A case of the blind leading the blind.....

Yes folks it’s true! I have already had a conductor cub ride with me!! I’ve only been marked up for about 5 weeks now. I joked with my engineer asking him how he liked having two conductor trainees. I decided that having a cub would be good for me because it would make me think more about how I do tmy job and also explain to my cub how to do things, which in turn would help me learn my job better too! The round trip went rather well and when we got back to the home terminal, my cub wanted to tag along with me again! He said he learned more from me and I let him do more than anyone else before. I was pleased that he thought of me in such high reguard, but I still find it odd to have a trainee when I consider myself still training. I just remember cubbing myself and how I didn’t like some of my conductors snoozing away next to me and doing dangerous things on the ground when they just aren’t neccessary, so I thought what better way to show this new guy how to do things better by leading with my example. Don’t get me wrong, most of my conductors were great and showed me a lot and I appreciate what they did for me, so I would like to return the favor by passing on what they taught me. I know I don’t even know half of what there is to know about railroading, but I still feel I can make a difference and hopefully give these “newer” conductors a leg to stand on. [oX)][2c]

Good for you! I do a lot of training and try to do it in logical steps. But you would be surprised at people who can no more train than they could do brain surgery! So if you can be logical and patient - people will remember that! You liked a person who took time to show you the ropes, so others will like it too!

Mook

N. Stephenson…Sounds like a great attitude. That generally helps in whatever one does.

Nat

Ditto, way to go

Jay

Way to go! Keep it up!

Willy

Good Job.
stay safe
joe

That’s the way to do it, give the guy a really positive experince and make him feel welcome, when he’s relaxed and feels at home he’s bound to learn much more, I know I do.

Good to hear!

Me thinks someone has found something they really, really like!
And they get to share it with us…

Kinda feels good, dont it?

Ed

Congratulations! Great attitude. Like to see someone who really enjoys their work.

Bingo… right there… Good atitude… keep that up, and you’ll be going places, fast.

Go slow, take it easy, be safe. Nobody can do more than that. A lot of learning the ground or the right seat is experience and the ability to rely on someone who has done it before you. Good luck.

LC

Thanks everyone for your support, and you’re all right, I love my job!!! [:)]

Hey Nat – Good Show! The best way to learn something is to try to teach it to someone else – then you find out all the things you don’t know, and learn them yourself, just to stay one jump ahead!

You one lucky man!

You forgot one thing sometimes the cub can be the teacher to. many times over ive seen cubs that been on the job for a week learning when the regular conductor marks off and the extra board conductor hasnt worked the job in years has leaned on the cub for information. Example I was engineer oon a yard job and at one point we haft to go switch a industry that is a mile down the tracks and it is a shove move the conductor i had ive worked with several times but he never worked this job ever. the brake man was only marked up for a week. the cub been there all week and already been to this place 3 times this week. the cub had a good head on his shoulders so i told the conductor to let him make the move he knows where he is going. i was 15 cars back no way could i see them. the cub got us there but also did the switching moves. and was observed by the trainmaster who was concerned about all the new guys on this job. everything went well and this cub earned respect from the rest of the crew.