Homesick and Cosmo

    First I must apologize for my delay in writing a new post, the internet at the hotel has not been very friendly. 

    So now that we have got that out of the way its time to cover the topic at hand, I am starting to get homesick.  I haven't been home since January 13th, I should finally get to go home around the 6th of Feb.  This job always has a lot of travel and  most times I don't mind it at all, sometimes I like getting to go new places and see new things.  Right now though, I miss my puppies, ponies, husband, bed, satellite TV etc.  God only knows how many episodes of Project Runway and Top Chef I have missed.

    I don't really talk much about being a girl around a bunch of guys because on most days it isn't an issue, and today it still wasn't, but this mix can produce some pretty interesting learning experiences.  For instance, yesterday I bought a Cosmopolitan magazine.  It had the normal Cosmo type stuff on the cover and I left it in the truck. Today as we were waiting for track time, the guys picked it up and started reading it.  Listening to the guys read it and smell the perfume samples was pretty priceless.  There were things like "wow, I am getting my girlfriend/wife this magazine, I like that idea!"  and "ewww that smells like 70's old lady".  I think they will become just as hooked on Cosmo as I am, now if they could just get me to run out and buy a $300 RC car we might be even!

    This week at work has been pretty busy, we put in a switch, did a lot of wiring changes, pissed off a dispatcher (twice, sorry KLH) and are just about ready for the cut in on Monday. The big wigs will start coming in this weekend and we will all have to mind our P's and Q's.  My job at this cut-in will be to keep everyone safe while they are working on the tracks for about 3.5 miles of track.  Trains will have to talk to me before they come into those 3.5 miles.  I have run these type of things before, but never with such an audience, so I am a little nervous.  I will report back on how I actually did and hopefully everyone will live through it and I will still have a job when we are done.

    I am sorry to say I didn't get to many pictures this week, but my foreman took a couple and I did change my profile picture.  Here are a few pictures of me operating our boom truck to get the switch that we replaced into position.

 

 

Very Cold and Flu Season

     Back to the grind out here and not a moment to soon!  We have a big cut in coming up in the beginning of February so we are still busy working on buttoning up the odds and ends that need doing.  Of course the more we look the more odds and ends we find.  So our list continues to grow, and I don't think I will be seeing home for a few more weeks yet.

     So besides having an ever growing to do list, we all managed to come back from safety certification with some degree of the flu.  Six sick people working together can get a  little ugly.  We may have been a little tired and irritable, and if I never here another bowel movement description it will be to soon.  Although that probably won't happen, bowel movements seem to be a once a week topic of conversation.  Weekly I can handle, 3 times a day, is a bit much for me.  Thankfully we all seem to be doing better now.

     Another thing worth note is the FREEZING cold weather.  Here is a picture of me working on a switch today.  I swear I am under there somewhere.  I had on under armor, jeans, long sleeved shirt, sweatshirt, coveralls, jacket, insulated hood thing and wool socks.  I was OK, but I felt a little like the kid from a Christmas Story.  If someone or something had chased me, I would have waddled away as fast as I could, but most old men in wheelchairs would have been able to catch me. 

We also got to see the geometry car yesterday.  I grabbed a quick picture of the cars and put them below. It is a pretty crappy picture, but the best I could do this week.  I have also noticed a lot of "vintage" Amtrak engines coming through, so any rail fans that are interested in getting pictures of some older Amtrak engines they are running through Richmond this week.

Saftey Certified

      Its the beginning of the year and time to redo all of our qualifications and certifications.  In the signal department this means heading to your regions safety certification conference, and thats where I have been all week. We actually hold these bi-annually and  ours is held in Hagerstown, MD.  I am part of the Eastern Region which includes parts of the Con-rail, B&O, C&O and RF&P properties.  It is nice to see some faces you haven't seen in a while and get the chance to see and hear some of the issues and solutions other teams have come up with.
     In past years, this has been called death by power point, you would sit there for 3 days watching 8 hours of power point slides and listen to rule after rule.  It was pretty hard to take, and pretty hard to stay awake some days.  This year they did a pretty good job teaching us some good information and,having some hands on stuff and keeping us awake.  Sure there was still the required FRA training, but they even tried their best to spice that up the best they could.  So hats off to the guys that tried get us educated and keep us entertained at the same time.  This year we had no draft dodging speaker that had so many concussions he wasn't coherent.  Things also ran pretty smoothly, last year was a cluster, late classes, no one real sure what was going on, this year we had a few classes run over but for us we were doing pretty good
     But of course that's not what makes this job fun.  Put 300 signalman in the same place and you are bound to have a lot of fun.  Sadly for you folks, not to much of that will make the Internet.  The best I can do for you is put up a picture of the killer heels of choice this year.  The rest is up to your imagination.

