Zarkoff,

I've only been in the business for fortythree years myself, a year on the ground laying track, 18 in a cab running, and the rest in a suit, figuring out how to keep it all paid for and running....

I once did get 30 dummies because I told a certain official were to put it, when he wanted me to take out an unsafe consist with an air problem, so every time we'd have used the air, we have tied up the whole railroad. So my "record" might not be as "perfect" as you claim yours is? Most of my better officials knew this guy was a dufus and liked to kid me about my "bad attitude" toward a certain incompetent Terminal Superintendent? Anything else?

That attitude of yours speaks volumes for itself. I knew plenty of "cowboys", some good runners, some bad. Stan gets it, you still don't. A prevenable accident cost 25 peoples lives because of poor oversite and lax safety regimes. The failures that caused this were at a personal level, a managerial level, and a technical level. All inexcusable, since we've had better technology to improve safety for years and have resisted deploying it with lame excuses. It's unfortunately the reason they say the rules are written in blood. So the rules are changing and the technology is going in. It won't be perfect, but it will work to vastly improve the layers of safety, as well as productivity.

I agree with Stan, it is a sad comment on the state of our profession, but that's the way it is. The Gates/Sanchez "school of cool" is all to often the reason why we've had these tragedies. Every few years we have one of these, and some people always seem to whine about how "annoyed" they are with the subsequent rule changes and regulations. At least this tragedy wasn't compounded by a hazmat car or two, with say, chlorine, next to a school? So adding those layers of safety is just fine with me.

The folks who ran the program for Connex/Veolia, who got the axe, deserved it. Listening to the last few days of testimony was the proof of that. Because, unfortunately, facts are facts. Whether you are "annoyed" by them, or not.

The Unions are afraid of harrassment, and I've known my share of officials like the one above. I was a UTU Officer myself for a while. They will work out procedures, and hopefully that type of nonsense can be mitigated. But, since you're such a "perfect" engineer, why would you care if someone is watching your superior performance? Yeah, it sucks, but that's the way it's going to be.

As to the cost, well, the lawsuit settlements alone will make PTC and the camera systems look like chump change. The increased productivity and reduction in accidents will pay for it. I don't think this will end "America", as we know it. So, you can leave your wheelbarrow in the garage. I'm beginning to think you may need it for something other than worthless money?