The Mighty UP

LAST EDITED ON Aug-15-03 AT 07:16 PM (EDT)

Boy I tell you, working on the UP can be stressful sometimes. First they cut the workforce at Pine Bluff Yd from 81 to 48 which included laying off all mechanical personel, citing that newer locos needed less maintenance. But wednesday night 6 trains were held because there was no power in the yard. And then the dispatcher gets mad at you and your engineer because the yardmaster gave you two GP40-2's to pull 120 cars, and they couldnt make a 1% hill. On top of that we lost contact with our EOT and could not exceed 30mph, but our top speed only reached 32. Then the corridor manager calls you and gets on your ass because 6,00hp cannot pull 11,500 tons. Thats when the fingerpointing starts and everyone gets in trouble because the ZNSLC (Blue Streak) is delayed for 1 hr pushing you over the hill.
And I see all of these kids who have signatures "future engineer"
I beleive one day you'll change your mind. Thats what I like about MSTS, if I stall, no hassles, fussing or anything. Start over and add more power. MSTS is my escape of the everyday hassles of real railroading. Just had to rant off for a minute, thanks for reading.
I miss the SP, and MSTS gives me a chance to relive those years of the SP. Thanks to all who have reskinned anything SP, SSW, or DRGW.
And at least the SP would give you 6 SD40T-2's to pull a 120 car train.

If you're gonna do it, do it with precision.

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RE: The Mighty UP, IcyFire, Aug-15-03, 07:42 PM, (1) RE: The Mighty UP, Newton Kid, Aug-15-03, 08:20 PM, (2) RE: The Mighty UP, jlucero4, Aug-15-03, 08:36 PM, (3) RE: The Mighty UP, CRSD40, Aug-15-03, 09:02 PM, (4) RE: The Mighty UP, darkhorse2, Aug-15-03, 10:20 PM, (5) RE: The Mighty UP, FireDragonLightning, Aug-15-03, 10:29 PM, (6) RE: The Mighty UP, jlucero4, Aug-15-03, 10:45 PM, (7) RE: The Mighty UP, precision, Aug-15-03, 11:05 PM, (8) RE: The Mighty UP, Buddy, Aug-16-03, 05:38 PM, (9) RE: The Mighty UP, MarkMyers, Aug-16-03, 08:17 PM, (10) RE: The Mighty UP, BlakeTyner, Aug-16-03, 08:20 PM, (11) RE: The Mighty UP, PatchCrew, Aug-16-03, 08:30 PM, (12) RE: The Mighty UP, Newton Kid, Aug-17-03, 09:17 AM, (20) RE: The Mighty UP, cn_bayview, Aug-16-03, 08:42 PM, (13) RE: The Mighty UP, Lone_Gunman_SG, Aug-16-03, 09:25 PM, (14) RE: The Mighty UP, JonN, Aug-16-03, 09:35 PM, (15) RE: The Mighty UP, cn_bayview, Aug-16-03, 09:37 PM, (16) RE: The Mighty UP, JonN, Aug-16-03, 09:54 PM, (17) RE: The Mighty UP, Lone_Gunman_SG, Aug-16-03, 10:02 PM, (18) RE: The Mighty UP, JonN, Aug-16-03, 10:02 PM, (19)

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Excellent post, It really puts into perspective the kinda job railroading is

Shawn Kenselaar, shawnssk@yahoo.com
Train-Sim Forum Mod; Texture Artist for TKW & YLW
MP 96.93 on the NYO&W Port Jervis Branch

Gravy Intermodal, because the Gravy Train and Gravy Boat are outdated!

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Precision,I was talking to a track foreman who held the track warrant for siding construction where I work. He said that UP apparently as a matter of routine lays off almost all their track crews in December and will not call them back until April. The reason he heard was that they did not want all those people on the payroll during the winter. It allows the UP to show a good profit for their first quarter.A few days ago they had a train, I believe empty unit coal, with three engines. The lead engine the only one working. The second engine shut down for some reason and the unit on the rear would not load up. Poor guy could only make 35 mph. He was not real happy, nor was the dispatcher. I am sure that engineer and you could trade horror stories.I fully agree with your assessment of these future engineers. Most will change their minds when the find out you dispatch at an hour of the day and often with only 8 hours of sleep. Or the oppsite end when they are laided off for six months. They also had better learn to have a thick skin because by my calculations there is not a road engineer who has not or will in the future kill someone at a grade crossing accident. There is a lot more to being an engineer than just opening/closing the throttle and applying the brakes.Agree with the first response, good post. Best of luck.

