i think that minnesota commercial is cool.and mostly because i have been to the round house and i have drove 1 of the engines before(#83)over university ave.In St.Paul and in minneapolis at 38th street(the pic with the engine and grain elevator in the background) that’s another area where i drove a train.And i might decide to work there when i turn 18[:)]
Um… just a suggestion, but you might want to be careful what you say on here. Although the forums are anonymous for the most part, you probably don’t want to admit anything that might land you in legal trouble.
For the record, from what your story appears to be saying, what was done was illegal, in direct violation of federal law. According to 49 CFR 240 (that is from the US Code of Federal Regulations if you are not familiar), the only persons permitted to operate a locomotive are those that possess a locomotive engineer’s license issued by the railroad, or those that possess a student engineer’s license (like a learner’s permit).
If some one from the railroad let you run a locomotive anywhere on the RR wihout either of these, then they are breaking the law, just as if you were to drive a car down the road without a driver’s license, except in the case of trains, the penalties are much more severe, including fines of up to $27,000 [B)]. Just be careful. Hopefully some day you will get the opportunitiy to do that once you are an employee when you’re older [:)]. Best Wishes!
Now if you were to say you were allowed to go along for a ride, much less of a big deal. 
Not to mention the employees that could get in trouble or loose there job.
Using the words “drive” or “driving”, are incorrect. You operate, throttle or brake a train and/or locomotive. You don’t drive a train or locomotive. Cheers…
And, having been a former MNNR employee myself ( the MN Comical ), I suggest you stay clear of working for this company long term, unless you have low expectations for work. MNNR is a company for cutting your teeth on, and then go work for a real railroad.
Steve in northern MN
The MN Comical [:D]… sounds like some interesting stories behind that one[;)]
Oh yep. Thats definately their nickname hahaha. I foam the WC at New Brighton, and boy, them MNNR boys dont quite know how to tie down a train. When they leave the WC cut (88’s Job) sometimes handbrakes are tied in the front, back, middle, and then a load is shiffted to just add to the problems. I ride along with the WC conductor (who has his own company truck for the job) and they just LOVE the commercial…lol.
Alec
Alec, thats all they are legally required to do.
Meh, tell that to the CN guys down here. Im pretty sure that the CN guys are a bit more up to snuff. So i exaggerated, what’ll i do… Here, I’ll put it this way, its different every other time. They will do it like that once, then only do one end. Then a brake will be half tied, and it’ll hit a hotbox. The lists they give us is out of this world. I wrote a whole new list for the conductor of the WC one time it was so screwed up.
Alec
Ok, I see now.
While that may be true in North America, it seems that most of the rest of the world, if I am not terribly mistaken, uses the term “driving” as “locomotive engineers” are usually known as “train drivers.”
Personally, I think that the term “driving” a train is misleading because it implies steering, which obviously is not the case. I think “locomotive engineer” and “operating a train” are far more appropriate terms… but then again what do we silly Americans like to be contrary to many international standards [:D].
[/quote]
While that may be true in North America, it seems that most of the rest of the world, if I am not terribly mistaken, uses the term “driving” as “locomotive engineers” are usually known as “train drivers.”
Personally, I think that the term “driving” a train is misleading because it implies steering, which obviously is not the case. I think “locomotive engineer” and “operating a train” are far more appropriate terms… but then again what do we silly Americans like to be contrary to many international standards [:D].
[/quote]
Yep, I was just referring to North American railroading. Even in Australia, where trains are darn near carbon copies of American equipment, the hoggers down there call themselves train drivers. The media, are the real guilty ones here in the states. They are almost always using the words drive and drove etc, in reference to operating a train.
Anyways, the MN Comical is just a place to cut your teeth on, and then get the hell out. That place is full of back stabbing, racism, and political butte kissing. It’s one thing to watch the MNNR from trackside and on your scanner. But it’s a whole other can of beans, to actually work there. There is ALOT of bullcrap going on inside that operation, you don’t see from the sidelines. And the MNNR is a good example of a railroad that might look neato from the sidelines, with all the neato old engines, but the personalities in the actual railroad, are not always as pretty as those neat old engines.
So if your planning to work for the Commercial, don’t set your expectations high. If you want to take pride in your job, the MNNR will work against your efforts. So I can’t stress it enough. Use the place to cut your railroading teeth, and then move on. Move south or east!!! Alot better shortlines down south/east. MN is extremely lacking in GOOD shortline operations. I wish I would have had somebody to warn me not to go work for the MMNR. I would have never wasted my time. At least I already
While that may be true in North America, it seems that most of the rest of the world, if I am not terribly mistaken, uses the term “driving” as “locomotive engineers” are usually known as “train drivers.”
Personally, I think that the term “driving” a train is misleading because it implies steering, which obviously is not the case. I think “locomotive engineer” and “operating a train” are far more appropriate terms… but then again what do we silly Americans like to be contrary to many international standards [:D].
[/quote]
Yep, I was just referring to North American railroading. Even in Australia, where trains are darn near carbon copies of American equipment, the hoggers down there call themselves train drivers. The media, are the real guilty ones here in the states. They are almost always using the words drive and drove etc, in reference to operating a train.
Anyways, the MN Comical is just a place to cut your teeth on, and then get the hell out. That place is full of back stabbing, racism, and political butte kissing. It’s one thing to watch the MNNR from trackside and on your scanner. But it’s a whole other can of beans, to actually work there. There is ALOT of bullcrap going on inside that operation, you don’t see from the sidelines. And the MNNR is a good example of a railroad that might look neato from the sidelines, with all the neato old engines, but the personalities in the actual railroad, are not always as pretty as those neat old engines.
So if your planning to work for the Commercial, don’t set your expectations high. If you want to take pride in your job, the MNNR will work against your efforts. So I can’t stress it enough. Use the place to cut your railroading teeth, and then move on. Move south or east!!! Alot better shortlines down south/east. MN is extremely lacking in GOOD shortline operations. I wish I would have had somebody to warn me not to go