Vote for your favorite image in Trackside with Trains Vol. 326: “behind the scenes!” Who captured it best this week? The poll is open through April 22.
http://trn.trains.com/photos-videos/trackside/2018/04/vol-326-behind-the-scenes
I went with Joseph Cermak’s photo. Shop pictures show the ultimate behind the scenes activity that keeps the trains operating.
Having recently had the privilege of touring Amtraks Chicago Union Station and seeing the Dispatch office, I went with Robert Jordan’s photo of what is unseen by the traveling public. Of course, all of the entries are about the work that goes on to maintain and operate a railroad and all are vital to the operations of trains. But I think dispatching is as key and little thought about by many.
+1
Track welders don’t even get any respect on Trains.com
But in real life, Mookie and the Driver respect anyone who can do a thermite weld and make it look easy. Actually, anything having to do with something as big as a railroad (even a short line) deserves respect. It is big, expensive and monitored constantly. One hair of a mistake. Sure glad they never fired me for a typo or a misfile.
Eight photos, five of which are mechanical, one track (doing something probably banned on most railroads now), one signal (those guys never go home), one operating (DS)…no welder.
Where’s the lubricator maintainer with his goop gage? - calling Mike Rowe[I]…
He lives in Lincoln between 1st and the bridge, but I don’t take photos, so you must “trust me!” But the view is excellent!
This was my other choice to submit; guess I should have listened to that little voice…
Welding the Frog at Minus 20 degrees by Jim, on Flickr