the job is similar to the military as far as on call status and when you are told what to do and you dont do it they dont play around much. if you dont follow the rules anymore you get about 30 days off they dont play around. the job can be dangerous if you make it that way if you arent careful you could be killed very easily but if you pay attention and stay alert you could retire safely

 

I agree with the comment about it being a dangerous business ... got this email forwarded to me yesterday from my engineer buddy up in Tyler, Tx.




Brothers,

It is with a heavy heart that I bring news to you that one of our Engineers BLET Div 523 member Richard Pendarvis and UTU Conductor Larry Williams were killed in a crossing accident when their train colided with a propane truck. Brother Pendarvis was 52 years old and orignally hired on with Union Pacific in 1999. Brother Williams was 53 and hired on with Union Pacific in 2002.
Please keep the Pendarvis and Williams famlies in your thoughts and prayers.
Below is a link to some news coverage of the incident.
Fraternally,
Gil Gore

http://www.koco.com/news/17334888/detail.html


Cheers,
PISTOL

 

May those 2 RIP.

No doubt about it, it can get you killed faster then working in an office somewhere. But if you go through life worring about when you are going to die you are not living to the max extent possible. There was nothing those guys could have done.

Thanks for all the info everyone. I still have 2 years before I get out but want to plan for the future now so I'm not in a rush to find a job then.

 

Two years is gonna fly, brother !!! Believe me .... Wish I had gotten serious & in the job research mode at the two year mark.

I totally agree with your view on not being afraid to live !! If it's gonna happen, there isn't a darn thing we can do to stop it. Might as well enjoy every minute that God has given us to the fullest.

Cheers,
PISTOL

 

sorry to hear about them. thats a very scary thing seeing any type of truck with a tanker setting in front of you its not fun. thats the worst case scenario that can happen but it does. my mother wanted me to see death in the military and ive seen on the railroad trust me. may god be with their families to help them thru this bad time

 

Conductors: They carry out work orders and make sure the Engineer is doing his job?

 

thats correct. on a road train its easily explained by the engineer is in charge of the engines and the conductor is in charge of the cars. if you set off a "hot" box detector like it has a hot journal or bearing you walk the train and then set the car out at the nearest location or could have other issues with the cars. you also have to pick up more cars and perform a brake test on them or set cars off for another job such as what they call a local job that services industries etc. any of this make sense? the engineer only really has to run the engine and control the train the conductor has to deal with the cars. ive had a hundred people ask me you drive the train? I say no im just the conductor and they are like I thought the conductor runs the train . paperwork has to be updated when anything changes in your train like a set off or pick of cars

 

I've got a buddy who works for the railroad, in some ways I'm jealous and in other ways not.

He gets to go to lots of interesting places and see lots of beautiful country. Sometimes he gets called at interesting hours though!

I would be better persuaded if the locomotives were coal fired

 

We got a local that runs through here, been dropping off container cars for our junk yard so they can load up scrap iron.

Now about the alerter. If the engineer fails to reset it, it stops the train and the engineer has to explain why?

 

puts the train into an emergency brake application thats correct and dont know about explaining

 

Railroaders seemed to be a close knit family. They were very supportive to my Aunt at my Uncles funeral.

 

This is going to drive me crazy. Says this could take 6 months before I get an interview and such. I want the job now, I hate Dominos so much except for the free food.

 

We just started putting those on our road locos, sd38-2's and 3's, because of a crew that fell asleep. They went through 4 towns, not ditch lights, no bell, no horn, and no one awake. They ended up running a red signal and hit a derail and put the consist in the dirt. They were lucky, if the derail wasn't over the track they would have gone into a river (the bridge was up for ship traffic). I know the noise they make is annoying as heck been on a few in the shop that have them.


BTW Jwb600, what carrier do you work for?

annabell, yeah we are very close knit. Something happens to one of our union brothers or sister and we do whatever we can to take care of them or help them out. Before I got my job I was use to fending for myself at other jobs, now I have a bunch of co-workers that will help you out no matter what at the drop of a hat. They say once you're in the railroad you are there for life. Most guys don't quit for another job.

 

I sent you a pm answering your question thats how I would rather answer you

 

If anyone want to get the general idea on how to, play Microsoft Train Simulator.