Well,
It is a long way out yet but the NMSL&RHS < http://www.nmrhs.org/ > is going to need 4 cab crews to opperate excursion service. Crews will be selected from the membership, subject to them certifying as Engineers / Firemen. The Question is what do we need to do to achieve the FRAs blessing, and that of the Class 1s we will run on as a “Guest Locomotive”? Most of our runs will be on the BNSF Main from Raton Pass to El Paso, but a nation wide cert is desirable. NARS in Kansas lists an Engineer training program, and is refrenced from the BNSF site, but what will we really need? Plans exist for a cab simulator, <you have to see to beleive the number of controls in the cab of a 2900> just the wheels and levers to start, but with plans to computerize them, with overhead projection for the view forward and simulated control of the Locomotive.
any help would be great
Gunns
The Modoc Railroad Academy of Sacramento, California also offers an engineer training course, but it runs 4 months (full-time) in duration and costs around $ 15,000 per person, on top of taking the 2-month conductor course (or having practical conductor experience).
Most railroads certify there own locomotive engineers. Any engineer certification program must meet or exceed the requirements of US CFR Title 49 Part 240 in order to be considered FRA-approved:
In addition, I would suspect that you also have an ongoing dialogue with the BNSF Railway’s train operations managers (i.e. trainmasters and DTO’s) as well as people from the FRA if you intended to have your organization certify your own engineers.
Hope this helps you get a step in the right direction.
Talk with the BNSF folks about their requirements. Talk with other groups that have operated over BNSF in the past and find out how they have done it. Doyle McCormick and his group in Portland, Oregaon would be a good place to start.
As pointed out above there is no nationwide certification, only federal approval of locomotive engineer certification programs which must be filed with FRA. Each railroad handles its own certification. Even if you can get your people certified (remember a Class 1 engineer at a minimum attends Trainman’s school, becomes a conductor for at least one year and then attends Engineer’s school (LETS) for 3 to 6 weeks and has 6 months or more OJT after that, and that doesn’t even include the two weeks for RCL training many Class 1s are requiring these days), you will need to have pilot crews at your expense from the host RR. Even if you are certified, you must also be qualified on the physical characteristics of each individual territory you operate over, and that won’t happen for you so you’ll need pilots.
I’m sure there will be issues as far as what locomotives and other equipment you plan to operate, insurance, etc. I’d urge you to talk with others who have done this before, it will save you a lot of headaches.
LC
have to be a conductor for 1 year? lol… someone should have told CSX that…i was a conductor for a week befor i got called to engin service…lol
csx engineer
Thanks all,
That is more or less what we suspected, our Mentors, the SBRHS <opperators of the 3751> have qualifed thier own crews, and will help us out.
thanks again
Gunns
Rgr. I was for 3 weeks myself…and then about a year later for about six months…
During the post Conrail Acquisition days we had one of the reasons FRA cracked down on our district when one of our guys who was in my class was killed on a shove move over a frozen crossing. 286,000lbs of steel and grain rolled over on top of him. FRA decided 3 weeks on the ground was enough (go figger) a
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear
Rgr. I was for 3 weeks myself…and then about a year later for about six months…
During the post Conrail Acquisition days we had one of the reasons FRA cracked down on our district when one of our guys who was in my class was killed on a shove move over a frozen crossing. 286,000lbs of steel and grain rolled over on top
I’m on the dark side…for now…
Oh and I need to amend the above, I missed a word. The FRA said it was NOT enough to have 3 weeks on the ground. That one year was a good minimum.
LC
It’s OK. Not all is lost. At the end even Vader repented. [:D][:D]
Jay
For now? Planning on moving, LC? I’ve been on the “dark side” since the beginning and even though, well, I don’t think much of some of their methods, one thing they did right was require a year of service before LET training. These three week wonders scare me, I’ve seen examples of their skills. Sorry if I’m stepping on toes but that’s what I really think.
BNSF going to let you run these excursions? These companies have made it so difficult. Should we blame the lawyers? Always the easy target, right, Gabe?
I think about it from time to time, although things are a LOT better now than they were. I’ve had plenty of time as a trainman now and I like the right seat better, but I agree that one year is a whole lot better than a few weeks. After the fatality they set a bunch of us back to training even thogh we were already promoted conductors by virtue of completing LETS. I was at LETS in Conway, PA so we at least got the full 7 weeks, not the 31/2 NS gives the new guys.
LC
the dark side? hell… brother…csx isnt much better… they have taken the NS playbook to a whole new level… its getting so bad here for rules writeups that they wrote 1 guy up for not haveing enough tread on is work boots!!!
csx engineer
Yep we can run them,
the biggest problem is insurance. The 2900s were flagships of the Santa Fe, and we have good support here in New Mexico, with the Raton Pass to El Paso run considered Ideal by BNSF for excursion runs <unlike the Valley in California where traffic is so dense it’s hard to fit an “Extra” in edgwise" Of course we still have years to go on the restoration, but progress is steady.
Pics…
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/aaa
The Crane is named “Bigbird”
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/aba
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kevinevans/aac
Gunns
Years? Oh, that word YEARS would concern me, it’s hard to say what might transpire in YEARS. Good luck.
Didn’t get to have a McDonough education, I’m before all that, guess I’m what is rapidly becoming a dinosaur but it’s hard to think of oneself in such a fashion.
Hi group my Name is Rodney I just got my certification this year and it took 6 months to get it that includes 3 weeks out in Overland Park Ks. ojt for 15 weeks then back to Ks. for 3 more then waiting 1 week for the road foreman of engines to do a check ride. I have been set up running since March 21 so I am the baby engineer here. Yes the engineer has to be qualified to operate on the subdivisions he/she can run on if they are not qualified to operate on a certien sud they must qualify that means no pilot but being placed on a qualifing board untill the Qualifing qual trips are done.
Rodney