Newton Kid

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While I agree that railroading can be a hassle, I wouldn't discourage people from their dreams of working on the railroad. Many will come to that realization as they learn more and more about what railroading entails, and many will decided against making it their career.
But there are also those like me, who feel that it is what they were meant to do and feel railroading in their blood. I plan to hire out on a railroad in a couple years after I finish college. I'm well aware of the railroading lifestyle as my dad is an engineer for the BNSF. Frankly, railroading is the only thing I can see myself doing a few years from now. The way I see it, every job has it headaches and hassles, I'd just rather have mine with the railroad.Jordan L.
http://home.earthlink.net/~bnsfjordan/

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Thanks for the post. NS is always pulling crap like that up here in ex-CR territory. NS just doesn't run their RR like CR did.

-----------------------------

Kyle Norek, Milepost 76 on the NS Buffalo Line
MSN Messenger: crsd40@hotmail.com

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i work for the ns and i have learned that the silly decisions management makes only serves to put more money in my pockets!! so i never complain ..i just go with the flow

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Good story, good perspective.Going into highschool this year, I still am not 100 % what I want to aim for. At first, I was wanting to be a computer engineer, or technician. But, I love trains and Railroads, So i'm thinking of taking engine mechanics, and computer courses in highschool. The railroad has soo many different jobs, engineer, conductor, mechanic, technicians....I'm sure if I take courses like I mentioned above, I'll get some kind of job on the RR. And even if I start as an mechanic, ten years later I could always go to a RR school and train to be a conductor or engineer.
Im still not sure...I know the RR has great benifets...and pay(?)
Or maybe I should take computers and mechanics during highschool, and go to a RR college?I have some Q's, that maybe some of you could shed some light on.
What courses can you take at a RR college..and do you need to go to one to become and engineer or conductor? and does the RR offer summer jobs to 15 year olds (I'll be 15 next year) on MOW or anything?HeeHee...maybe i'll go to the local station and ask if they want any help around there! lol

Jay
http://www.freewebs.com/peterbiltsrule

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I have some Q's, that maybe some of you could shed some light on.
What courses can you take at a RR college..and do you need to go to one to become and engineer or conductor? and does the RR offer summer jobs to 15 year olds (I'll be 15 next year) on MOW or anything?I too was thinking of going to a RR college before I get a job with the railroad, but the advice I got was to let the RR send me to their school on their own dime. I'd reccomend getting an associates or bachelors in another field besides railroading just so you can have it as a backup. A rail ops degree is not necesarry to get a job witht the railroad. Here's a link to an overview of Johnson Community College's railroad program.http://web.jccc.net/academic/nars/
__________________________Jordan L.
http://home.earthlink.net/~bnsfjordan/

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Well let me lighten you up on these "railroad colleges" its fun to go to those colleges but i've been told its a waste of money. Railroads prefer people with good working backgrounds and military experience. My MTO says they'd rather hire someone whose had a good stable work history, rather than hire a "weenie" straight outta class. But I debated him on that, if that is what one wants to do, then let him be, it would be a good experience for that person. I do not wish to discourage anyone from it, its a good job, but every job has its ups and downs. If you ask me its nothin better than having the window wide open on a SD40-2, about 70 degrees out in the middle of the woods at about dusk reclined in the seat. Its a good feeling I must admit. But if this is your dream go for it.

If you're gonna do it, do it with precision.

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Some of you UP guys, especially ex SP guys might be intrested in this site. < http://www.snakebites.org/contact.html> It is quite informative and humorous.

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That was great! I'm sorry...do the voices in my head bother you too?

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Yep. Railroading is the type of job where you bust your hump everyday for every dime, get very little (or no) credit, and are forced into retirement because the company doesn't want to pay the salary your seniority demands.Even working with a private RR has it's rough days. Now, I love steam power...but when it's 130 in the cab and you've gotta be in there all day...it becomes more like a job and less like something you do for fun.And yes it's good money, but believe me...it's physical.Blake Harris
Engineer/fireman, Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railroad

