SP5103 Wrote:
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> An Observer Wrote:
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> -----
> > Last time I checked BNSF was one guaranteed day
> a
> > month off, doesn't that sound attractive there
> > Mr. Party/Snapchat Animal?
>
> Likely it is one personal day off per month,
> assuming you stay marked up and don't miss any
> calls. "Crew management" has the option of working
> you six or seven days straight, or maybe
> unexpectedly discovering you had 24 hours off so
> they can work you another 5-7 days.
>
> And it isn't just the party animals - anyone that
> has a family or expects to have a life really
> isn't amused either. What good is big money if you
> can't get time off to enjoy it? The elephant in
> the room is actually stepping on you with his hind
> leg and about to take a dump. The biggest issue
> with hours of service and being "properly rested"
> is that the company can't tell you when you are
> going to go to work, and throw your sleep/awake
> cycles all to hell switching you from days to 0
> dark thirty shifts. I've seen the sun rise from
> the cab in the middle of the shift far too many
> times. I can claim to be able to run a train in my
> sleep because I've literally done it.
>
> I have worked for tourist railroads, shortlines
> and Class 1s - union and non-union, and it isn't
> just about the money. Most of the Class 1s and
> some shortlines expect you to be available
> 7/24/365 and way too often you are based in either
> a big city (which I despise) and some other God
> forsaken place. Even if there is somewhere decent
> to live, who knows how long you can hold with your
> seniority, or when you will get laid off? And all
> for 75% and none of the pre 1985 arbitraries or
> productivity bonuses. And you have to watch the
> seniority district and rules. Years ago UP hired
> quite a bit out of Las Vegas, before it got crazy
> big. After everyone qualified and got marked up,
> they were dismayed to find the only place they
> could hold was the Los Angeles basin and would be
> forced assigned there. I've also worked places
> where I was actually going backwards in seniority.
> Even though I was hired as qualified, marked up
> and working the position, everyone else still in
> training would have seniority over me as they went
> by their hire not promotion date. I was called by
> a union railroad looking for qualified engineers
> and I asked them if I would have dual seniority,
> and if so could I be force assigned as conductor.
> Their answer was yes, and I didn't even bother
> asking them if everyone already there would have
> seniority over me.
>
> Shortlines are a different story. Too much depends
> on the company that owns them at the moment and
> who the managers are. You have a far better chance
> finding somewhere decent to live, maybe working
> daylights, evenings and weekends in some cases. So
> it is a trade off - wages for a better lifestyle
> and working conditions, as long as it lasts.
>
> I've turned down as many rail jobs as I've taken.
> I was interested in railroading out of high
> school, but didn't have any luck with the Class
> 1s. I crashed around doing various jobs until it
> came to the point that the only skills I had to
> make a decent living were in the railroad
> industry, so that's where I am stuck. It has ended
> up being an occupation I love to hate, and hate to
> love.

What every anybody does, Don't go to work for that outfit at Plaster City,Ca
Southern California Railroad, the switching contractor for USG. One of out guys
on the UP out of SLO and Bakersfield, got hurt out there and that RRPRes, has not
workers comp and claims to be covered by FELA (LOL) sure!! The poor former conductor
is walking around with a cane and has a bad case of STENOSIS in his body.

Just a fair warning.