The Engineer is the supreme authority on any subject Railroading or not. But let something happen and the first thing he does is blame the front Brakeman. I got to the point that I told them I was the dumb brakeman and wouldn't do any thing without specific directions. This ended the crap in a hurry. I use to run trains from Redrock to Sand Patch so the drunks could sober up and this is what I got in return. Arthur
I got in a yelling match with the trainmaster one day over this. We went into emergency and I refused to walk the train unless the Fireman flagged the front end. The Engineer said he didn't have to so I walked the train and replaced an air hose. When we got into the yard I went up to the trainmasters office And told him I would not walk another train if the Fireman didn't flag the front end. I was told that in the absence of the conductor that the Engineer was the boss.. My argument was that the conductor was not absent when he was in his normal place in the caboose with a radio. After a bunch of yelling and cussing I got kicked out of his office. But from then on Fireman got off of there rear end and flagged the head end. Arthur. [ 14 December 2001: Message edited by: Arthur ]
Rule #876 says you were correct, Art! "The general direction and government of a train is vested in the Conductor, and all persons employed on the train must obey his instructions. Any misconduct or neglect of duty of men employed thereon must be reported."
The rule definately states that the conductor is the boss of the train. But hog heads let the fireman set on the train and not flag the head end. On my first trip east I nearly got run over on a curve out side of Myresdale while walking the train. We never had that trouble on the west end as they followed the rules drunk or sober. Arthur.
The easy way to flag a train is to walk back one mile with 12 fusees. Remove all of the caps and light the first one. Then stagger the rest one inch from the end of each other. As they burn down they will light the next and so on. It isn't legal but on a cold winter night it gives you a chance to get back and get warm. A tip that was given to me by an old timer. Arthur. [ 14 December 2001: Message edited by: Arthur ]
did you see that conductor pinkley, that isn't how they showed us at conductor training. not only that i never got a fireman to run for me!!!! also i'm glad i didn't work out there when everyone was drunk. no wonder railroaders get a bad rap now as all being drunks or druggies. [ 14 December 2001: Message edited by: Mopac3092 ]
Mopac. If you have a fireman the train will be flagged on both ends. I have seen Engineers flag the head end as you don't want an on coming train hitting a derailment at 50 mph. When you go into emergency you don't know what has happened. I f you don't have a fireman the front brakeman will flag and the conductor will walk the train. Arthur.
oh i'm sorry i forgot we have signals that flag for us!!!!! and when we don't have that we have a track warrant that protects our movement from either direction!!!! oh arthur i'm not a conductor, i'm the engineer!!!! we don't have the luxury of a head brakeman and a rear brakeman and a fireman anymore as the eot and union contracts and greedy old heads that think the almighty dollar in their pocket is better than a full crew on the train has taken over the railroads.
Mopac. I have been retired for 18 years I know things have changed. I have worked with some fine Engineers and quite a few jerks. The worst were out of Cumberland Maryland. And also some of the best.I use to love to watch them hang the train up in Roddys sag because they panicked when the head end took off. Arthur. [ 15 December 2001: Message edited by: Arthur ]
Mopac . Do you do much running in the mountains? My career was spent running Sand Patch Grade. Arthur.
no artthur you got me there i have never ran the mountains. about the closest thing is our run to peoria thats mostly a 1.5 to 2% downhill until you cross the river. and i don't think i'll get to run it again since getting hurt out there too.
Mopac. It sounds like you run a lot of Trains. on singel track we ran trains orders only with no signals. You had to be on the ball as there was no excuse for a head on colission. We had so many rules that I never could remember them all and I guess it is the same today.By the way how long have you worked for MOPAC? Arthur.
