My Letter to the Railroad
Posted by Lou on Sep 25, 2009
It’s now a week ago that I was very frustrated with the work and furlough Situation that I decided to write a letter to Union Pacific Railroad. I did not expected an answer, just wanted to get something out that’s bordering me. Here is my Letter:
Hello,
Since 2006 I am with Union Pacific Railroad as a Conductor in the Roseville Hub. I love to work for UP – if I only get a chance. In my long Railroad Career (I worked for 17 years with the German Railroad) I’ve never expected a situation like this : several hundreds of Employees are furlough now. The Situation is very bad and the hope to get back to work get’s lower and lower.
There is no financial help or other support from UP for us. I am very glad to have the Health Insurance going on for 4 months.
Every day I am expecting and waiting to go back to work. You can imagine the situation we are in.
What does Union Pacific Railroad expect from me ? Do you want me to come back and be ready for work once there is enough work ?
The answer after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
Back to work (or not)
Posted by Lou on Jul 26, 2009
I finished my Rules Class last week. Here in the Roseville Hub you have to attend to rules class if you want to go back to work and it’s more than 2 months ago you worked. It’s a great and safety way and I really appreciate it. There are so many rules updates in those days that you have many questions about. And since it’s payed by the company, it’s another bonus. Another thing I like a lot – you stay in contact with the other Co-Workers. New faces appear every time and you see some guys you worked before with. Rumors and little stories round up the 2 days and makes it a great experience. You ‘only’ have to concentrate during class and get the test’s done. Some of the GCOR Questions are really tough. Even old, 100 year old guys have some problems with it.
But I was able to pass those tests. Happy I’d return home just to find out that one of my many applications were picked up and I was assigned to a Trainman Conductor Board. Man, I can’t tell you how nervous I was getting back to work. Usually, as of my past experience, I expected to get bumped just short going to work. Not this time ! 4:30 am I got the call the next morning to bring a Z-Train (Container Train 1.st priority) over the mountains north. Left the Station a few minutes later and here we go. I can’t tell you how many beautiful routes we have in California. There were at last 25 Tunnels and as many Bridges we’d passed. On one side the Mountains, 100’s of feet steep high into the sky, on the other site getting down deep to the river. Between us, crawling up the mountains with 25 mph enjoying the scenery many people would pay for.
After a really pleasant ride with good company we arrived at the mountain station – crew change. Usually you have to wait before the new crew is available – not this time. Since it’s a Z-Train the new guys were just waiting for us to arrive and getting on the Train.
14 hours later the same procedure only the other way. Man, was I happy that the Mountains and the Canyon was still there. It was even more beautiful than the way up because I’d know for what I had to look.
I can report that this was the most nicest ride I had so far. Only sad thing that I got bumped from that board 2 hours after I was on duty. Now I am back where I was before but just with a little more smile on my Face and very good memories how nice it CAN be to work for the Railroad. Hopefully I will have the opportunity soon to get my memories refreshed.
Back to work
Posted by Lou on Jul 23, 2009
What a day. Just got back from Rules Class and checked on the Computer my status. And the unbelievable happened: I am back on the Board. What a surprise. Right away for my Birthday (Saturday). I can’t believe that’s happening to me. Now all out there press you thumbs (that’s what we Germans do) so that I will net get bumped before my trip starts. It will be the Mountain Tour : Just from Roseville over the Grade towards Reno / Sparks in Nevada. Hopefully I can post in 2 days about a great trip with some new experience. In a few years (hopefully many) I will put on my gravestone : Worked the Mountain Pool.
More later.
Furlough Chart Roseville Hub
Posted by Lou on May 27, 2009
Here is the newest Furlough Chart for the Roseville Hub, UP. Collected by French Morgan, SLO Trainman. Welcome to the newest Record High. If you among them, be proud of the Record. If not, be happy.
Please Click on the Picture to see it in it fullest Glory.
198 on 5/11/2009, 197 on 5/15/2009, 191 on 5/18/2009, 221 on 5/21/2009 and 240 on 5/27/2009.
Alaska Railroad Corporation is hiring
Posted by Lou on May 26, 2009
Desperate to work ? The Alaska Railroad is hiring Breakman positions. The Opening is until 05/28/09.
More information after the Break
Job Listings for Railroaders
Posted by Lou on May 12, 2009
Here are some links where you can find Job Listings for Railroaders. The list is not complete, but you get a lot of links. Hope you can find your Dream Job.
Follow this link to get a PDF List of available Jobs.
More Links after the Break.
Frazier Mud Slide 2008, “we lost a car!”
Posted by french on Apr 11, 2009
The Frazier Mud Slide of 2008 was a very memorable event. NO injuries, but minor problems from time to time … like, “we lost one of the dump cars over the side at Abernethy.” Well, that’s not quite what was said. Yes, I was listening on the radio. Our crew was on the other side of the mud slide, moving mud & debris to Wicopee (more of that later). On the radio the crew on the other side calls the dispatcher and says, “… our train is back together and we are ready for another load of mud.” The dispatcher says, “…what do you mean your train is back together? Did you set a car out?” The train crew says (chuckling), “…sort of, one of the dump cars went down the side of the mountain during dumping.”
Read more in the PDF entitled, dumping_mud_at_Abernethy.pdf
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 
Frazier Mud Slide 2008, how vertical
Posted by french on Mar 22, 2009
The Frazier Mud Slide in early 2008 was one of the biggest & most costly projects UP has ever undertaken. Impressive effort. Download the PDF (on the slide face.pdf) for brief look at one day in the life of a Frazier Mud Slide work train.
Furlough Statistics
Posted by Lou on Mar 20, 2009
Furlough since 7/27/2007 - 220401
(click to enlarge)
Here are some (unofficial) statistics showing the raise of furlough people in the Roseville Hub, California, done by French Morgan of San Luis Obispo. As you can see the highest is in March, and March is not even over yet. The recession is hitting the Railroaders very hard and there is no place to exercise your seniority. Several new hires did not even had one trip to get some experience. Sadly we don’t have any AWTS Boards here like other Hubs have – to guarantee you 8 days of work every month, to keep you working and experienced.
A few days ago I wrote a letter to UP asking about what the Company is doing against it and what they want us furlough people to do. The answer was not unexpected. The fault is, of course, the economy. They still expect several Railroaders to retire in the new future and want us to stay ‘by feet’ to be recalled as soon as possible.
