This is true, “do what some old guy tells you to do”. This is a primary saying of my engine preformance professor. He always tells us before we go back on our apprenticship jobs to “do what some old guy tells you to”. Well, I took his advise and use it very well on my job. If I’m told to do three services “jiffy lubs” in a row, I do it I don’t question. Even if I think management is wrong sometimes, I don’t question I do. Even some of the old guys that are on the floor I always follow their dos and don’ts lol.
Sid congrats on doing very well in your conductor training program. It seems to me like eveyone including your classmates are treating you well. That’s good. One thing about getting the signals mixed up. That’s ok. hehehehe I know I’ll have a tough time understanding certain signals when I become a locomotive engineer. I still really don’t understand certain signals now. I think I’ll be up all night rememberizing signals when I become familized with a route. lol
The best way to learn signals is by being out there riding on a train. And riding with an old head who can give you a 5 minute detailed story on each signal indication and why it is in that particular spot. Do you know what signal set you have to learn? AMDG has several signal sets that you can study so you’re up to snuff before you even get out there, but to truly learn the signals you’ll have to see them out there on the line of road to truly appreciate what you’ve learned. SIgnals seem intimidating at first, but once you learn them they become second nature to you.
There’s no such thing as working as fast as you can anymore, a virtual quagmire of safety rules and procedures has taken care of that. Not that that’s a bad thing but it sure changed things. Perhaps I’ll be criticized for using “quagmire” but I think it’s appropriate. As for early quits. . .
I think I’ll be up all night rememberizing signals when I become familized with a route. lol