flash34 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jack is retired from EMD. He has been on the 4449
> crew since 1975, although he lives in Chicago.
> Whenever the 4449 goes out on the road he flies
> in. He also fired on the UP steam crew from about
> 1992-2010. After Steve Lee retired Jack quit
> working with them. There may be some negative
> feelings from a few here or on other forums
> because Jack can be very direct and opinionated on
> certain things, but he certainly has put his time
> in and has spent many years in the cabs of both
> steam and diesel locomotives, so it's best to get
> past his sometimes sharp manner and listen to what
> he's saying. Remember there is also a lot that
> goes on on the inside of organizations like the UP
> steam crew of the 4449 crew that never gets to a
> forum like this, or a magazine article, or
> whatever. So when someone who is/was on the inside
> takes major issue with some things, don't just
> write them off because you don't like their
> attitude, or whatever it may be.


Sometimes the voice of experience needs to be short, blunt and seemingly opinionated as a warning to someone about to say or do something that will cause an injury , delay, damage or death. The knowledge base when it comes to steam on the railroad has been thinned to an alarming point. When someone that knows what they are talking about and has the years to back it up, the aforementioned conditions can be easily misunderstood.