Railroad is Family

     It might seem strange to classify the people that you work with as family instead of co-workers but that is something I do everyday.  When I started working for this company 5 years ago, I went to the REDI center for conductor training, and they told us "Look around, these people will become your family".  I didn't believe them.  I thought a few would become friends, others acquaintances and others annoyances to be tolerated.  After they said that, they had us all write down our name, room number and cell phone numbers on a sheet of paper, made photo copies and handed it out to everyone.  As a girl sitting in a class of 70 guys, I was a little bit nervous.  The list did come in handy later on in our 6 weeks in Atlanta, but not for anything more than you would find in any college dorm.
      Last night my phone rang at about 2am, it was a co-worker's wife and she needed her husband. It was obvious this was more than a jealous wife looking for her husband. I got up and went to the desk and asked for the room number, she wouldn't give it out but did call his room and hand me the phone.  I then asked him for his room number, not wanting to discuss the problem in front of the nice desk lady. I ran down to his room, got everyone on the same page and groggily padded back to my room.  Realize that I am in my pj's with a pair of unlaced work boots on, walking down a hotel hallway.  I have just left my husband in bed and a man in his boxers answered the door I knocked on. This is not a usual work place scenario. This made me once again think of the instructor telling me "Look around these people will become your family".
      In September I got married to my boyfriend of 10 years. When we got together neither of us worked for the railroad, now we both do.  Our wedding was catered by a railroader, we were married by a railroader and there were many guests that were railroaders.  Our true families may have been outnumbered if it wasn't for the crazy schedules we all keep that prevented some railroaders from attending.
     A few months before I left the transportation department I got sick going to Richmond on a train.  I hid it from my engineer, but by the time I got to the hotel, I knew something was really wrong.  I called the train master to let him know what was going on and then called my husband who was thankfully working not to far away.  He carted me to the hospital where I learned I had pancreatitis and needed my gall bladder removed.  I was out of work for 7 weeks. During my off time my co- workers pulled a kitty together of close to $1,000.00 for me.  They do it for everyone who is off and I have thrown my money into a kitty before but I never knew what it meant to the person receiving it.  I was floored, and could not write thank you enough times on that thank you card I posted on the board.
     There are countless other times that I can recall where someone covered for someone else or helped out in one way or another.  This can be a tough job, sometimes physical, out in all weather and away from family and loved ones.  Most times we get along like most families, there are a few black sheep and we might yell and argue but at the end of the day, we let it go.  I have been fortune to have worked with great people in both the transportation department and the signal department and I am happy to consider these people my family.

Why do you work for the railroad?

