It's an inside joke, I guess. Don't take everything seriously, but comments like that will spring up when people are constantly browbeaten with questionable manageing/leadership/discipline.

Would it surprise you that one of our Trainmasters really did not know what a Superintendant's Notice is? Did you know that in our post 9/11 world we are constantly on notice to keep our eyes out for suspicious people (also and specifically on the UP 'railfans') and suspicious activites, etc. yet are furnished no way to lock up a locomotive? Sure, there's locks and hasps, but no keys, and no code entry on the computerized engine management platform to keep the power from loading/ air brakes releasing, etc.

Yet, engineers get Ops Test failures for being above Run 5 for more than a couple of minutes, etc.

Seems like just a little sarcastic venting. Don't take it to heart! It's still a pretty good job.

And by the way, vacations are awarded in seniority order, so taking one will be whenever it's dictated, not when you need it.