Wednesday, April 27, 2005
A Certain Train of Thought
I'm guessing the average person doesn't know the daily workings of the railroad industry and unless directly involved, probably is pretty content that way.
Train wrecks have been in the news a lot lately, though, and perhaps entering a "train" of thought. I recently read this article about how the NTSB is investigating how the major railroad companies, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) handle crew scheduling. Having once known someone who works in the railroad business, I can vouch for scheduling practices that if aren't plain dumb from a practical standpoint (if I told you even one story you wouldn't believe me - they are that inefficient), are ill-advised from a safety* - both the crews and the general public (those trains aren't carrying just coal and grain and stereo components and cars, folks...can you say "hazardous materials"?) - and an overall morale standpoint.
The latest insanity being advocated by the railroad barons is to run trains with just one person. (yes, that's from one of the labor union sites, but it's an exact copy of an Omaha newspaper article). Yep, one of those big, potentially hazardous multiple-ton machines, being run by one person, probably tired, if not cranky because he (railroaders are still mostly in the "he" category) has no regular schedule and spends way too much time away from home. That aside, things periodically go wrong with cars in the back and that one person running the train would have to stop the train, get out and walk all the way back, checking along the way to see which car is being troublesome. Lessee, leaves the train engine unattended...
Golly! I feel safe!
%-/
I sure hope those railroad barons like all that extra money they will save by running trains with just one-person crews. Given that the major railroads not only own the rails, but also the trains, the cars, and the coal mines (deep irony: the cost of diesel is causing problems - perhaps they should go back to steam? ;-), nearly all the train trips are pure profit. They just have to pay those annoying employees who only suck profits from the company. (Bad employees! Bad!)
Seriously, someone in the general public, outside of the railroad and their trade unions, needs to be keeping an eye on this. This is a matter of public safety.
* Chicago Tribune requires registration
Train wrecks have been in the news a lot lately, though, and perhaps entering a "train" of thought. I recently read this article about how the NTSB is investigating how the major railroad companies, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific (UP) handle crew scheduling. Having once known someone who works in the railroad business, I can vouch for scheduling practices that if aren't plain dumb from a practical standpoint (if I told you even one story you wouldn't believe me - they are that inefficient), are ill-advised from a safety* - both the crews and the general public (those trains aren't carrying just coal and grain and stereo components and cars, folks...can you say "hazardous materials"?) - and an overall morale standpoint.
The latest insanity being advocated by the railroad barons is to run trains with just one person. (yes, that's from one of the labor union sites, but it's an exact copy of an Omaha newspaper article). Yep, one of those big, potentially hazardous multiple-ton machines, being run by one person, probably tired, if not cranky because he (railroaders are still mostly in the "he" category) has no regular schedule and spends way too much time away from home. That aside, things periodically go wrong with cars in the back and that one person running the train would have to stop the train, get out and walk all the way back, checking along the way to see which car is being troublesome. Lessee, leaves the train engine unattended...
Golly! I feel safe!
%-/
I sure hope those railroad barons like all that extra money they will save by running trains with just one-person crews. Given that the major railroads not only own the rails, but also the trains, the cars, and the coal mines (deep irony: the cost of diesel is causing problems - perhaps they should go back to steam? ;-), nearly all the train trips are pure profit. They just have to pay those annoying employees who only suck profits from the company. (Bad employees! Bad!)
Seriously, someone in the general public, outside of the railroad and their trade unions, needs to be keeping an eye on this. This is a matter of public safety.
* Chicago Tribune requires registration
