Anyother Railroad Employees here ???

[Davecn5623]

I work for CN out of Port Huron MI as a engineer . Only been there since 94 , I am only 25 . Anyother CN employees here ?

[Colonel]

Dave,
welcome to trainboard I'm sure you will get a lot of enjoyment from this site like i do. i'm not sure if there are any other Cn employees but there are Engineers from other railroads. I am a signal Engineer working in Sydney Australia

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Regards

Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50
http://www.iconbazaar.com/people/sleuth.gif SPAD Investigator #1
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[watash]

Welcome to the "Family" TrainBoard Dave. There are NYC, NS, and some old roundhouse hostlers , a few , modelers, bean counters, even guys from around the world, you name it, we are all here. Put your boots up on the potbellied stove and tell us about working on the CN! Coffee is always on! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Watash #982
"See you in the Pit" http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[Davecn5623]

Hey guys . Working for CN is cool . But it is just anyother job after a while .

My dad has been here as a conductor since 1966 ! I hired out in 94 as a switchman in the yard in Flint , began Engineers training in early 96 and was promoted to Engineer in June of 97 .

I think CN has the best motive power by far over any railroad . Sometimes I get this UP power at Flint , we leave the CN power and take the UP power farther west to Battle Creek and the Battle Creek takes the train to Proviso in Chicago , and that power is always junk . Stinky toilets , no microwave oven , no hot plate , half the time the speedometer does not work .

CN does have alot of nice new units .

[DRGWEngr]

Welcome Dave,

I'm an engineer off the old DRGW now UP working west out of Denver. Had the chance to run some of the CN and CP stuff over Tennessee Pass and yes the hot plates and microwaves are a luxury we wish we had.

Mike

Railblazer (http://homestead.com/railblazer/)



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Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande

http://railblazer.homestead.com/index.html

[Davecn5623]

DRGW , have you had any CN power with those adjutsable seats with the high head-rests?

Talk about LUXURY http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

I have actually been to Proviso back in 96 as a student engieer , that is a huge UP yard in Chicago .

Is the UP hiring out by Denver ??!!??

I love it out west .

[This message has been edited by Davecn5623 (edited 31 January 2001).]

[watash]

Hey Dave, any chance of trading with the Norfolk Southern? HA! Read down through the NS forum when you have time! You'll get a kick out of it. You are spoiled, emagine making a run in an old steam engine!! HA! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Watash #982
"See you in the Pit" http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[Davecn5623]

Originally posted by watash:
Hey Dave, any chance of trading with the Norfolk Southern? HA! Read down through the NS forum when you have time! You'll get a kick out of it. You are spoiled, emagine making a run in an old steam engine!! HA! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

The only NS power that I have had was in the REAR http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif Where it belonged .

A few years back on the Grand Trunk there was a vast amount of NS power being leased by CN , BUT they were trailing behind the CN power . You seen NS power everyday back in the summer of 98 .

[DRGWEngr]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Davecn5623:
[B]DRGW , have you had any CN power with those adjutsable seats with the high head-rests?

Talk about LUXURY http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

Is the UP hiring out by Denver ??!!??

I love it out west .

Dave,
No I have even seen this type of seat.

We just hired some more out here in Denver in December that are training now. Best bet is to check out UP's site at: www.uprr.com/uprr/business/hr/ (http://www.uprr.com/uprr/business/hr/)

Mike

Railblazer (http://homestead.com/railblazer/)

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Defy Gravity. . .Ship Rio Grande



[This message has been edited by DRGWEngr (edited 31 January 2001).]

[Davecn5623]

I better stay where I'm at . Going on 8 years this fall , can't stand the thought of being at the bottom even more than I am http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

[Driver8]

Well, I may hand one of those CP re-route trains off to you Dave. I hired on the CPR, based out of London, Ont. almost three years ago. I am a spareboard conductor. In the next couple of weeks I will be taking Strathroy Sub training.

[Colonel]

Driver8 welcome to trainboard glad to see another rail worker here. How did you find out about trainboard? It is always great seeing new members posting here. I hope to read more of your posts and maybe get an inside view of CP.

[watash]

Why don't some of you guys tell us what one of your days is like running today? Or tell us of an exciting day you have had before? There is a thread about that here on The Rails Forum.

[SS JIM]

Ive been on the old South Shore now known as the NICTD. The last interurban in the US? Need any info on the SS or NICTD I'll try to answer. Im waiting for the gov. to pass the 30-60, or 2002 whichever comes first. I collect old RR stuff. Sell,buy, or trade.
SS JIM

[Colonel]

SS Jim,
Welcome to trainboard it is always great seing new members here. Tell us more about the railroad you work for, what do you do are you an Engineer?

[watash]

Welcome SS Jim. How about posting in the "Tales From the Cab" topic here and tell us how some of your days go on the interurban!