     This is probably the question I get asked the most.  I get asked by other railroaders, by acquaintances, delivery drivers, and even an occasional relative.  When people ask me this I try not to get offended, even though some do mean it that way. Most though are just curious, I guess I don't fit into any one category. I take it as why does a girl who's favorite color is pink, who loves to wear killer heels and loves a mani/pedi work in a profession that requires not only hard work, but a fair amount of dirt and grime?  I have given a few different answers depending upon the person asking the question.  The simple, most honest answer is; because it pays well, has good benefits, and actually, most days I quite enjoy it. 
     No one is ever satisfied with this answer, so I will assume (perhaps incorrectly) that my readers won't be either.  The follow up question is usually something like, "don't you want to work in an office somewhere?" or "why don't you find a good man to take care of you?"  The answers are, No I don't want to work in an office, I have tried it and my boss would tell you that I did a good job but in her words "Don't sit her next to the window, she might jump out".  I enjoy the outdoors, I grew up as the only girl in the family and I hunted, fished and built forts with my brothers and cousins. I lived in the barn for half of the summers, and probably still would if I hit the lottery.  My nightmare is a cubicle.
     To the second follow up question, I do have a man that does take pretty darn good care of me, even on the days when I want to waffle him with the frying pan.  He takes care of the things any girl needs, to be loved, appreciated and to feel wanted and needed.  I try to do the same type of thing for him. Perhaps I am missing the point of being taken care of, but to me it feels much better when I don't have to ask for money or justify any of my purchases.  When I go to the tack shop (horsey store for the non horsey folks) and I see a pair of boots, or zebra striped wraps that I want, I purchase them.  I do not have to ask anyone for money, justify my purchases to anyone etc.  Sure if there is a major purchase then it is discussed between us,  but otherwise, he spends his money, I spend mine.  Working for the railroad gives me this freedom.
     Butttt you will get dirty! Yes I will get dirty, but they have these neat things called showers, and if I am really savvy, and use soap, the results are amazing! I have spent the majority of my life in the woods, in a barn or playing in a creek and I am still here today to tell the tail.  I did throw away the jeans I was wearing when I was waste deep in ditch water, but the railroad pays me well enough to afford some new jeans.
     So dear readers, the simple answer is probably pretty close to why any of us do the job we do.  It pays well, the benefits are good and I enjoy it most of the time. There is no magic answer, no sad story, just a girl that likes to play outside, but likes to play dress up once in a while to. 

     Ahh back at home.  This half was pretty short, and I am not complaining the next one will be 10 days long.  We got our truck back! I think that was really the most exciting thing that happened this week.  We have been working on our punch list to get ready for an upcoming cut in, so that means doing lots of little stuff.  We did a lot of running bond wire out to the tracks and foaming signal housing and junction boxes.  Here is a picture of one of my fellow employees shrinking the shrink tube on to the splice to insulate it and prevent grounding out.

 

 

     I do have to say we really do get to do a lot of pretty interesting things out here.  I have gotten the opportunity to run a backhoe, a boom truck and a shovel. (OK that last one isn't really that fun)  I am learning how the signals work and how to trouble shoot problems in the system.  One of the things that makes this job so interesting is that no two locations are exactly the same.  Here is a great "for instance" 

This is what we call "Coney Island" and it is at the beginning of a 2 mile long bridge.  The signal you see there is actually sitting on a cantilever upright.  The upright itself is about 20' high, and another 20' to the top of the signal.  You better not be afraid of heights if you do this job!  The other interesting part was the walk way.  Once we figured out how we were going to build it, then we had to make it accessible.  There is a matching one on the other track.  We are not the only ones involved in these decisions, our bosses come out and come up with some pretty good ideas themselves, but there are always changes or issues that come up as you work.  When we were installing the base of the cantilever for this signal first we had to make a road, then we dug up part of an old bridge!

     I have to add one more pic for all the rail fans out there, this is the triple stack in Richmond, VA.  There is one more set of tracks under the track with the grain cars.  I had to settle for two outta three ain't bad because there was no train on the bottom.  The top track is the C&O, the middle track is the SCL and the bottom track is NS.  I grabbed this picture as I was walking back from lunch, but couldn't get my phone out fast enough to catch the engine of the grain train.

     I will be home until Sunday, and then I will be headed for Hagerstown for safety certification. In my next post I will answer the most asked question, "Why do you work for the railroad?"

Thank You Sheehy Ford, or Not

     Ahhh back to work and it feels good.  As I mentioned in one of my previous posts we had a gate mech get knocked down in Newport News.  Someone had a bit to much to drink on New Years Eve and must have mistook the gates for the stripes in the road.  They are now in jail with a bill for a new gate mech, and we had the pleasure of fixing their mess.  Really, its not so bad, one little gate mech.... but it really went OK.  The gate mech part that is.
     You see, orders were to pick up our work truck, the one with the big walk in utility bed and almost ALL of our tools on it, and then head to Newport News.  I dropped this truck off at Sheehy Ford before the winter break for a recall notice on the turbo, an antifreeze smell and an alignment.  We got up there around 0745, walk in, sign the papers and the man says they will bring it around.  At 0815, my counterpart goes back in.  They tell him the battery is dead, they left the railroad radio on, it will be around in just a minute.  At 0930, I go back in, it went a little like this.

