‘My’ German Railroad – ICE with Tilting Technology (ICE T)
Posted by Lou on Jun 4, 2009
The ICE is the flagship product of Deutsche Bahn. The range of fast ICE connections has been steadily expanded since 1991.
The Reason for an ICE with Tilting Technology
The first two ICE generations are able to achieve their short journey times, which have met with excellent response in the market, only when travelling on purpose-built track. However, there is also a demand for ICE connections on routes on which the construction of dedicated ICE tracks is unacceptable for economic reasons owing to the comparatively low demand. In order to offer shorter journey times combined with tried-and-tested ICE comfort and convenience on such routes too, DB introduced the ICE with tilting technology (ICE T) on 30 May 1999. This system, which has been in successful operation in Italy for decades, means that the train tilts inwards by up to 8° when travelling through curves, in much the same way as a motor cyclist. This allows it to travel at 30% higher speed in curves. Needless to say, this does not in any way impair safety or comfort for the passengers. Read the rest of this entry »
What’s new ?
Posted by Lou on Apr 5, 2009
Nothing new from the Home front. There are right now furlough’s everywhere and it seems not to end. I had some little hope to find some work in Denver, Colorado. By mouth to mouth I was told there is some work there for lower seniority guys. But as it is always with mouth to mouth – nothing behind. Contact with some Locals showed there are plenty of furlough boards there, too. A friend of my wife is working somewhere in Texas for a little local Railroad. They are fighting, too. No one is furlough there but thinking of working for them is more than a dream. He told me that BNSF is going to furlough more than 200 guys. Oh, btw BNSF – they are going to change their Telephone and Communication Devices to some Microsoft Stuff. Hopefully their Devices are better than some of their Software Stuff 
Stations in Berlin, the railway capital
Posted by Lou on Mar 29, 2009
In the 19th century, Berlin was Germany’s railway capital. Railway lines led into Berlin from all directions and resembled the shape of a star. Magnificent stations were a symbol of economic wealth. Berlin, however, did not have a central station.
Potsdamer, Anhalter, Görlitzer, Frankfurter, Schlesischer, Stettiner, Hamburger and Lehrter Bahnhof were the names of the long-distance railway stations in Berlin in the 19th century. They were the starting point and end point of the long-distance lines owned by private railway companies, and laid the foundation stone for Berlin’s development as the country’s railway capital. As was also the case in other big cities in Europe, stations were located outside the city, where there was space and relatively cheap land available. When the first line from Potsdam to Berlin opened in 1838, the city had no less than 300,000 residents.
Lokführer
Posted by Lou on Mar 1, 2009
Did I ever mentioned that my younger brother back in Germany is an engineer ? Years after I started with the German Railroad he decided to do the same. Since I was often home, had a lot of days off and plenty of money to spend on gadgets, it seemed to him a good decision. I helped him to find a spot so he joined the Railroad. His career started a little bit different than mine. See, the Job at the German Railroad starts with a 3 year training. During this time you go through all different crafts. You work in the Yard, you are on the Road, some days you are a Dispatcher and some you are a Conductor on Passenger Trains. There are no freight Conductors in Germany. So in his first 3 years he saw a lot – all aspects of the Railroad. Usually you go a few weeks in Class – study the rules and stuff – than you practice the new learned stuff out in the field with an assigned Person. After the 3 years you do a big test and than you decide what you liked most and where are the best chances for you to work. His dream was being an engineer. His first Hub he got assigned to was only 20 minutes from home. Get your Passenger train out of the yard in the morning, make 2 trips and than go home. Once a week he has to bring his train to the roundhouse (which is, btw a real roundhouse) for check ups and maintenance. His paycheck is not as high as here in the States, but it’s OK to make a good living. Regular work is 40 hours a week with 2 days off. Everything over 40 hours will be put into a special account. At the end of the year you can decide to take the hours off (payed) or let the Railroad pay you out for that. Another nice plan, which he choose, put the hours on a life account. That means every hour you earned on that account get’s towards your retirement. The regular way to get retired is to reach 65 years of age to get the full benefits for the retirement. He already figured out that, if he works the same hours he is working now, he will retire at the age of 52 or 53. With full pay until he is 65 and than he is getting the retirement plan. Folks, I am so jealous. And the retirement is not bad, either. You get around 75% of your last pay but with much lower taxes. Health plan is included and does not have to be payed extra. I will talk to my local chairman about those German plans – I am sure I will get a giggle out of him.
Lifetime German Railroader
Posted by Lou on Feb 1, 2009
After 6 years of Service for the German Railroad the Deutsche Bahn (German Railroad) offered me a Lifetime work protection. It means: you are now an official Government worker. With a lot of other things comes the guarantee not to be fired from the Railroad. Whatever you do, you can’t be fired. If you can’t work at one place they have to offer you another position. Of course when you do something illegal, you have to go to jail. But if you come out, you are with the Railroad. It’s really a nice feeling – you and your family are protected forever and ever. Somehow, I miss that here with the Railroad. Ok, the American Railroad is not a Government institution as the German is (was, they are no longer hiring you as an official worker) but Railroad is Railroad, so let me compare both (setting smile on). There are some managers out there to look after you. But the difference is: you will not get fired or terminated or locked up in a Closet. My big boss came over sometimes to have a visit – to talk with me about some new stuff they are going to do, but before that he called me on my phone and asked me if it’s OK to come by and have a talk. And talk means: you sit down with him over a cup of coffee and some cake (germans have coffee and cake every day around 2pm). Sure, if I did something wrong (which never happened – cough..sniff) there was a lecture that comes with the talk, but always in a very nice way. I miss that a little bit. Sure, things are really different here – Managers are now here to help you and give some advice, but it always comes with a test or a lecture. And if you did something wrong (or they think you did something wrong anyway) you get some points taken from you, fired for a few days or weeks, Toilet paper is positioned in a ‘non reachable place’, your weekly chocolate ratio will be terminated – you get the point. No wonder you make a mistake – the pressure is very high with the axe rotating over your head. My point is this, get the pressure off and talk with us, the workers out there. PUFF – If my words fall onto the right ears – they are doing exactly that. There are not so many managers out there, so instead you will get a visit from a person who is like you; somebody who trained you or somebody you worked with last week. So what am I wanking about? Nothing, just some thoughts. Hmm, the reason for these thoughts must be that I got tested 2 weeks ago and I wasn’t at work! It was not a good test because it reduced my perfect score of 1000 points by 12 points! What a bad furloughed person I am. I really have to take my furlough a little bit more seriously. Silly me, I got tested without even being there. Perhaps that was my mistake so I must get some points taken off. After all they must be right, right?
