The "mean" railroader...

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Does he even exist? I often wonder about that, because in all of my years, even back when I was a kid, I don’t really remember any “bad” interactions with railroad employees. I bring this up, only because I was out shooting photos yesterday. There was a train stopped and waiting for clearance, about 100 yards from me, so I walked a bit closer to take a shot. Well, the engineer must have seen me, because when I crouched to get the photo, he turned on his lights. After I stood up, he dimmed them down again… So, I gave a wave, which he returned by tooting the horn, and clanging the bell one time. A few minutes later after he was cleared, and started moving, my kids and I watched the train go by, and the engineer leaned out of the window, and gave us a big wave and a thumbs up.

You know, I notice this a lot, (and PLEASE let’s not turn this thread into another argument overw waving, okay??) and I think it’s cool. I know it’s not an obligation, and I know all of you guys are working… and I respect the work you do. But, it’s those moments when someone takes the time to just be nice. I think, if I made a list of all of the positive interactions I have had with train crews, track crews, and security guards, the list would go on for several pages. If I were to recall the negative interactions, I could count them on one hand, heck, on less than one hand, and we are talking about a 30 year time span. Here’s a short list.

The time a CNW employee took two minutes to explain some yard operations to my brother and I when we were about 11 and 12 years old, hanginng around at Berkely METRA station by Proviso Yard.

The time an ICG employee showed my friend and I how the switch is thrown when they switched box cars in and out of the S&H warehouse.

The time the foreman from a track maintenance crew came over by my children and I and explained what they

2

I personally have never experienced a “mean” railroader. There have been those that haven’t waved, but it’s usually because they’re looking down at papers or just looking straight at the track ahead.

Yesterday, I went train watching and saw four trains. I got a hearty wave from each engineer. The engineer on the last train even gave me all kinds of extra honks on the horn. He was even willing to stick his hand out in the rain to wave, rather than just wave from inside the cab.

All of the examples that Tim gave, plus all of my own good experiences, make me wonder why some of the train crews in this forum claim that railroaders have such a strong dislike toward railfans. I have never seen any sign of this animosity, other than in the forum itself.

3

its the bad apple bunch therory…ive been fanning and taking pictures for 25 years and have had a very very small number of “bad” encounters…i can thank the brakeman on CSX train D709 stopped in Howell MI for lunch for taking the time to talk to me in 1996…which led to me being hired 4 months later…i had my camera set up…a PM 1225 t-shirt and a PRR hat…he asked me " you like trains?"…i laffed and said yea we chatted for a bit then he offered a phone # to who i needed to talk to in Grand Rapids…most of the few bad ones were the stern “stay off RR property!”

4

As a former railroader, I was always quick to give a wave and it made me feel good to get one in return. From my experience, railroading is kind of a lonely lifestyle. The odd hours tend to limit time that might be spent with family and friends. Also, the bulk of your work time, unless you were fortunate enough to work a local, is spent in a locomotive cab with only an engineer to talk to. On a local you have more opportunities to interact with employees of the industries you switch.

You know, being nice is a two-way street. In the Fort Mill, S.C. area we had a railfan that would give the conductors a ride back to the locomotive after lining his train into a siding. You want to win the respect of a railroader just save him a mile and a half walk! If you were in the Fort Mill area in the day time and your train had to go in the hole, you could count on Ben to be there to assist you. I understand he amassed quite a number of timetables, hats, pins, etc. given to him by grateful railroaders over the years.

One thing that has always puzzled me is the reaction of some photographers. Occasionally, I would see a guy with his equipment set up near the tracks and I’d give him a wave only to see him lower his camera and , seemingly, pass up the shot and not wave in return. I guess I ruined the shot for him. Go figure.

5

Tim –

You solicited input, so here’s mine:

I have never had any animosity shown me by a railroad employee in all the years I’ve been observing trains – except on this forum, where that happens when opinions differ and people have the opportunity to throw shots anonymously. That’s human nature, I expect a certain amount of it and so it doesn’t bother me.

Nor do I ever approach watching trains expecting to run into any railroad personnel who would act that way. And even if one did, my way of viewing it would be the person is a mean jerk who happens to work for a railroad, and not a mean railroader. I have found jerks in every occupation.

Maybe you could have chosen a better title for this thread. If you’re soliciting stories about friendly railroaders and not looking to start another “wave” thread, why tag your post with the negative title “The ‘mean’ railroader”? Does that imply if they don’t wave or do something nice for a railfan they’re “mean”?

