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
Grants and Stuff
Posted by Lou on Feb 13, 2009
Wildlife Heritage Foundation gets UP grant .The Wildlife Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving California’s rich heritage of open spaces, agricultural land and wildlife, has received a $5,000 grant from the Union Pacific Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad, to support their Outdoor Environmental Education Program. The program’s goal is to promote conservation education and experiential learning to grades K-5.
The Union Pacific Foundation is funded each year from the operating profits of Union Pacific Corporation.
That’s great stuff. But it makes me a little bit jealous. As important as it is to support the local Community, especially for the Wildlife Heritage Fund (what the heck is that ?), I am going to need some support, too. As an employee I am sitting closer to UP than some Outdoor Foundation. At least I thought I was. Help the outdoor furloughed people. We are increasing and we can be still useful to the Company. As I was told at the hiring session some years ago. This session was very interesting. During the session I was asked several questions about my willingness to work and be ready for some ‘unusual’ work conditions – like be off work for 4 months and than be called to get ready to work in 90 minutes. Hmm, they didn’t mention the 14 months out of work, but surly the 90 minutes call time. The recruiting Manager was an old army guy who sure did know his handwork. “If you don’t have a cellphone to be called to work, UP will provide you one.” Yeah riiight! “ During your first year you may not be able to reach $75.000 but I can assure you that it will be around $50.000. And than the sky is the limit.” HAH!! So, how does this sound to you if you don’t know the background and the real possibilities they provide you ? Pretty good, eh ? So I thought, too. It took me about 5 months to figure out the truth of it all. Now I am still with the company, after 2 years, and I try to work as much as possible. I get here and there a trip, that’s all. Just for ’standing by the Railroad’ and a ‘willingness to work at any time’ we, the furloughed People should get a grant or something else. I would be happy to get some more training on the road. That helps everybody when we get back to work. We will be a 100% rules fit, know the territory and we will be motivated too deep in our work boots. But since Circus Cars in a parade ($30,000 worth!) and the Wildlife Heritage Fund is more important that I am I should dress up like a clown and run through the woods to get a little token of appreciation to keep my fridge full. Just some thoughts…..
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.
Furlough in the State of California (Sacramento)
Posted by Lou on Jan 9, 2009
State of California
Not only Railroaders get furlough. The State of California is in a financial Crisis and is going to furlough. Different to my Railroad, they are furlough only for a few days – will still make money. It’s now hitting everywhere.
Good news from my old Station: In San Luis Obispo (Central Coast California) the Furlough Board was deleted and all members got a job on the Trainmans Extra Board. I am very happy for those folks. Hope it will stay a long time and at last it will get better there. Can this be a little indicator for things going better ? I certainly hope so. My Furlough Board is now ‘down’ from 49 to 43 – what a happiness. How much easier was it with the German Railroad. You got assigned for a Job and you stay on that job forever. If you don’t like the job you could go to your local Human Recource Supervisor (who is NOT several Hundreds of Miles away hiding in the Snow behind Mountains on the Other side of the Country) and talk with them PERSONALLY. Between him/her and you there was always a solution coming up to make BOTH sides happy. In the Rare case you could always depend on your Local Union and TOGETHER we tried to find a solution. The BIG CASE of safty working is to create an envoyment of happiness and fun to work. Happy worker take pride in their work and want to come to work and get back to home. Yes, there were safety rules, but they were created to protect the worker, not the Company.
Today in the Local Newspaper i found this:
Most of California’s general government offices will close the first and third Fridays of each month starting in February.
The first furlough day will be Feb. 6, the Department of Personnel Administration announced in a memorandum Friday.
| Read the rest of this entry » |
Timebook Pro ‘09
Posted by Lou on Jan 3, 2009
There is a great Product called Timebook Pro ‘09 that is very usefull for every Railroad (Engineer or Trainman). Don Buckles did a great job. Beside an excellent Excel – Spreadsheet he offers many PDF Files to keep track of your Earnings. Don was so kind to provide me a Demo Version of his Timebook Pro ‘09. It’s a fully working Sheet – you can find it on my Download Page. Please visit his Website for more information.
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 
A word from Mark Twain
Posted by Lou on Dec 28, 2008
Mark Twain
“A railroad is like a lie you have to keep building it to make it stand.”
Mark Twain
Back where I belong ?
Posted by Lou on Dec 27, 2008
Another call from the RR. “You have been notified …..”
You know what will follow. A more or less friendly Person is telling you that’s time again to worry about your future. Here I am again, furlough with over 40 guys from my Station. Can there be a better start into the new Year ? Jumping around the Christmas tree stopped and we are back to reality.
The Force
Posted by Lou on Dec 26, 2008
The Force
The Force is not with me. The Force is now my Railroad carrier. It’s going to be on the Dark Site. More and More. As a little Stormtrooper I am I can feel the Dark Site grabbing at me and sending me to the Colonies called “Furlough”. It’s an outpost far away from everything where nobody want’s to be. After a few month on that Planet you are going to loose the feeling for Reality and how it is to work on an Imperial Cruiser. I am not part of the Revolution anymore. The UTU Rebellion is giving me a hand and tries to show me the good Force. Will I be able to resist or is it already to late ? The future will show. Please Mr. Dark Young, don’t show me your Power. Still I am with the Empire…..