[SS JIM]

I forgot to mention that my job is section foreman. Also have done most of the other jobs on RR, machine opr., track laborer (gandy dancer) etc. Rode in all the old and new eqpt. even helped the Rip Track gang on wrecks. Jim.

[BannonVIA]

Morning, Im a VIA Rail employee in Montreal, Safety, Health & Regulatory Affairs.

Don't you find it funny that everybody thinks VIA is still run by CN? I get that all the time.

[watash]

SS JIM, tell us about cleaning up a wreck! I have been able to watch the crew clean up only a couple of times and am still fastenated with what all goes on. Take it step by step. How did you get the track solid on the roadbed again? Did they use steam cranes in your day to re-rail rolling stock? Did they kill power on the catenary? Come on give! :D

[CPRailfan]

Future RR employee here

I'm thinkin' of workin' for the RR. I'm a sophemore in high school right now, any suggestions as to getting started? Which would be the best RR to work for..I have CP, UP, and WC(maybe CN soon) here in the Milwaukee area. I've talked with a bunch of RR employees, and just wanna hear some more.


SS JIM, tell us a story! You'd better, or watash'll never stop beggin' smile.gif

[E&NRailway]

This summer I'll be working as a laborer for the Pacific Wilderness Railway. The excursion company that runs excursion trains on the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway

[bn2100]

smile.gif Hello everyone, I work for a shortline in Nebraska, Does that count??? Since Aug. 26 of '96. One quick ques. We are leaseing some old Santa Fe Geep 20's, Can anyone tell me how to put the fred number in the radio/headend div. :confused: Thank You
Lynn

[watash]

Sure it counts bn2100, the easiest way is to write it down on a piece of paper, roll it into a small tube, stick it in the little hole in the top, and beat it in with a hammer! (Hee hee, snicker, haw haw, howl, choke, gack!) :D

[braska]

I'm a part-time railroader and carded engineer. Half the yeaar I work the other half I'm a furloughed BNSF employee lol
:eek: null

[Rule 281]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bn2100:
smile.gif Hello everyone, I work for a shortline in Nebraska, Does that count??? Since Aug. 26 of '96. One quick ques. We are leaseing some old Santa Fe Geep 20's, Can anyone tell me how to put the fred number in the radio/headend div. :confused: Thank You
Lynn<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi bn2100-
Sure a shortline counts. You're probably better off than us class 1s.
:eek:
What kind of headend device are you trying to get numbers in? There are several types of box with different steps for setting them up and arming them to the marker. Which one are you working on?

[Gregg Mahlkov]

Do retired railroaders count? I spent 38 years in the business, working to bring the revenue in for all the other railroaders to spend! Still looking for a good opportunity to start up another short line somewhere. A railroad's financial performance is unlike any other business, with large profits over the break even point and truly massive losses under it. My former employer's operating ratio has gone from under 65 to over 200! I have a website at http://www.gtcom.net/~mahlkov if you are interested. :confused:

[Hytec]

Gregg, I don't know if your railroading network extends to Mississippi, but the following may be worth looking at -

The Mississippi State Port Commission (or Economic Development Agency?) has legislative authority to buy the 70 mile KCS line between Gulfport and Hattiesburg, MS. The goal is for the State Port at Gulfport to gain container access to NS and CN/IC at Hattiesburg.

The line is isolated from the rest of the KCS system. Therefore KCS is not all that interested in investing capital to upgrade the line to 50 mph welded rail for double-stacks. (currently it's jointed rail at 25 mph) The line was part of Mid-South that KCS purchased a few years ago.

The State has authorized issuing bonds up to $40M, with about $20M for the purchase and the rest for the upgrade. Annual revenue is estimated at about $3.8M, of which $3.2M would go for bond payment. At last word, the State was looking for some company or person to coordinate the purchase, manage the upgrade, and run the railroad.

Hank
hank_coolidge@msn.com

[Gregg Mahlkov]

Hank, I am familiar with the line from Gulfport to Hattisburg, it was in my territory for the Penn Central. It is interesting how it turned into an orphan. CN-IC's line to Mobile now consists for the ex-IC Gulf & Ship Island from Jackson to Hattiesburg, which originally went to Gulfport, plus the old Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern to its connection with the old Gulf Mobile & Ohio (ex-GM&N) thence the old GM&O to Mobile! I can remeber the B&HS' Mikado and Prairie as well as its EMD switchers with boiler tube pilots and white driver tires.

But, back to the subject at hand. Do you have a contact with the state? I had figured the Norfolk Southern was behind this and would eventually take over the line, but I know an investment banker that may be very interested! :cool:

[Hytec]

Hi Gregg,
I'm sure that it was some "financial wizardry" that caused ICG to decide they didn't want the Gulfport portion of the old G&SI, and to include it as part of the Mid-South sale in '86(?). I'm sure that, if the line had been kept within the IC family, CN would be glad to invest the capital for upgrade and expansion.

