UPRR engineer wrote:
Like pilot a rail grinder train and crew, nope no contractors. About the closest thing to that was me looking after a gang (UP Guys, and that wasnt really my job, just didnt want to see anyone get killed) when the work got close to my mile post or switches. The few contractors i have saw or worked close with were the guys picking up the used tie piles and the form B forman looked after them. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
We pilot the LORAM rail grinder too, and the ballast cleaner. Both of those are lousy, noisy jobs but you usually make money. Also Sperry cars. Those things make for a long day, especially on old stick rail. And we pilot any crane with a drawbar. Those are also money-makers.
Chris_S68 wrote:Done that before. It's really fun when they give you a POS radio and the trains can't hear you and you can barely hear them. I swear, every time I was assigned a radio from the main office at Proviso... People tend to get a little irate when the scoots get delayed. Finally climbed to the top of a highway embankment just to get out a decent signal.
Agreed. Cell phones are really indispensable when you're flagging in the middle of nowhere. Technically, we're not supposed to use our personal cells while on duty but practicality wins out every time.