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Minnesota legislators grill BNSF official about Northstar delays
“Crews can only work outside for 20 minutes at a time. That affects one train, and then there’s a ripple effect. We’ve seen that on Northstar. … Oil traffic is not a factor.”
I smell a rat here…since when aren’t railroaders allowed to be outside more than 20 minutes? I was a railroader until 2010 (still am, in spirit!), and, trust me, we had remote control operators hanging on out there for a mighty long time, then stepping down and working more outside. That little clause was never in any of MY contracts!
I am retired BNSF from Minneapolis and can tell anyone that working outside in below zero weather is very hard on a person. Just ask a signal or track department person. Layers or clothing don’t help when it has been so cold and don’t forget the windchill factor. Locomotives, cars, signals, and track have trouble in this brutal winter. Lucky, the Staples Subdivision from Big Lake eastward is two main track CTC. Carl Shaver from Illinois should put his shoes in a railroaders shoes. I have walked tracks in below zero weather and it is no fun and a challenge to work safely.
And now kiddies, you just learned why railroads hate passenger trains. Why aren’t there hearings on airline delays?
BNSF is in major spin mode and unwilling to admit (maybe even to themselves) that the railroad has spun out of control. This is a replay of UP’s giant mess. When spring comes the delays, bottlenecks, etc., will lessen but not go away at all. It will be obvious that the railroad is full of it.
BNSF needs to be taken to court over this
Just wait. Negative (-) 25 F. predicted in Montana for the next two nights. It is heading east! Unfortunately, very little snow.
Nobody can work in subzero temperatures it’s tough on anybody and I am a conductor down in Arkansas and it’s been brutal down this way and most of our traffic comes from the Midwest including the oil trains and it’s been tough getting trains down south from up north
In addition to my comments of 2 28, I must add that crews are governed by the Hours of Service law. This means that they have twelve hours to take their train from Dilworth to Northtown. The past month has seen many crews dying on line and having to tie down their trains and wait for relief crews. Trains that are tied down take up space and the dispatcher must route other trains around them. Railroading in cold weather is not easy!
This has nothing to do with the weather. They need to double track all the way to montana from northtown and ad about 5 run through tracks at northtown yard. That my friend will solve the problem. Trust me.
QUOTE>>" ERIC T HENDRICKSON from Florida said:
And now kiddies, you just learned why railroads hate passenger trains. Why aren’t there hearings on airline delays? “”
WELL SAID!!
I see Passenger Mains in future, just like the “commuter lanes” on some highways.
Unfortunately, this will be worse when the flood season begins and trains can’t move thru Devils Lake (etc.). Listening to the scanner, it is clear this has been stressful on all of the crews and equipment. One frozen switch (at Coon Creek, for example) and the entire Staples Sub comes to a halt. Perhaps the railroad needs real people at critical places instead of a truck full of workers stuck in traffic.
One of their problems is that the MOW crews get stuck in traffic and can’t get to where they are needed. Perhaps the railroad needs to station folks where they are needed.
Then comes the flood season!
Unfortunately, this will be worse when the flood season begins and trains can’t move thru Devils Lake (etc.). Listening to the scanner, it is clear this has been stressful on all of the crews and equipment. One frozen switch (at Coon Creek, for example) and the entire Staples Sub comes to a halt. Perhaps the railroad needs real people at critical places instead of a truck full of workers stuck in traffic.
Unfortunately, this will be worse when the flood season begins and trains can’t move thru Devils Lake (etc.). Listening to the scanner, it is clear this has been stressful on all of the crews and equipment. One frozen switch (at Coon Creek, for example) and the entire Staples Sub comes to a halt. Perhaps the railroad needs real people at critical places instead of a truck full of workers stuck in traffic.
How about if you are constantly late getting to work, just find another way to get there!
The worst Winter in 30 years, and a legislator can’t understand why trains aren’t on time??? We have had 45 out of the last 66 days at below zero temps, and equipment just doesn’t work the same as it does above 32 degrees. That area also had an 11" snowfall compounded with 40 mph winds. The snow drifts are higher than my Dodge diesel pickup cab. We don’t have the same weather conditions that Illinois has where it snows one day and it’s gone a couple days later. BNSF is probably doing the best it can with the weather it has to contend with this Winter. When the train sits waiting for a crew, it isn’t making any money. Why would any business intentionally loose money???
Those who can do. Those who can’t teach. Those who can’t teach manage. Those who are totally worthless serve in the legislature and being totally incapable themselves 2nd guess what the doers and teachers and managers do.
I think the legislators need to go for a ride on a freight train, and see what it is like and get out there when the crew is working in the below zero weather. Tracks can break in sub zero weather, and trains have to be very careful running on track in sub zero weather…running slow and careful is better than a derailment!
Ther is no business like snow business…