Some April Fool

Plannin last trip will be APR 4

39 left - They reset my clock again when I was not at home

See related post

They reset my clock again when I was not at home - I missed out on 48 hours rest because our call time was 2'45" after midnight... stupid and not the intent of the law.

Mrs. T wants my to lay off... I'm pretty wore out

Over 126 hours in 20 days so far this month... be glad I am not your Airline pilot.

Here is my work schedule

START DATE/TIME END DATE/TIME DESCRIPTION
2012/03/01 1230 2012/03/01 1600 DEADHEAD LAUREL POOL
Job: DHLA 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: DHLAV1
2012/03/02 0620 2012/03/02 1805 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: MMISLAU102
2012/03/03 2130 2012/03/04 0800 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: GWOLINB901
2012/03/04 2130 2012/03/05 0625 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: XTACWOL902
2012/03/06 0545 2012/03/06 1700 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: CEBMSPB042
2012/03/07 0745 2012/03/07 1105 DEADHEAD LAUREL POOL
Job: DHLA 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: DHLAV3
2012/03/09 0115 2012/03/09 0835 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: MLAUSPO408
2012/03/10 0610 2012/03/10 1345 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: ERBESCM032
2012/03/11 2100 2012/03/12 0025 DEADHEAD LAUREL POOL
Job: DHLA 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: DHLAV3
2012/03/12 2200 2012/03/13 0600 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: ERBESXM038
2012/03/14 0400 2012/03/14 1335 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: CEBMSPB046
2012/03/15 0630 2012/03/15 0810 DOGCATCH LAUREL POOL
Job: DCLA 01 From HELEMT To HELEMT Train: CSXMRBE0DC
2012/03/15 0810 2012/03/15 1140 DEADHEAD LAUREL POOL
Job: DHLA 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: DHLAV1
2012/03/16 0945 2012/03/16 2010 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: MLAUPAS315
2012/03/17 1300 2012/03/17 2030 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: MMISLAU116
2012/03/18 2005 2012/03/19 0510 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: CBTMNWE020
2012/03/20 0245 2012/03/20 1205 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: BPTLBIL117

49 left - Told you so

If you don't want to listen to me gripe then now would be a good time to click the back button.

I scolded the crew office for waiting until dark to deadhead us.

Deadheading in the van is the most dangerous thing we do and doing it at night is even worse.

It isn't the crew office fault. It is the dispatchers office. I told them that too as way of apology. Then thanked 'em for listening to me rant.

I spent 2 years on the safety committee trying to get this concept hammered home.
Little did I realize I was banging my head against the wall.
Actually, that isn't true. I knew it from the get go.

It was just dumb to deadhead us at night on all fronts. Now I am in Helena waiting 'til it gets dark to run the train home.

Told 'em so. Wished I hadn't.

P.S. Riding a motorcycle is inherently risky... I NEVER ride at night

Now for a political comment.

I saw this quote and changed it slightly so that it exactly reflects what I was thinking.

You really could not make up how ridiculous the republican primary season and the debates have been. The amazing thing is how anyone could watch this and still be willing to vote for one of the participants.

71 - Uuugggh, will he make it?

I'll attempt to update with photos when I get to Helena... been busy at the RR

START DATE/TIME END DATE/TIME DESCRIPTION
2012/02/03 0500 2012/02/03 1515 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: GWOLINB928
2012/02/04 0415 2012/02/04 1645 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: MSPOLAU403
2012/02/05 1600 2012/02/06 0040 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: HKCKPAS903
2012/02/06 1845 2012/02/07 0215 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: ESPBEBM020
2012/02/09 0030 2012/02/09 0645 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: SKCKTAC306
2012/02/10 0455 2012/02/10 1305 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: HPASKCK908
2012/02/11 1945 2012/02/12 0640 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: CSXMRBE023
2012/02/12 2230 2012/02/13 0810 LA25
Job: LA25 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: ERBESCM019
2012/02/16 1230 2012/02/17 0025 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: MLAUMIS116
2012/02/17 1845 2012/02/18 0200 LA06
Job: LA06 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: ENWEBTM004

78 left - the week flew by

If this last week is any indication, these next 78 days are going to be gone before I know it. I talked to the RRR board. Need some paperwork and I'm otta here. Looks like I'll make about $200 per month more than I estimated. No need to hang around and run the train.

Had a 6'15" trip on a stack train then a good trip home on a PASKCK

Caught a Coal train up and did about as well as you can... superb power and helpers were waiting.

Have some pics to post later.

85 left - Holiday Pay

Super Bowl Sunday has such a Holiday feel. I should get holiday pay.
Game starts at 4pm... I'm on the lineup for 345pm KCKPAS

Called for 1600 - straight shot except helpers on rear at Livingston and off at Bozeman.

Tied up at 0040... not bad

Picture to follow... I took one with my phone after off duty, then left the phone at the depot.

86 - Got get used to that again

Didn't sleep well in Helena.. gotta get used to that again after not working for 6 weeks.
Called for 0415... should have been called for 0600. So, little sleep for no good reason. Gotta get used to that again.
The train ahead did not have as good as power as us and yet did not need helpers. We were right on their block but they went down to Townsend for a train that we waited at Winston for. Gotta get used to that kind of dispatching again.
We had 7700 tons so could not solo Bozeman Pass. 400 tons over the guideline which is nothing.
Waited 3 1/2 hours in Bozeman for Helpers.
Died at Craver.. crew van home... 13 hours on duty. Gotta get used to that.
No chance for off duty photo of train.

87 to go - Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle said he would have played for free.

Like Mickey, I would run the train for free.

The RR however will have to pay me for my inconvience.

