn, thats what he ended up looking like.
Acid burn topped off by a good scalding bath.
Dont think he is going to get a good tan out of this.
Ed

[edblysard]

Currently 95, with a heat index of 109.
Sure glad i have a afternoon job, because the sun goes down after a few hours, so we work half our shift in the cooler evening early night.
Had one of our switchmen get splashed with hydrogen peroxide from a tankcar that had been overfilled.
No, not the 3% soultion you buy at the drug store, the 100% solution shipped by rail, its a strong acid.
He did exactly what we are taught to do, he stripped down and ran to the emergency shower, and hit the lever.
Only problem was, the pipe that fed the shower is above ground, and the water was about 100 degrees or hotter.
Imagine a total body sunburn, thats what he ended up looking like.
Acid burn topped off by a good scalding bath.
Dont think he is going to get a good tan out of this.
Ed

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railpac

You guys better skip St. Louis, MO on a trip today, right now its 95 with a heat index of 105! And thats not even the worst of it, its supposed to get up to 101 with a heat index some where above 112![V][V] When it hits 100 I'm taking a bat to the thermometer[}:)] of course by then I might be stuck to my seat[^]

Give the weather 2 weeks and you won't see 95 + days anymore this year. (Hope I don't have to eat crow. Never developed a taste for it." [:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railpac

You guys better skip St. Louis, MO on a trip today, right now its 95 with a heat index of 105! And thats not even the worst of it, its supposed to get up to 101 with a heat index some where above 112![V][V] When it hits 100 I'm taking a bat to the thermometer[}:)] of course by then I might be stuck to my seat[^]

Give the weather 2 weeks and you won't see 95 + days anymore this year. (Hope I don't have to eat crow. Never developed a taste for it." [:D]

[Anonymous]

You guys better skip St. Louis, MO on a trip today, right now its 95 with a heat index of 105! And thats not even the worst of it, its supposed to get up to 101 with a heat index some where above 112![V][V] When it hits 100 I'm taking a bat to the thermometer[}:)] of course by then I might be stuck to my seat[^]

[Anonymous]

You guys better skip St. Louis, MO on a trip today, right now its 95 with a heat index of 105! And thats not even the worst of it, its supposed to get up to 101 with a heat index some where above 112![V][V] When it hits 100 I'm taking a bat to the thermometer[}:)] of course by then I might be stuck to my seat[^]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

[

I just read an article on AOL (yes, I really can read--Is gots me a 3rd gade edgycation). The article was on the new Farmers Almanac due out now. The "Almanac Forecast a Rough Winter", cold with plenty of snow. In the east, from February to early spring cold weather and snow, one storm after another. The same for the west--cold and snowy. The Southeast get lucky with a mild forecast. They claim their accuracy is 80 %. Oh well, we shall see.

Everyone remember, I asked for cooler not colder. Blame it on the polE bear. lol [;)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

[

I just read an article on AOL (yes, I really can read--Is gots me a 3rd gade edgycation). The article was on the new Farmers Almanac due out now. The "Almanac Forecast a Rough Winter", cold with plenty of snow. In the east, from February to early spring cold weather and snow, one storm after another. The same for the west--cold and snowy. The Southeast get lucky with a mild forecast. They claim their accuracy is 80 %. Oh well, we shall see.

Everyone remember, I asked for cooler not colder. Blame it on the polE bear. lol [;)]