FRA Calls Out Class 1 Railroads AGAIN
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- Over the last 18 months the FRA has told the big four class 1 railroads, BNSF, CSX, NS, UP about their training programs or lack thereof and how to fix their programs to meet the criteria set by the FRA. The class 1s basically did nothing and now the FRA are done playing games and have turned into comedians at the same time. I love it.
How do you feel about the training? Did you think it was enough? Thanks for watching!
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In 2004 we got 13 weeks total start to finish and while the training flew by it was actually out doing the work with guys that hired out back in the 80s where we learned how to railroad. Those guys knew their stuff and that's how i learned. All or most of the guys are long gone and now those New hires are coming my way and what they learned in class is scary to think about if they don't learn from us. Love the channel buddy
Ditto. I'm '05 & every crew I trained with was early to mid 70's seniority at UP. The swing job was actually 2 greedy dudes from 1968 that didn't wanna let productivity checks go. Lol. Scary to see what they end up with....even a ton of guys from my era have hung it up and quit.
When hired out with NS(Harrisburg Division, home terminal was Harrisburg consolidated trrminal), I went to McDonough for two weeks, 4 weeks working both Enola and Harrisburg yards, and then two more weeks at McDonough. After we got back, we worked Rutherford yard and then spent a week a piece at Croxton, Allentown, and Reading. Then we did our qualification rides over the different we routes we had. It took me 5.5 months to mark up. Before I left NS in 2019, trainees got 3 weeks at Mcdonough and 3 months OJT before marking up. For engineer training, it took 11 months
Just interviewed with BNSF got selected as an alternate
Not gonna lie I'm a little disappointed
Do you ever regret not going back? I generally really do enjoy the job. Management can suck but our terminal, you may not see a trainmaster for months. I haven't seen mine since November anyway. One big thing that keeps me going is before the railroad I was looking at 67 plus before I retire, there is a peace of mind knowing at 60 and 1 month, I'm done lol
Yeah i miss the job, don’t miss the lifestyle. This channel has made up for not being out there. The guys i worked with us why I enjoyed it so much. Now we have over 11,000 of them here. It’s a blast
@Railroad Talk I wish you the best man! Wish you were still on the rails, your seniority would be astronomical by now I'm sure lol I don't get into many of these railroad videos but I do enjoy yours buddy
Thank you so much for showing off my pictures!
Appreciate you sending them man!
I wish I had more time training, a few hours got caught up in between two cars and never will I do that again. I’m just glad that I’m still here and not dead. Great teaching point I guess.
Never let the tower and yard master rush you. They are infamous for that especially at some of the yards Georgia.
When I hired 10 years ago, I got 4 months to train before marking up.
6 weeks in Atlanta (Conductor School)
and 3 months OJT.
That was working a short pool with typically shorter days.
Now, the new hires get 4 weeks in Atlanta and 2 months OJT - that's it. They also have to learn more than I did. Things like
Distributed Power, how PTC works, building and putting away much bigger trains, and RCO just to name a few.
They are doing all of this while working out of my terminal (long pool) where we go to Chicago, Detroit and yard remote jobs. Chicago alone should take at least 2 months since we go to so many different locations. Let me name them here so you know I ain't kidding.
Barr Yard, Kirk Yard, Gibson Yard, Blue Island Yard, Clearing Yard, Bedford Park Yard, Bensenville Yard, Proviso Yard, Schiller Park Yard, Hawthrone Yard, 59th Street Yard, Hole in the Fence (BNSF Cicero), Miller Siding.
All of these mentioned above are not all 1 railroad, that is 6 different railroads. CSX, NS, BNSF, UP, CN, CP, BRC and IHB. They all have different rules we have to follow as well as different signal systems. Some of this territory isn't covered by PTC so you really need to pay attention.
Then going to Detroit there's CSX and Conrail rules we follow.
Then of course learning RCO in the yard, which is one of the busiest in the system.
So they give a new guy/gal 8 weeks to attempt to learn all of that above. It's pathetic and unsafe which is completely preventable by giving them more time to train and to ensure they are actually learning things properly.
yea nothing like going to someone else's railroad and messing it up... some roads have it where they stopped letting foreign road crews come into their yard... they'll have that crew stop at a designated point and then send a pilot or their yard utility man out and he'll throw all the switches... main issue with going into a foreign yard is going down the wrong track... and a lot of times once you start in on the wrong track there ain't no turning back as your more than likely strung out on the main maybe still occupying the plant or maybe crossed over a few diamonds... now try blindly backing up over that diamond a mile back... that'll make a bad situation WORSE... in the meantime that foreign roads yardmaster is cussing up a storm... now your banned from that yard
It's not for everyone, can't stress that enough. When I was with NS I marked up in 6 1/2 weeks and never had a problem. While "cubbing" I asked questions. The crews I trained with got tired of answering my questions but in the end it was worth it. Same at CP as an conductor and engineer. Like I said in the beginning it's not for everyone.
