What members are Railroad Employees

Colonel Jan 4, 2002

  1. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    11,140
    261
    135
    It's unlikely that they had cameras when he was young.

    Charlie
     
  2. throttlejock

    throttlejock TrainBoard Member

    164
    0
    20
    I've been a railroader for 25 years, switchman, brakeman,conductor and now engineer. working for 4 RR's in 9 different city's up to my current Amtrak for the past 15 years.
     
  3. Fred

    Fred TrainBoard Member

    236
    0
    19
    I currently work for Conrail as a yardmaster, started out in 1966 as an operator for the New York Central, became a train dispr for Penn Central in Feb, 1968 at the age of 20 and remained a train dispr until May, 1988 when Conrail combined train dispr desks & moved them to Toledo, Ohio. I assumed the duties of yardmaster at that time & still work that same yardmaster's position to this day. became a
     
  4. Telegrapher

    Telegrapher Passed away July 30, 2008 In Memoriam

    782
    0
    23
    Yeh Fred. I worked as a Telegrapher from mid 50's to about 1963. IN the late 50's I was aproached and asked if I would like to train as a dispr. Having worked with them over 40 hours a week I wouldn't take the job for anything. I have seen more dispr;s come and go because of the stress. If you stuck it out that long I am poud of you. Very few dispr's last more that a few years.
     
  5. UnionPacificBigBoy

    UnionPacificBigBoy Profile Locked

    149
    0
    19
    I wouldn't mind being an engineer on a loco but in this crazy country you have to have one thing before you can be an engineer, and thats a Diploma. I mean come on, whats the deal with that anyways? Sure whats the most important thing they do when you get there? They train you! I learn fast and get everything right the first time, don't I have the right to be what I want to be without requirements? These college kids are literally taking over jobs left and right and my father can tell you plenty that some of these fresh students don't want to be trained or learn the proper way to do things. I know for one thing, when you go to college your there to learn and not party all the time otherwise you'd screw up doing your job. I'm not attacking anyone or being mean but its the damn truth!

    If I want to be an engineer without a diploma I'd fight my way to have that right and privledge to be one. I'll fight the system if I have to cause we all have rights, right?
     
  6. Greg Elems

    Greg Elems Staff Member

    1,355
    1
    32
    I have 23 years this coming April. I will have been married to my 1st wife 20 years this coming April. What does that have to do with anything you ask? Well, for my wife to put up with my job and hobby all that time, that makes her pretty special. I started out as a brakeman and went into engine service in 1989. I was able to put my wife through college and work a yard job, to be home with the family and my boys. Railroading has changed quite a bit in these last 23 years. I have seen the F7's go as with the cabooses. I have seen the crews whittled down to a conductor and engineer. I worked for just two railroads but chased my seniority from Oakland CA to Elko NV. Would I do it again? YOU BET I would. I like my job and that means a lot to me.

    Greg Elems
    Engineer UP railroad
    Reno/Sparks NV
     
  7. Rule 281

    Rule 281 TrainBoard Member

    434
    0
    20
    Engineer for Conrail then NS in upstate New York. Starting into my 5th year and hanging on to a job by my toenails. Love the work, just hate wondering when the furlough notice will show up on my computer screen. :confused:
     
  8. throttlejock

    throttlejock TrainBoard Member

    164
    0
    20
    Ain't it the truth Greg,
    The railroad work place has changed so much and really seems to change just about every week. They come out with a new rules and new equipment shhisssh. Back in the 70's this job was fun, you kind of looked forward to coming to work. Today the bean counters and lawyers have rewrote the books and it just another job. Last time I was working frieght I was pulling a caboose and there were 3 other crew members on the job each trip. Kind of dates me huh.
     
  9. Fred

    Fred TrainBoard Member

    236
    0
    19
    Dick, You're right about the stress, got ulcers 3 years in on the job! I consider myself lucky though, never stated smoking at least! Not many people these days can say they actually enjoy their job- I work trains, I model trains, & in my spare time I railfan!
     
  10. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

    4,826
    20
    64
    No Charlie, we don't have any photos from back in my day, but we have a couple of stone carvings showing the leather boilers with fur lined cabs and square wheels! I think round wheels are being experimented with today, they tell me. Supposed to be some new fangled idea about a smoother ride at speeds above what a man can walk, or something fantastic like that. What wont they think if next? :D
     
  11. rail_fan

    rail_fan Guest

    0
    0
    0
    Engineer for Swiss Federal Railways. I`m in my 12th year on the Gotthard route.
    :D <a href="http://www.mypage.bluewin.ch/Railfan">Railfan`s Homepage
     
  12. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

    13,965
    6,903
    183
    Rail_Fan, You have a very nice website! I like the moving thumbnails, that's a nice touch.
     
  13. rail_fan

    rail_fan Guest

    0
    0
    0
    Thank you Hank, thank you :)) ;)
     
  14. rail_fan

    rail_fan Guest

    0
    0
    0
    Thank you Hank :)) ;)

    [ 21 January 2002: Message edited by: rail_fan ]
     
  15. conductordave

    conductordave E-Mail Bounces

    11
    0
    16
    I am a conductor for the BMR&N. Hi guys
     
  16. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

    6,183
    6
    79
    Hi Dave,
    Welcome to TrainBoard! So tell us, what is the BMR&N?

    Harold
     
  17. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

    9,709
    2,730
    145
    Dave, no reflection on you, but has the RR changed it's name again? Once the Blue Mountain and Reading, then Blue Mountain and Northern, then Reading, Blue Mountain and Northern, is it now the Blue Mountain, Reading and Northern?
    And, do you have a recently arrived 4-8-4 on site? :confused:
     
  18. conductordave

    conductordave E-Mail Bounces

    11
    0
    16
    You are correct I had the letters messed up. It is still the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern. I have been on this list before but it has been a long time. Before I came to work here I worked for the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad.
     
  19. chessie

    chessie TrainBoard Supporter

    6,183
    6
    79
    Hi Dave,
    Well I know a little about the area you are in! I sure would like to see the RBM&N! I have not been up in that area in probably 20 years! As a boy, my family used to make a pilgramage to see my Grandmother every summer. She lived in Middleport. My uncle lived in Mary-D. (Both have been deceased for many years). So I am familiar with the area's small "boroughs" including Tamaqua, Port Carbon, and the big city of Pottsville. [​IMG]

    The thing I remember best about my grandmother's house was her back yard: she had train tracks! I think it was actually a spur, and I can remember waving to the engineers going by in their big diesels, but I do not remember what the trains looked like. I think I was told that the trains were going up to the "breaker" to get coal. Before they built the "new" U.S. 209 around Middleport (when was that, 1977 ?) I used to walk around where the tracks were.... I also remember seeing cars stored on the tracks between Middleport and Pottsville, and even a small "yard" down below highway level (near the "Creek").

    I had hoped to go back this past summer when the N Scale Collector convention was being held in Harrisburg.... they had a side tour to Pottsville at the Yuengling Plant. Unfortunately, something came up that prevented me from going :(

    Anyway, the RBM&N is one of my favorite short lines because of my ties to the area!

    Harold
     

Share This Page