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.
Extended unemployment benefits
Posted by Lou on Mar 23, 2009
Here are the newest Information about the Unemployment benefits. Below is the FAQ. You can find out if you are qualified for the 13-week extension.
The Information can also found on the RRB Website. Hope this information bring some light into your Tunnel. You can also Download this information (and than some) in a PDF I created in my Downloads Section.
The Act also provides an appropriation of $20 million to be used for payment of additional extended unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The new law provides the temporary extended benefits to employees receiving normal unemployment benefits for days between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009.
- Railroad workers who previously were not eligible for extended unemployment benefits because they did not have 10 years of service may be eligible for benefits of up to 65 days within an extended period consisting of 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
- Railroad workers who previously were eligible for extended unemployment benefits of up to 65 days may now be eligible for benefits of up to 130 days within an extended period consisting of 13 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
- The latest date that an extended benefit period under these special provisions may begin is December 31, 2009, with payments stopping when the $20 million has been expended.
The RRB will notify eligible individuals of their new rights to extended benefits and provide additional information about those benefits as soon as possible.
New Record
Posted by Lou on Mar 22, 2009
Big Shock again. Roseville hit’s the new Record high of 60 furlough’s. That’s the highest number I since I am following the boards. Always being told that it’s getting better from March / April on I am not sure to believe in that anymore. It’s only the recession ore is it a way, to run a more cheap and profitable Railroad ? At last the drug Trains from Mexico are doing well. More and more drugs are being smuggled by Railroad.
U.S. sues Union Pacific over fines for drugs – is shown on the news.
The ongoing dispute between Union Pacific Corp. and the federal government about restricting drug smuggling on the railroad’s trains has spawned two more lawsuits over nearly $38 million in fines that Union Pacific has refused to pay.
The fines against the railroad are related to roughly 40 incidents in which U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents found drugs stashed in railcars crossing the border between the U.S. and Mexico from November 2001 until October 2006.
Some Trains are doing very well, sadly not here in Northern California. But being on a drug train is not exactly what I want to do. And, after all, the time of the ‘good old Caboose’ is over, right ?
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.
Speech enable
Posted by Lou on Mar 19, 2009
I’am testing a new feature. You can let the computer read the entries for you. I think the speech is very good and understandable. But since I am german with a strong accent, everything sounds the same to me 
I wish we would have this for the radio when the Dispatcher is giving you some instructions. Most likely the Loudspeaker is only installed over the the engineer stand so for people like me, it’s very hard to understand ANYTHING. Lovely if you have to get some very important instructions down …
So let me know what you think about this new feature – I am only testing it now. Since it’s optional, no big deal. Remove it or prove it. It seems it’s messing up with the format a little bit, I have to work on it.
As usual, Comments welcome.
You know you are working in the wrong Yard if ….
Posted by Lou on Mar 17, 2009
- The Engineer is wearing a “Talledega 500″ T-shirt and muttering to himself, “No brake, only RUN 8.”
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You beg the Yardmaster to let you spot the Slaughter House, because the smell on the pit helps masks your Foreman’s cologne.
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The Yardmaster on duty used to be a clerk.
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The Foreman on the job is actually a ‘Planner’ that just got bumped.
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You just learned that the Foreman and Engineer have loaded up with over $5,000 worth of job insurance and they announce: “It’s time for some Kamikaze Switching!”
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Your helper shows up for work with an umbrella instead of a rain suit.
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Your Engineer insists on loosening his suspenders, taking off his shoes, and eating a whole fried chicken before moving the locomotive.
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Your boots have been on the railroad longer than the new Trainmaster.
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The Foreman and the Engineer are both from Alabama, after work they invite you to come on up for a little “Snipe Hunting.”
- The Yardmaster radios your Foreman telling him to be sure and pull the Rips, the Foreman replies: “Only if you come down here and pull my finger first!”
- Any more suggestions, please put some in the comments ….
Vice President Biden, Railroad Administrator, Members of Congress Announce Funding for Amtrak in Recovery Act
Posted by Lou on Mar 16, 2009
Standing at Washington, DC’s Union Station, one of the most traveled railway stations in the nation, Vice President Joe Biden announced that Amtrak will receive $1.3 billion in grant funding from the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to expand passenger rail capacity. He was joined by Jo Strang, Acting Federal Railroad Administrator, along with several members of Congress, including: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA); Senator John Kerry (D-MA); Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV (D-W.Va); Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL); Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ); Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE); Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.); Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL); Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD); Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA); Congressman Christopher Carney (D-PA); and Congressman Andre Carson (D-IN).
Working the Frazier Mud Slide
Posted by Lou on Mar 15, 2009
Remember last years mud Slide in Oregon ? My friend French Morgan, Conductor out of San Luis Obispo, was ‘forced’ to work there for a few month. He did a great job helping the Trains going and now he is proudly looking back at another great experience. People like him helped UP getting through this Natural Disaster.
This is a great little story with pictures of his day work. French is not only a great photographer, he is doing the SLO Chalk board and also the Sparks Chalk board which you will find in the download Section, also.