Seemed to me like many of the engineers/conductors on the Racetrack yesterday understood it was National Train Day and went out of their way to wave or nod as they passed. At least that’s how I saw it.

My $0.02

6

Not waving isnt being mean lol I have waved sometimes and can clearly see they didnt see me (or were pretending not to lol) being mean IMO would be if they flipped you the bird or somthing use your imagination.

7

The only time I’ve encountered a “mean” railroader, he wasn’t even there. I got brave and wandered in to the yard office, where the only employee in the place said that if “so and so was here, he’d throw you right out.” I garnered a timetable update and haven’t wandered that way since.

On the other hand, I’ve made the acquaintance of the local trainmaster and an engineer and can chat with them about any time they aren’t busy. Aside from trespassing, methinks that’s what keeps most railroad employees from “being friendly.” Just like everyone else, they have a job to do, and I know from personal experience that not focussing on the job can have negative consequences…

8

[#ditto]

It was very much the same here in the Omaha area.

9

The ‘mean railroader’ does exist and he is dispiesed as much by those he has to work with as those railfans that may come across him/her.

10

In my youth, I encountered a few “mean” railroaders, but that was all in the outlook–they had every right to chase me away from the places I was. One guy was the most sour and sarcastic person I ever ment, but his pester threshhold might have been set too low. Another guy who gave me the “Back to your bicycle” line was also a local counselor for the Railroading Boy Scout merit badge, so it was tough to blame him. (This person just happened to be the first railroader I met after I was married, and he gave me the warmest, heartiest congratulations of anyone. Of course, I was a railroader by then, so I was one of the good guys.)

On the other hand, there was a local agent who I’d been warned about–he had a reputation (presumably from being the manager of a local baseball team as well) of being mean and short-tempered. But to me he was like an elderly uncle–I could drop into the office any time it was open, sit, talk, etc., and on one occasion he brought out a collection of old photographs for me to peruse.

And I can’t say enough good things about the operating crews who befriended me (or was it the other way 'round?) in my formative years. I had to prove myself, in a way, but once I did, I was accepted in cabooses, in engine cabs, at switches, or pretty much wherever I wanted to be–as long as they knew that I knew that there could be trouble if anyone was caught at it.

At work, it’s hard to judge how I’m taken. I suspect that people know that I want to work safely and within the rules, and don’t tolerate much outside of that. But it’s relatively rare for outsiders to catch me working, so I have no idea how I’d come across to them.

11

I don’t wave, period.

12

I wave at kids and pretty women.

So bring your kids, wives, or GFs.

13

ya forgot this…> [:(!]

14

What if you worked in a office building and waved at people?

15

you’d get your own office with padded walls?

16

I don’t have the advantage of direct access to either of the two windows in our building, so that’s not an issue.

On the other hand, I try to be at least cordial to the bulk of our customers (and everyone else I run into) even if it’s obvious they haven’t a clue and that’s why I got called out for an unnecessary service call.

People wave at fire trucks, too. Sometimes I don’t see them, so I don’t wave back.

But we’re getting away from what I take to be the central theme of this thread - and waving is just a small part of that. By what I’m reading, face-to-face contact is generally cordial - if the crew member has time to talk, and you’re not someplace you clearly shouldn’t be, then they very often will.

17

I did not forget that, I have this. :smiling_face:

18

Working for Cargill, I dealt w/a grouchy, old head, gruff ydmstr/ATM in the 1980’s. This dude I only had to deal w/him over the phone and thank goodness never met him in person. The other took place in 1997, just a little over a yr before coming to the rr. This was the Supt Operations who was opt testing the switch crew while they were at the plant. He was on private property without permission or a escort. He got a little smart w/me on that, I told my boss about it next day, he contacts the rr and basically stated that no officials are to be on the property unless a Cargill employee is w/them at all times. In 1999 I came across this dude again only now I;m working for the rr. I got somewhat nervous thinking he was going to remember me, then opt test me until he fails me big. I kept a low profile, he never remembered me and no problems were encountered.

19

Since I recently had a discussion with a rr employee about watching trains and his disdain with me doing so - this is my 2 cents! I don’t watch trains, planes or construction to see the people. I watch the equipment and how it performs and what it does or doesn’t do. People have watched model trains go around tracks for many, many years. There are no people on those trains to watch. But they watch them anyway.

So those of you that don’t like me watching you work, don’t flatter yourselves - I am not even looking at you. Heavy equipment working is fascinating to many people, myself included.

Some people like birds.

I frankly don’t care if you are mean or green. And if you want to come watch me pound a keyboard M-F - knock yourselves out.

Ms Mook!

20

[#dots]