> The extra board was not guaranteed,

On the SP Pacific Lines, there was provision for a guaranteed extraboard, it's just that the Company would regulate it, rather than the L/C. I never knew of one being instituted anywhere, which could be done only by mutual agreement.

>Did the establishment of pool turns coincide with CTC which allowed all trains to run as "extras"?

Not on the SP's Pacific Lines. Most through freights were run as extras even before CTC, at least in the areas where I worked.

>The same crew members work together, and the run is over the same territory, but pretty much pool turns in effect just a type of extra board?

In pool frieght on the Pacific Lines, the number of spaces in a pool were often times different between the trainman and engineers. This meant that you would probably get a different train crew each trip out of your home terminal, but that you would get the same one on the return trip out of your out of town ternimal.

>I think the railroads will be using contractors more and more whenever possible.

This will be severely complicated by long standing legal precedents concerning operating the crews' personal liability issues.

As for "getting rid of "crew members" in favor of automation, once of the stipulations of the trainmen's 1985 manning agreement is that the issue of crew size would not be revisited until all those adversely affected had retired. This is one of the big things behind the remotes because the engineers were not part of this agreement, and the RRs wanted to get rid of another "train crew member", never mind that the engineer isn't technically part of the train crew, who are brakemen and conductors.

In order to be considered at negotiations, proposals ("demands") by either side can be submitted only within the window of opportunity for the filing of Section 6 notices, which precedes the actual opening of negotiations by several months. "Section 6" refers to Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act, which specifies the the procedures for the presenting of demands during these negotiations.

>Pool mile regulation at 2900-3200 miles per month...

I remember both Leonard and Gene complaining about the company not enforcing the mileage provisions of them days. The Company would actually refuse to let you lay off on the miles.

>A "Bonus Plan" which would be based on 11 incentives, including the number of trespasser suicide reductions etc... So if you run over someone it goes against your bonus...

What moron came up with this?? Sounds like a good excuse to put the train sideways and be able to get away with it.

>Elimination of all Blue Print Agreements....

I wonder how many of our readers know what "blue printing" is?