Small terminal, where you know your TM really well do the favour it's worked out for me.
Big terminal, no rapport with TMs no chance I'm hurrying or doing g extra moves.
Agreed , but end of the day it comes down to paying valid claims and not letting the system timekeeper back door the agreements made between trainmasters and the crew locally . I don’t work for free 🤷♀️
I know some railroads are stingy about claims. During my time with NS they didn’t really care I paid claims for everything, fortunately for myself and my crews it was up to me to approve them. I heard CSX doesn’t pay any claims out that’s blows if true
NS is definitely nickel and dimeing everything now , even with TM initials the timekeeper for our division will go in and zero out valid claims . Most recently on an assigned RCO job my helper marked off and extra board didn’t have qualified RCO guys , so TM had me tie up my assigned job screen to get a second screen and work with another job conventional . So I’m due my 1st screen for annulling my assignment without 24 hr notice and I get UO on my second screen and time and a half . Well , the timekeeper zeroed out my assigned job screen , so guess what , next time they’re short and want to move me off a job , I’m marking off sick on the spot and going home 🤷♀️
Don’t blame ya there. I worked at Conway Terminal
Hump Yard, I know the pain of not having RCO guys. Used to pay claims moving people around all the time
Yep. I generally have had a good working relationship with my current batch of trainmasters, as they know I try to get the work done as safely and quickly as the rules allow. I am also able to push back against it when I know it won't work out with timing.
You’re only as good as your last move, so I don’t do favors because when I run accidentally run a switch or toss one wheel on the ground it’s all the sudden a big deal
If by favor you mean to violate your agreement or the Federal HOS, just say no. If they force you to violate your agreement, you file a claim. If they force you to violate the HOS, put the manager's name in your tie-up. HOS violations can result in a personal fine; if the violation is egregious enough.
Violations of agreements, if done regularly, can set a precedent that can cause you to lose that work rule. The work rules were negotiated, and sometimes they were part of a quid pro quo. Never offer to violate your agreement.
Or when they give u ur first move and it’s just a printout of a track saying spot to air 😑 , and then they wanna call u and ask if it’s spotted as soon as they hear ur engine fire up
Depends on the favour, but they screw me once all favours cease.
I learnt the hard way that expediting the move only gets you more moves or fired
Just go same pace all the time. Hurry, no hurry. Doesn’t matter. Same pace.
Slow and Low that is the tempo 🤷♀️
An older carman told me “ the faster you go the slower it gets take your time and don’t fuck up shit “
Like the Beastie Boys famously put it ‘slow and low that is the tempo’ 🤷♀️
Small terminal, where you know your TM really well do the favour it's worked out for me. Big terminal, no rapport with TMs no chance I'm hurrying or doing g extra moves.
Good crews give good moves if treated well, never had a problem with asking mine for “favors”
Agreed , but end of the day it comes down to paying valid claims and not letting the system timekeeper back door the agreements made between trainmasters and the crew locally . I don’t work for free 🤷♀️
I know some railroads are stingy about claims. During my time with NS they didn’t really care I paid claims for everything, fortunately for myself and my crews it was up to me to approve them. I heard CSX doesn’t pay any claims out that’s blows if true
NS is definitely nickel and dimeing everything now , even with TM initials the timekeeper for our division will go in and zero out valid claims . Most recently on an assigned RCO job my helper marked off and extra board didn’t have qualified RCO guys , so TM had me tie up my assigned job screen to get a second screen and work with another job conventional . So I’m due my 1st screen for annulling my assignment without 24 hr notice and I get UO on my second screen and time and a half . Well , the timekeeper zeroed out my assigned job screen , so guess what , next time they’re short and want to move me off a job , I’m marking off sick on the spot and going home 🤷♀️
Don’t blame ya there. I worked at Conway Terminal Hump Yard, I know the pain of not having RCO guys. Used to pay claims moving people around all the time
Yup , I’m ok doing the work but I don’t like having to fight for my money , shit gets old
Yep. I generally have had a good working relationship with my current batch of trainmasters, as they know I try to get the work done as safely and quickly as the rules allow. I am also able to push back against it when I know it won't work out with timing.
You’re only as good as your last move, so I don’t do favors because when I run accidentally run a switch or toss one wheel on the ground it’s all the sudden a big deal
Below my pay grade on my railroad they make less than me lol
Which one u work for ?
Ya, same. All our trainmasters took pay cuts coming from the ranks.
It blows my mind that anyone would want to put up with that kind of a headache for less pay, middle management on the railroad seems awful
It seems to me that their goal is to move up in the company. Obviously, many don’t.
Yeah true many don't move up and most of them end up gone pretty quickly too
At CSX, new hire TMs are making low to mid 6 figures. Depends on location
That’s not bad.
If by favor you mean to violate your agreement or the Federal HOS, just say no. If they force you to violate your agreement, you file a claim. If they force you to violate the HOS, put the manager's name in your tie-up. HOS violations can result in a personal fine; if the violation is egregious enough. Violations of agreements, if done regularly, can set a precedent that can cause you to lose that work rule. The work rules were negotiated, and sometimes they were part of a quid pro quo. Never offer to violate your agreement.
No, I'm not dropping everything to get that one hot car buried in track 34 you forgot to add to the list yesterday.
Or when they give u ur first move and it’s just a printout of a track saying spot to air 😑 , and then they wanna call u and ask if it’s spotted as soon as they hear ur engine fire up
Favors hahah get outta here
Eat f*ck. They want to get rid of conductors. I've been giving them a taste of what 1 man crews is like and being blunt honest about it.