German Railroad TV
Posted by Lou on Jan 16, 2009
Deutsche Bahn
‘My’ old German Railroad (Deutsche Bahn) has a very nice and unique Service : DeutscheBahnTV. Follow the Link and you are able to see the Live TV Station that shows everything about the DB. There are very interesting Stories all the time. Often there are Camera’s on the Engines so you can see the Live Ride through some of the most beautiful Areas of Germany. How’s about a nice Ride along the Rhine River from Cologne (Koeln) to Koblenz ? Also interesting Facts about the Cars and Locomotives. Of course it’s all in German, but the pictures/videos talk for themselves. I am usin Linux and watch the live Stream with VLC. There is also a Windows / OSX Version available. I am not sure if the Windows Media Player is able to show the content, but it should. If the link is not working for your Software / OS try to copy the link and paste it into the desired Application. Ok folks, now I am homesick and have to watch the latest show. For more information visit Deutsche Bahn TV. The Homepage of the Bahn is also available in english. Once you in the mood don’t forget to visit the Railion Homepage for the largest European freight railroad.
The Most Negative Week in Railshare History!!!
Posted by Lou on Jan 15, 2009
Railfax reports what we already know : it’s going down and it seems not go get better soon. Highest number of negative year-over-year. That’s something to look forward to in my railroad future. Checking the furlough boards shows me even deeper the trouble I am into. The nunbers in front of me are rasing constantly, and the total number is at record high. Now it takes a 2004 guy to work at my Hub. With my early 2007 seniority date you can figure out when I will be called back to work. Hm, perhaps I should ask to get my German Railroad seniority date transfered. With the starting year 1986 I can hold any position out there, heck, I could be President of this company. Yeah, let’s go for it. I am starting to make little stickers that you can put next to the funny ‘Stop Smoking’ Signs you find on every Engine. The Sticker could show ‘Lou for President’ – hm, already taken. Perhaps ‘You run the Railroad – I destroy it’ – hm, already taken by a big company up in the North. That’s not an easy task. Perhaps you have an idea.
Looking back
Posted by Lou on Dec 31, 2008
As the year passed by I am looking back to my time with the German Railroad back in the 80’s. There were good times. I remember one of my first shifts in the Yard. Just started a few day’s before and they put me on the night shift Helper. The Yard Dispatcher put’s you everywhere, you go from A to B (all in the Yard). Since I was the new guy on the shift it was my duty to bring some Beer to help the Shift pass by. I didn’t want to be cheep, so on top of the 12 pack of Beer I put some hard core Schnaps. This Schnaps comes close to the 100% Alcohol level – perhaps it makes you even blind.
After a little sit in – you might want to call it Job Briefing – the Beer was nearly gone. I had to go to the Departing Rails and make a little set out. Easy job: Talk to the Engineer, made arrangements with the Dispatcher. I walked down the train to the cut out and made it. Jumped to the next track and gave the Engineer the Signal to proceed forward with my Hand latern. Worked fine and after 30 minutes the set out was made and the train ready to leave.
On my way back I’d noticed a little bit trouble near the office. My Co-workers are running around the Building with Flash lights in their hands. “What’s going on ?” my question. “We are looking for Jim, he stepped out to water some plants (pee), but he is not back. He has to work on the Train 54211.” “Don’t worry”, I said, “Since I am already cold, let me handle the Train. Make sure you leave me some Schnaps, it’s going to snow and I will be cold when I am back”. I tried to impress my Co-workers with my willingness to work extra jobs – I did not care about the Schnaps. Just sounded cool – wanted to be in the Gang. So I left and worked with the Train. Don’t have to mention that that 54211 is the worst train on the shift; don’t have to mention they didn’t tell me.
After 2 hours I went back to the Office looking forward to sit next to the oven and get the snow of my Helmet. It really began to snow and there was a thick layer of the white stuff between the rails. Again, Flashing lights around the Office. “We can’t find Jim. He is missing now since 3 hours. Help searching.” Grumpf, just back from 2 jobs, freezing my behind off, I joined the Search group looking for Jim. After nearly 2 hours we finally found him – behind the Hump. He was laying down on the ground and we started to fear the worst. His body was coverd with a thick layer of snow and only the Bottle opening was sticking out marking his place in the snow. The Schnaps-Bottle was empty, he was full. Good thing that alcohol keeps fluids away from freezing – I am sure this Blood was full of it. That might saved his life. For me it was a hard night without any sleep. For him, a very short one with a lot of sleep.
I am missing the good old Railroad times
