sore lower back Wrote:
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>
>
> Well I remember watching a BN ground man working a
> classification yard in the mid 80’s. He was in
> constant motion throwing these ground switches
> while the switcher kicked cars at him endlessly.
> It was really cool to watch the pros at work. But
> being a ground man looked like a young man’s game
> and you would want to graduate to running the
> engine before you got too old to handle the
> physical intensity and quick reflexes of the job.

Prior to a change in the UTU National (Collective Bargaining) Agreement, engineers in most cases came from the craft of fireman, and groundmen (trainmen and switchmen) remained in their respective classes.

Back then, it wasn't uncommon to work with senior trainmen and switchmen who were in their seventies.