Vice Dean, Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies

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>Most will change their minds when the find out you dispatch at an hour of the day and often with only 8 hours of sleep.May I correct you and state that instead of 8 hours of sleep it would be "8 hours off of work". In that 8 hours you have to drive home, eat, shower, take care of personal matters, and then sleep! But on the flip side on the Los Angeles Service Unit we can take 12 hours of undisturbed rest (meaning you cannot be called back to work until 12 hours have lapsed and then you will receive a minimum 90 minutes to report to work) and some pool freight jobs can take 18 hours of undisturbed rest. Also as an Engineer I have never been cutoff (laid off) in my career. But Trainmen with low seniority are regularly cutoff around December and are called back around February.Working for the railroad can be a tough and demanding job at times but as jlucero4 stated you should never discourage a person from their dreams. It is only they who can decide if the railroad schedule is for them and sometimes the only way they can decide is to try it first.For all interested parties Union Pacific is hiring Trainmen in several locations systemwide right now including Los Angeles and West Colton. You can apply until August 31st for the SoCal positions.PatchCrew
UP Engineer

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PatchCrew,Your statement that things are getting better for most engineers is true. The people who want to be engineers should strive for it. My recommendations would be to get a good education first and to go into it knowing it is a tough job. The education is critical as the railroad industry get more complex each day. There aren't many jobs left out there that are just pure phycial labor.You are very lucky to be in the Los Angelous area. With the big contrainer port facility there things are really booming. That shows up clear out here in Kansas with frequent stack trains rolling through. The railroad should expect a come back. Who would have though that they are starting to talk about trying to regain some of the single car business they gave up years ago. As fuel prices go higher, the railroads will look more attractive to many shippers. More cargo, more railroad jobs.Good luck to all you future engineers. Look at the compete picture and go for it!

Newton Kid

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ahhhh reminds me of the good ol' CN.10 hours from Niagra Falls to Aldershot. (mostly 60 MPH track) 10-15 trains a day on the line. It's about 50 miles Niagra falls to Aldershot(small yard) and another 50 to toronto.
The poor crews run dead on the clock constantly. On a hundred mile run. Most are lucky to make it past 50.
The constant layoffs at CN, have caused major delays. Its a total cost cutting RR. No one cares if it works, as long as they save a few dollars.

Rob
Great North Rails

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<Whines, cries and complains all at once> THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I WANT TO WORK FOR?! (actually i was thinking more along the lines of BNSF)"Well sir there's nothing on earth like a genuine bona-fide electrified six-car monorail!"

Tarsonis Rail Yards now seeking volunteers, private message me for more info

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Yeah, from what I understand, CN takes efficency to ruthless extremes (and to think they used to be a blaoted, government run "make work" project). They must have gotten their new attitute from when Paul Telliér was their chief.Jonathan Nikiforovs.
Milepost 180, CP Belleville Sub.Repainter for Yonder Locomotive Works.

"A crictic is a man who creates nothing and thereby feels qualified to judge the work of creative men. There is logic in this; he is unbiased - he hates all creative people equally." - Lazarus Long

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-03 AT 09:38 PM (EDT)

Ya.
Well Tellier left. And Harrison and ex IC guy. Loves to cut costs....
So things are going further down the drain..
Well CN had the advantage when it was a government owned company.
The government would pay for everything, locos, signals, costs.
It was a simple business to run.But Tellier did some good things- he changed the unporfitable CN into a very profitable private RR.

Rob
Great North Rails

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-03 AT 09:57 PM (EDT)

Yes, "effeciency" seemed to be Telliér's middle name. That is precicly how he made CN profitable: he made it more efficient. Trouble is, he left a lot of people unemployed...
Now Telliér is CEO of Bombardier, and it seems he is going to apply his knives to them as well (he is selling off the recreational vehicles division, which makes snowmobiles, jet-skis, and ATVs, so the company can focus on building planes and trains). There is not as much room to cut costs in Bombardier as there was for CN, however.Jonathan Nikiforovs.
Milepost 180, CP Belleville Sub.Repainter for Yonder Locomotive Works.

"A crictic is a man who creates nothing and thereby feels qualified to judge the work of creative men. There is logic in this; he is unbiased - he hates all creative people equally." - Lazarus Long

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ah who needs Bombardier rec vehicles? we have Yamaha, Kawasaki and Arctic Fox "Well sir there's nothing on earth like a genuine bona-fide electrified six-car monorail!"

Tarsonis Rail Yards now seeking volunteers, private message me for more info

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-03 AT 10:05 PM (EDT)

>ah who needs Bombardier rec vehicles? we have Yamaha,
>Kawasaki and Arctic Fox Good point. I think lots of other people agree, that's why profits for Bombardier's rec vehicles have been down, hence Tellier is getting rid of them.
Jonathan Nikiforovs.
Milepost 180, CP Belleville Sub.Repainter for Yonder Locomotive Works.

"A crictic is a man who creates nothing and thereby feels qualified to judge the work of creative men. There is logic in this; he is unbiased - he hates all creative people equally." - Lazarus Long

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