You got paired with people who had answers I’ve been lucky so far in ojt but my buddy from training is being taught by someone who won’t work with him and they won’t switch him out it’s not for everyone but sometimes people are assholes because they think if they can’t figure it out it’s because it’s not for everyone if your catching the loop there
@@notafan1139 the crews I worked with were the biggest ass holes on this planet. Your "friend" has options such as his mentor if they still do that. They got to want it badly in Most guys won't train you if they have a shred of doubt you wont make It. I had to prove myself in order for them to train me, your talking about salty old heads (or guys and gals that's been there for 15 + years). I had to grab the bull by the horns and prove myself and believe me word gets out very quick
what kind of questions did you ask??? i think that may help some new hires knowing what to ask
Bro the Conductor training is a joke, it was 4 months when I hired on 10 years ago + wasn't open book or open tablet to take the test. Now its like 2ish months it feels like and open book. Engineer training was like 6 months and 3 written 100-150 question tests and 2 simulator runs and then an actual check ride from a road foreman.. You had to score a 90% or better and If you failed any of that you had one more chance and if you failed again you lost your job... Now it's like 4 months and 1 150 question test thats open book, one simulator run that counts as a check ride... Shits a joke if you ask me now.. I jumped through all these hoops and risked my job now they just let anybody hire on and promote..
When I started 7days was training then otj
Western pacific rr 1979
how long was ojt?... and yea being 1979 you guys had at least a 3 man crew back then right?... having a 3 man crew as a new hire gives you some cover while you learn the work
@@25mfd we had four man crews. On the job training was full work
What is getting marked up
...its supposedly your ''qualification'' at the end of all your very expensive training that says you know what your doing and are now quilified to get out there and do it! In other words, after all of your training (regardless if you understood it and know how to properly preform your job duties or not) you are required from that point forward to do everything you were taught during your training; without mistakes because mistakes will either lead to you getting fired...going to prison or dead. This all depends on the severity of the mistake.
5:30 Is that a normal color for that type of river?
The short training isn't good either, but to me it's the severely lacking qualification standards that's the problem. At least up here in canada. MEAT IN THE SEAT. If someone knows what they're doing in the short time frame fine. If they don't, (which most don't) then they should be given the time they need. It's different for everyone. It's scary up here. When I started qualification was a full one way ride along preferably on a work train and you had to do everything and do it right or not qualified. Now they ride along just outside the yard sometimes on a train with no work and hop off qualified. One time I heard a manager call a guy on the radio from his truck and say I heard you take that clearance, you're qualified. WTF is that. They are pushing through engineers up here too that are not ready. When I started had to bring a loaded coal train down the mountain sub we have. Now only part way across any sub even empty and sometimes only stop is when the manager want's to get off and they are qualified. Even if doing stuff as dumb as not putting the independent on when stopping light units. SCARY.
Hello. I am to begin training with bnsf in a couple weeks. Would you reccomend a conductor job in 2023? Also is most of the job booking up carts? Thanks
I'm going through their "accelerated" engineer training. Only getting 5 months. That's not enough with the trains we operate today.
But they’re not “cutting corners” lol.
KCS does 6-7 weeks of training then 240 hours of OJT
Railroad Talk
East Broad Top #16 is back under steam in PA
HEY Haven't seen a new video in a while, miss those "from the heart" videos. Again as a former Union officer type but also a former excavation business owner with large equipment, former highway guy as well I have listened with interest to the senate hearings. My take away may be off and twisted but here is what an outsider sees. First the relationship between rail road management and the Union employee's is the product of 100 plus years of conflict. The management would eliminate any need for a human employee as a modus opporendi, hence the push for total control even automation from a central location. Unions want to get the best living and working conditions possible although some have larger political aspirations that go beyond caring for the long term welfare of their members. ( Yep . . been there ) With all the in cab camera & monitoring in place now along with track side detectors NOTHING illustrates to me the dysfunctional nature of this cabal of conflicting goal and motives than THIS exchange I'll post here. And I ask , did I hear this right?? The crew gets filtered info and instructions on train operations from dispatch? They don't have the "authority" to manage their train? If I did hear this right my gut tells me there is no fixing this until its tore down and re constructed in a more rational way. This is an untenable and unsustainable situation for all those involved. I'll tag on this clip and this was what I heard. I would really like a video from you some day reflecting on this, and of course the true "irony" is the usually "left' leaning types want more local control, and the right leaning types want central control, the exact opposite of the philosophies they have expressed in current political events. rumble.com/v2es1ky-one-reason-why-norfolk-southern-large-scale-derailments-happen.-a-must-list.html
I can not count the times I have had to help a new mark up do his job. I am MOW 17 years. Yes I am qualified for car handling and class 1 brake inspections, but I had to get that way because I drove a Brandt truck for 10 years. There is no way they should cut a guy loose with so little training. I had to show a guy how to set a side ratchet brake, that was after I pointed out where the cylinder was on a truck mounted brake.
