Right on brother!! There’s nothing like moving up and getting off your tools. It’s nice coming up through the craft too because you normally have a decent escape plan if this management crap goes sideways.
Any Railroad Guys Here???
- Thread starter ScottyD
- Start date
Not in the railroad business but work for a general contractor who has completed some projects on railways/railyards. Last one was for the Maryland Port Administration extending a CSX terminal onto a Berth for RO-RO offload of new cars(Mercedes and Fiat/Jeep). First two i worked on were for WMATA, one installing a 500ton wheel press/3x wheel truing machines and the other completing a pumping station which pumped iron diluted water from an underground train storage yard.
I can say the rail companies we work with have some extremely funny people. You all have some hysterical descriptions of people you dont like or the equipment you use. A few examples that crack me up even thinking about them....
I was in a curve design meeting with this track maintenance engineer for CSX and the engineer/owner. The CSX guy didnt like the engineer telling him he was wrong(he was actually right) so he called the engineer a "starfish licker" right in the middle of the meeting. Never seen an engineer bow out so fast in my life. One of the funniest things ive ever seen.
Also, WMATA has these machines that would push dead cars around called a "Hootinanny". It was basically a propane powered mini rail car that could push a fully loaded WMATA car into and out of the work shop bays of the maintenance facility. So we're in a meeting with the head of the maintanence yard that gets the new machine. He starts with what he wants in the thing and keeps calling it the Hootinanny. Our project manager doesnt know what the hell he is talking about so he asks him what is it? Guy gets up, opens the window to see the old mini car pusher sitting there with a stenciled "Hootinanny" on the side of it. They nicknamed the thing because the actual name is too long and it is just easier to call it a Hootinanny. Couldnt help but laugh every time i heard that word called out by suits in our meetings.
I will say that the guys who hand install track are nuts. 8+hour days setting ties, rail and the tie plates is crazy. They finally brought their production equipment in but they installed 5200ft of rail by hand. Crazy how strong those guys were. Never complained or whined about the heat the entire time. Great group to work with.
I can say the rail companies we work with have some extremely funny people. You all have some hysterical descriptions of people you dont like or the equipment you use. A few examples that crack me up even thinking about them....
I was in a curve design meeting with this track maintenance engineer for CSX and the engineer/owner. The CSX guy didnt like the engineer telling him he was wrong(he was actually right) so he called the engineer a "starfish licker" right in the middle of the meeting. Never seen an engineer bow out so fast in my life. One of the funniest things ive ever seen.
Also, WMATA has these machines that would push dead cars around called a "Hootinanny". It was basically a propane powered mini rail car that could push a fully loaded WMATA car into and out of the work shop bays of the maintenance facility. So we're in a meeting with the head of the maintanence yard that gets the new machine. He starts with what he wants in the thing and keeps calling it the Hootinanny. Our project manager doesnt know what the hell he is talking about so he asks him what is it? Guy gets up, opens the window to see the old mini car pusher sitting there with a stenciled "Hootinanny" on the side of it. They nicknamed the thing because the actual name is too long and it is just easier to call it a Hootinanny. Couldnt help but laugh every time i heard that word called out by suits in our meetings.
I will say that the guys who hand install track are nuts. 8+hour days setting ties, rail and the tie plates is crazy. They finally brought their production equipment in but they installed 5200ft of rail by hand. Crazy how strong those guys were. Never complained or whined about the heat the entire time. Great group to work with.
OP, you on the old Illinois Central or GM&O?
WMATA is considered a sister company and Monday of my current higher-ups came from D.C. We are getting this interesting wheel press machine that is all in one. Has axles, gearboxes, journal bearings and brake discs stocked and the machine mostly automated the installation procedure. Less crane work. We also have a MPI machine pre-wheel press but we have zero qualified certified MPI inspectors.
Wonder how many times BART has asked for business from your company.
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I've always been partial to Swing-Dingle & Cut Out ****. Yes we're definitely a different breed lol.
Great people though and if you're accepted into the brotherhood you're a member for life. But if they don't like you then watch out lol.
There are endless characters with no two days alike!
Old IC. My checks used to say IC dba CN.
Nice. Are you guys glad to be rid of Hunter Harrison? All the CSX guys I'm somewhat familiar with are relishing the man's death.
Track Guy Here. Kevin is spot on with his descriptions.
Started out as a mud hopping clerk, retired 34 years later as a Trainmaster. I retired from a USX shortline in Alabama.
The town I live in is a major CN terminal here in Western Canada. My older brother is a 33 year veteran Engineer. I run a taxi service so we work very closely with CN deadheading transportation employees whereever the company needs to send them. Our harsh winters wreck havoc on rail operations so we are usually insanely busy. I tried to hire on to CN right out of high school but they basically stopped hiring in the early 90's when the caboose was eliminated. Since about 2007 though they've been hiring everyone they can get their hands on...lol!
It's a tough gig. We lost at least 40 guys this year to a commuter rail in Boston.
People don't believe me when I tell them I spend far more time in a cab then I do on a train lol.
And yes winter sucks!
You guys have the unwritten gentlemen’s agreement about the conductor sitting in the front seat?
Yes and I hate it! I'm not in charge of the cab too. Lol
You should be, grab that aux cable, adjust hvac, etc lol.
He doesn’t have ac in his. lol
IDK some of the cabbies are pretty territorial. Don't want to get bit.
Had to turn the heat on when we went to Vermont on Sunday.
The cab I assume does, lol.
Keep that pimp hand strong, if they make you sit up front, take charge.
Heat?
Yeah it was low 40's in Bennington. Thankfully the engine had good heat.
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