Paul wrote:I just love this old poem. I have no idea who wrote is but who ever it was MUST have been a railroader.
IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO RUN THE TRAIN-
THE WHISTLE I CAN NOT BLOW-
IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO SAY HOW FAR-
THE TRAIN IS ALLOWED TO GO.
IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO SHOOT OFF STEAM-
'NOR EVEN CLANG THE BELL.
BUT LET THE DAMN THING JUMP THE TRACK-
AND SEE WHO CATCHES HELL.
It's reasuring to see that U.P. hires ex- mannagers from the LIRR. (or is it the other way around?)
To the best of my knowledge, this slogan/poem or whatever it is originated with an organization called "Brotherhoods Relief and
Compensation Fund". This outfit provides insurance (at a cost, of course)
to railroad employees who are represented by a union (it is not available
to management people) who get into trouble for various rule violations or
mishaps. It provides a cash payment on a daily basis for an incident
where an covered employee is found at fault or is held out of service
pending an investigation.
Before I hear some critical remarks on here, I will tell you that there are
certain offenses that this insurance does not cover and they are alcahol
use, drug use, fighting, insubornation or stealing among other things.
It is very good insurance to have and provides some funds for the involved employee and his/her family.
It also tends to put your mind at some ease if something unfortunate
should happen, often when least expected.
The outfit is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and railroad
management used to take a very dim view of this insurance but they were
powerless to stop it. Don't know what their position is today regarding
this coverage.
I was one of the first persons on the New Haven Railroad to have this
insurance and I had it for a long time.
Noel Weaver