The guys the operate the trains, how long are they on the road for?

Question

ive always wondered how long are the guys on the "road" for, how do they eat and sleep how many is on the train together at once.

sorry for asking so many ?s in this area but just curious.

Answer 1

Hmmmmm...

Well, I don't know which "we" calls 'em tracks, but the other "we's" here have noted that the word "road" turns up over and over again.  "RailROAD,"  "ROADmaster,"  "ROAD Job,"  "ROAD Assignment,"  a fireman out for his "ROAD days," etc.

For all with decent seniority, the day to day comings and goings are just as Rango and Derail say.

As far as my two pennies, there are some situations where the service demands an extended time away from home, working the ROAD.

Many carriers' train service employees (Conductors, brakemen, switchmen) have "System Seniority."  This is a double edged sword.  It allows someone who wishes to, in essence, "follow the work," were seasonal train loadings peak at different times of the year in different places.

The bad news is, if you don't have enough seniority to hold a position at your "home terminal" (ie, the place where you initially hired out), you can be forced to "augment"  a seniority district with an accute need.  There is some variation with agreements, but some cam be held away for up to 90 days before being relieved.

The problem is, when you get back to your home terminal, you still don't have enough seniority.  So, in as little as a couple of days, your augmented right back to where you went before.

Engineers with the major carriers don't have system seniority but, they're not untouchable, either.  They can be augmented to an "adjoining" seniority district for up to 30 days, again with slight variations.  There, the position must be protected until relieved or serving 30 days, which ever happens first.  Not nearly as bad as getting sent halfway across the country, since you may not be any more than 350 miles or so from home.

In addition, there are "outside" jobs, usually local freight or, more often with "work trains," that have their on and off duty point at a place other than a terminal.  It may be a wide spot on the railroad or a simple spur track where the equipment is tied up at.  This would also include "snow service."  In these instances, the engineers are not eligible for relief until after 7 calendar days.

By the way, the whole point here is to ASK questions, not to apologize for ASKING them.

See ya out on the ROAD.

Addendum for Derail:  Sorry, my man, but...  I've been collecting RRT benes for nigh on to 8 years now so, you got Rango trumped and I got you trumped!

NO LAYIN' OFF!  I want dem checks to keep a commin'...

Answer 2

First off it IS a road, your question is perfectly allright,

it is a roadbed with tracks, we like to call it a railroad, quaint name isnt it?

In the U.S. 12 hours is our maximum tour of duty with minimum 8 hours off til the next tour. No other restrictions as far as maximum shifts or rest days.

As you can see, when things are busy it is quite possible to work more than 7 shifts in a week, fatigue is quite a problem in the RR industry

Never am I gone 30 days, usually about 2 days gone and home a day or day and a half.

We usually operate two person crews, the railroad has a contract with a hotel we stay at when we are at our away from home terminal. We pack a lunch for when we are actually on the train, same as most any job. There is usually a small cooler or refrigerator in the cab.

Canadian railroads have a hotplate and some have microwaves in the locomotive cab so the crews dont have to subsist on sandwiches for a lifetime.

Treating crews as human. . . . . novel concept, clever chaps those Canadians.

Email me with any other questions, I dont mind.

Answer 3

Trainmen work with in their designated district. A train going from the West Coast to Duluth, Minnesota, for example, will go through about six districts. That means six train crews will have boarded that train and have brought it one district closer to its destination. The maximum that a trainman can work is 12 hours. So, say that same train is at Minot, North Dakota. A fresh crew based out of Minot boards the train. They take it to the edge of their district, which is Grand Forks, North Dakota, on the state border with Minnesota. At Grand Forks, the Minot crew stops to get off, and a Grand Forks crew gets on to continue east. Now, the Minot crew will go to a hotel and rest, until they can work a west bound train back to Minot.

Now, say that the weather or mechanical problems made the trip last 12 hours before the train ever got to Grand Forks. The crew and the dispatcher would work out a place for the train to stop. And a vehicle would bring out a "Dog Catch" crew to replace the 12 hour crew. Fatigue is a serious problem in railroading, because crews can easily work 60 to 70 hours a week. That's why there is a strict discipline on the 12 hour rule.

This was the type of railroading I used to do. Now I work for a 200 mile short line that only runs 2 or 3 trains a day. We work 5 days a week, start at 8 every morning, and have weekends and holidays off. Unheard of in the industry. That poor Rango. He still railroads the way I used to. (I tease him sometimes.)

Answer 4

First of all they are not on the road, We call them tracks. And to answer your "Q" they are usually gone 30 days and home for 30 days.