Lineup was 2330 then 0200 then 0400. I was called for 0500 which means the phone rang at 0300.

Power on the grain train but we kicked out 2 bad orders.

Good trip once under way. The lead unit did not load under 13 mph. that makes it hard to start the train with just the DP on the rear and 1 unit working up front. Some issue with the governor also made the unit smoke badly.

No more vacation / less than 90 days

I am marked up... LA25-01... turn is out of town I should work THURS... with a little luck.. steal the Stack Train from Jack!

We don't often get to do this in JAN in Montana. Nice to get out and ride... no traffic at all.

I'm on vacation but there still be some railroading going on

We are in Memphis for the Holidays.

This little guy is too cute for words... bought this for my Harry Potter addicted daughter but guess who likes it? We are not allowed to turn it off while he is awake.

ML home LM up, Dodging Winter - 135 to go

Caught the ML ribbon rail home and turned right around to catch the LM back out on our rest... at least that is what the current lineup shows... never mind we are not rested yet so it won't really happen... this is bogus information.. I sure get tired of that.
Train Call Time Assign Rested Available
MLAUMIS118 09:30-17 R LA26 LA26 07:55-17 09:55-17
Helper Arrive Depart 11:30-17 E

I love my job, I love my job, I love my job. Last trip before vacation for 6 weeks. I'm dodging winter.

EDIT UPDATE 0930: we ended up getting a Grain Train at 1130... rather have the LM!
GTHPKAL915 11:30-17 R LA26 LA26 Rested 09:55-17 EBLGS A 09:30-17
Helper Arrive Depart 13:00-17 E

2045 Update 2 from Helena... tied up at 2045... that's 8'45" on duty on a "heavy"... very rare, very rare

Didn't work much last half - put in a bunch of vacation days -

START DATE/TIME END DATE/TIME DESCRIPTION CREW

2011/12/04 2130 2011/12/05 1015 LA24 LA24
Job: LA24 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: HKCKPAS902
2011/12/05 2320 2011/12/06 0745 LA24 LA24
Job: LA24 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: ECECSCM139
2011/12/09 2230 2011/12/10 0845 LA26 LA26
Job: LA26 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: GSSDTAC909
2011/12/11 0230 2011/12/11 1030 LA26 LA26
Job: LA26 01 From HELEMT To LAURMT Train: ECECCAM001
2011/12/14 2145 2011/12/15 0945 LA26 LA26
Job: LA26 01 From LAURMT To HELEMT Train: GHGMINB913

You would think they would learn - 136 days left

I hate to complain... it's so common.

Dispatchers have got to where they are hard pressed for some reason to give us information.

We caught the U-MISLAU... it was an empty ribbon rail train.

Years ago they tacked one of these trains on the rear of my 196 train. I warned the Helena trainmaster it wasn't a good idea. The equipment is old and the cars are light. It's a recipe for sliding wheels. My complaint was ignored. We went through Lombard and the crew there told us we had wheels sliding. It was so cold that it was impossible to get a good release. I had stopped the train, made a full service and continued but because the ribbon rail train was so far back there we could not see it. 5-7" flat spots on 9 cars were the result. We set 7 of them out at Stanley and 2 more at Clarkston.

I caught this one today at 0035. Dark but only 35 cars... We had the MRL 256... the bell quit, the radio didn't have a screen, it had flat spots and we had to inspect the power. We also had the MRL 290... both with red ball paint. I intended to get pics after I was off duty but it didn't happen. Photo above is my file photo in the old paint. Is this the last blue power I will ever run?... kinda fun, I do like the old stuff.

I thought maybe they had learned a lesson with these trains. Nope... doomed to make the same mistake they wanted to have us pickup the east ML traffic at Livingston. Too bad they didn't ask us until we were nearly to Big Timber. We did pick up the Mean Green Machines (The shuttle power) It would have worked as it has been unseasonably warm so far this year.

163 left - Deadhead...NOT!

Pretty good snowstorm overnight.

RR: Looked at the lineup and stood for a deadhead at 10am but it was already past 8. Called the crew caller and let him know I was willing to deadhead BY TRAIN ONLY. The roads are way too slick to deadhead by crew van. Now I'm on the lineup for 1600 Coal load. They do listen? Who knew.

Tried to fire up the new snow blower... it would not start. Diagnosed it as old gas. Draining it now while I post this. Piss poor design... impossible to get to the air inlet... there is no air cleaner! There was one bolt behind a welded bracket. The engine would have to be removed to get to it. Bent the bracket - hey it isn't an airplane so what.

Update: As I left to go to work I noticed the snowplow had buried the sidewalk again.... grrrr

RR update: under 10 hours on a Coal load in 3F weather... pretty much unheard of and surprising cause the power looked like junk. Heat did not keep up... we were wearing 2 coats and 2 sweatshirts and the winter gloves that my coneheaded boss gave me. Also the fridge didn't work... had to ask for ice and it was 3F outside.

182 - New car smell

0610 Caught the Pasco-Kansas City... very long at 8147 feet. 3 big units and uner 6000 tons. Solo Bozeman pass. I jumped onto a temp so that I could watch the World Series. First time I saw every game.

Had the Roadmaster with us and then was banner tested by the Roadforeman. Last test ever for me he says!.

We set about 50 (of the 122) cars out at *****. Made for a long day but at least it was a long DAY not night.

Drove around the Convoy new car depot in Laurel to see if my new car was in. I must have missed it because when I drove by the dealer it had just unloaded off the truck. I remembered I bought my first Honda (used) on Halloween. It was a 1984 Civic S. Not an Si... the Si didn't come out 'til '86. Last car I'll ever buy... right Kelly!?