Agreed. But you are behind the times. Instead of RFE (Road Foreman of Engines), don't you mean DSLE (Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers - bueraucratic/FRA terminology) or MOP (Manager of Operating Practices - UP "college boy" terminology).

Actually many of the operating supervisors on the railroads today do not have the experience or knowledge to do anything more than to enforce the rules rather than properly mentor crews in their duties.

I guess it is more valuable to write up a Level 4 violation for failing out to fill out a form that primarily exists to charge the employee with failing to follow a company/federally mandated 99 step procedure.

My somewhat sarcastic opinion of the direction railroading has gone ...

> While true, you'd probably get burned by the RFE
> and others for not complying with System Special
> Instructions and Timetable Instructions regarding
> operable dynamic brakes over the territory. Not
> that they have a practical experience, anyway.
> They are most likely being dispatched by the
> remote monitoring desk to rectify your liberal use
> of skill and experience.