As a cub this is this is the information I need, thank you
Been holding off applying at CN after I saw their program is only 7 weeks long. I think I’ll wait until something opens up at CP. From what I read, their training program is 16 weeks. Any CP guys or gals out there that can confirm?
I’m in the CN training program rn and it is 11 weeks long then you have to be an extra for 45 trips before u are a conductor this is the Canada side tho
Got ya, yeah the Montréal terminal is hiring right now with that 10 000$ signing bonus. Still considering it. Good luck with your training!
@@Maverick_31 thanks man!
dont wait. Every day you wait is a day you are down the seniority list. Go ask questions and listen to the old head.
@@TallifTallonbrook I took your advice and applied at CP. I’m gonna send one to CN as well. Fingers crossed 🤞
I just got an offer from NS for a conductor job I appreciate the videos
Right on man! Good luck! Glad you have found some value here buddy. Always here if you have any questions.
@@Railroad_Talk I’ve got a ton questions
The federal government is way too deep into the business of private enterprise! Railroads can operate safely without the oversight. We don't need nannies and meter maids on every street corner.
While waiting for my start date I got an offer from NS for relocation to Harrisburg or Fort Wayne for $15000. Really torn on moving but they are also offering accommodations.
what gets me about this whole thing is that no one bothered to include the union on this... i hope any changes in training include union input... also i remember we had a yard industry job in west milwaukee, the menomonie belt job... mainly a few malt and grain elevators but a LOT of confusing switching and back and forth and you had to know what you were doing on that job in order to get the work done... i never had any student trips on that job so i never learned the playbook for it... it was only about 5 city blocks long, very compressed area but there was so much switching there, the place had it's own yardmaster... i did mark up on that job ONCE thinking i could figure it out... dude i was SWAMPED, in over my head... i fell so far behind the yardmaster had to come out and help me finish the work... kind of embarrassing considering that the job was good for at least a 4 hour quit and there i was 3 hours in and no end in sight... man i never marked up on that f'ing job again... but again from the beginning i didn't have any student trips on the job so really to be honest what could anyone expect... sad to see that there are STILL holes in class 1s training programs
That's exactly what NS does 🙌 3 weeks McDonough, 6-10 weeks in the field 🙋 and had a CT/CQ with less than a year 🙋🙌🤣
After I do the physical and backround check how long will it take for me to hear anything from NS ?
It varies some guys have waited months, as where some wait 4-6 weeks.
Does this mean that the Class One Railroads will have to Throw Away their RUBBER STRAMP ?
Hi folks,
Does anyone know where I can find content online about the Trackman position for railroads? Specifically Amtrak but any content would be appreciated. Thanks!
Good video! FRA, comedians, I love it. I would add actors.
They use to have awesome training
Open Book 📖 tests and PTC 👌🏻 anyone can do it just don’t complain when your leg gets chopped off or you go through a RED block 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Your 100% correct just tell them you took the safe route and your covered, why on earth would you go above and beyond for any job that doesn’t reward you for it. Especially a company that tries to fire you on the daily and constantly tries to get you to work longer for less 🤑🤑🤑🤮
UP does the same shit as far as marking people up smh lol
What service unit you work in? I'm in the Houston
@@35314wil Roseville service unit for me, shits whatevs lol
@@35314wil San Antonio SU here. Borrowed out to Iowa right now
New hires, be safe out there. Don't be Superman. It's not worth it.
So NS teaches new people to tie down trains on Horseshoe Curve?
This new training is a joke
I have over 5yrs and I've had students that don't even know how to hang the e.o.t and how to do a class one air test.
@@35314wil Had was that didn't know how to light a fuse for a road crossing. He was striking it on the ground because that's what instructors in Atlanta told them to do.
@Kyler Briskey unbelievable. This is too dangerous for the lack of training
😂😂