I don't know anyone personally up in Jackson who may be involved with this deal. However, here is the web address for the MS Economic Development Authority that, I believe, has overall responsibility for this matter.
http://www.decd.state.ms.us/

Hopefully the site will provide links to the proper individuals.

Good luck - many of us on the Coast would like to see this concept succeed.

Hank

[bn2100]

Hello RULE 281,
Started on the Nebraska Central Aug. '96 to Jan. '97, carmen. Nebraska Northeastern Railway Co. Jan. '97 to present, engineer. There is not a name on the headend div. So, I'll have look into it more. Some time I wish I could work on a Class 1, Run those BIG 6 axle motors. Later Lynn

[Fred]

I work for Conrail, started out in 1966 as an operator for the NYC, train dispr in 1968 for the PC, yardmaster for CR since 1988.

[Hytec]

Message for Gregg Mahlkov, late of the Bay Line - Regarding the MS purchase of the G&SI southern segment from KCS - Please log onto the following site:
http://www.hummingbirdmodeltrains.com

Select the "contact us" link at the bottom of the page - address your message to Bill Pettey (owner). Bill has personal direct contacts with the appropriate people in Jackson, MS Government who are handling the KCS line purchase project. He said he will be happy to put you in contact with these people, and will be more than happy to help you in any way - use me (Hank Coolidge) as your reference. The iron is VERY HOT ... act quickly if you wish to!

Sorry about contacting you on this public forum, but there was no response to my e-mail sent to the address listed on your web-site,
Hank

[ 18 March 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]

[Greg Elems]

Hello fellow railroaders,

I started railroading in 1979 on the Western Pacific Railroad. We had the fab four still running then, the finial four f units. It was a thrill to ride those old girls. The neatest ride I had on them was out of Oakland one night on the COFC. We had 3 f's and 4 geeps of different ages. Rocking and Rolling through Hayward California at 60 mph was a thrill. We started climbing in Fremont and would blast out of tunnel one and smoke would rise like a forest fire from those engines. We would pick up speed there to run into Livermore before we attacked the Altamont pass. Once we crested the Altamont we had a quiet ride down the east side of the Coast range till we were almost in Tracy. There we would go like hell till we had to slow down for the SP dimonds just outside to Tracy. When we hit them we knew we were almost home. That morning we left the train on the mainline and cut the power off and took it to the roundhouse. My friend was called on the same train and was getting his power out of the house. He was wishing he could have kept the power we had. Yes those were the days. Now I run a switch engine in Sparks and think about the days when we worked without a radio and the engineer had to lean out the window for the whole shift. But thats another story!

Greg

[ 20 March 2001: Message edited by: Greg Elems ]

[watash]

Greg, back in those days, it wasn't a job, it was a thrill! There was a romance with the engine, you could feel her breathe, and she would seem alive. We could always tell a happy engineer buy the number of bugs on his teeth! Now days in the painted kiddycars, where they wear ties, we might get a little coal dust on their easy chair! :D

[Hytec]

Watash, your comment about engineers wearing ties, reminded me of something I saw in Paris (France, not Texas smile.gif ) in the summer of '71.

I was on the locomotive end of the platform looking over the brand new electric assigned to "Le Mistral", the 150+ mph service between Paris and Marseille. A gentleman wearing a suit, light topcoat, and hat, and carrying a briefcase approached from the station building. I watched as he inserted a key on his keyring into the locomotive door and opened it. He set the briefcase on the floor, then opened a locker behind the driver's seat. After setting his hat and the briefcase on a shelf in the locker, he removed his topcoat and suit jacket and hung both on wooden hangers. He then removed a spotless white smock (like a doctor's smock) from another hanger and put it on. He surveyed the cab interior and full-width desk-like console, then sat in the driver's seat.

You guessed it ... he was the Driver! The way the man carried himself, you would have thought that he was a Wall-Street Banker. He was a very proud person.

Oh, and when the 1-Meter diameter clock, with a sweep second-hand, at the end of the platform hit exactly(!) 3:00:00, the locomotive started moving.

Hank

[watash]

We felt like he did, in our grimey over-alls and smudged cap with a cinder kerchief around our neck. The difference is, we patted the old girl before we climbed abord!

[Rule 281]

A tie? :D Watash, you're reaching again. LOL And the easy chair is a toadstool with a tiny, low back. Ouch. You've got to get up here and go for a little jaunt with me sometime. The snow'll be gone soon.

[watash]

I would dearly love to make a cab ride with you Harold, but I no longer have the paperwork to allow it. I was only on board a diesel once, and the roar of that motor was deafening! They took us a couple of blocks, then backed up, just a get-acquainted demo. The vibration actually hurt my knees, since we were all standing. If I ever get to where I can travel, that would be a place I would love to go though, Thanks for the invite!

[T.K.Marletter]

hey all I spent about 35 for the B&O I was just about 10 years too late for steam, but I did get to fire on the Chessie Steam Special for about 2 years. I'll tell some stories as I can recall (to the best of my rotting gray matter,) :rolleyes: ;)