Me - Where is my truck

A Sheehy Employee - Umm well the manager asked me to convey to you that you may want to come
                                     back this afternoon.

Me - No, I need that truck now

A Sheehy Employee - OK well I will convey that to the manager
(enter manager)

Manager - Well it really just needs to charge up, we can't get the computer to wake up

Me - Put new batteries in it, I need that truck, now

Manager -  I can't just put new batteries in it, (the leasing company) turned us down for new batteries.

Me - Call them back, or I will put it on the foreman's credit card

     So after that lovely conversation he calls the leasing company back, while he is on hold he looks at the account.  Oh look at that the batteries are STILL UNDER WARRANTY!  I am not happy, but whats done is done.  OK put the new batteries in, our emergency dig ticket is good at 1100, it is 1000 now and we need to get our butts on the road.
     Anyone want to guess what happened at 1045?  That's right readers, they have the batteries in, but they STILL can not get it to start.  OK, I can't wait anymore, we grab some tools and head to News.  
Today we went and grabbed more tools, they are telling me now it will be Monday afternoon before it is ready. Apparently, the body control module is bad.  I have no idea what a body control module is, but they don't have one on hand and it will take them till Monday to get.   Folks we are talking about a truck that has been sitting in their lot for 3 weeks!

     I will have to work on remembering to take pictures to post on here. So my promise to you, is a few more pictures.  Sheehy's promise to me, a working truck on Monday.  Hopefully we all keep our promises.

Railroad Terminology

     Well I have made it to Richmond from my home across the state to start work tomorrow. I have already gotten a call about a gate mech that has been knocked down in Newport News, so I know what we will be working on tomorrow.
     Before I get into reporting on the ins and out of what I do everyday, I thought I should post some of the terminology that is unique to the railroad and specifically the signal department. I know that this is a short list, and I know I am missing a lot, so if I use a word or phrase that you don't understand please feel free to leave a question in the comments section.  I will try to make this more interesting than your average dictionary, but I make no promises.

Cut-in - as in: We have to have everything done by February for the cut-in.  A cut-in is when we turn all the old signals or crossings off and turn on and test the new ones.  Once they pass all of the operational tests, they are turned over to the transportation department and trains can run on them again.

Dark Territory - as in: There is no track circuit here because we are in dark territory.  Dark Territory is simply a section of track that has no signals on it. 

EC-1 - as in: I got an EC-1 from milepost 10 to milepost 12. An EC-1 is a form issued by the dispatcher, it gives the recipient exclusive occupancy of the track.

Fired - as in: Tom got fired for not wearing his safety glasses.  I know that sentence sounds just like getting fired at any normal job but here is the difference, when you get fired here, it means that you go home with out pay for 5 days or 15 days etc.  and then you come back,  Now if you get fired too many times, they can terminate you, which is the same as fired in every other job.

Gate Mech -as in: Some drunk hit the gate mech and knocked it over. The gate mech is the mechanical device that makes the crossing gates go up and down.

Half - as in: We got 20 hours overtime this half. Because we normally work 8, ten hour days and then have 6 days off, which equals 14 days, which is half a month. Therefore, a half is one work period, or half a month.

Megger/Meg - as in: We need to meg this cable before we put it in service. This is a wire insulation checker that we use.

Red block - as in: I have had to much to drink I better red block.  This one is probably exclusive to CSX, it is a program that means you can call in and tell your supervisor/crew management that you need to mark of red block and you will be marked off sick, no questions asked.  Do this more than 3 times a year and you can find yourself in trouble.  Use it once on a short call and you will be fine (ask me how I know)

Short Call- as in: I only got 6 hrs of sleep and got a short call.  This is generally a transportation term, but since I used to work as a conductor, and I used it in an explanation so I figured I better explain it.  A short call, is when a conductor or engineer gets called out with minimal rest between trips.

Shunt - as in: Put down a shunt to be sure the gates go down. A shunt is a wire that has the same resistance in it as a train. We use these to imitate a trains presence to test our systems and be sure they will work.

Terminal Wrench - as in: I need a terminal wrench to get this nut off. All of our terminals are one size and this wrench is standard issue for a signalman.

Terminated - as in: Tom got terminated for getting fired to many times. The same as fired in every other job.