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There used to be a little DOS based program that Local Chairmen and customers used to get TCS. We even once had a local manager who was "into computers" and encouraged everyone to get a computer. He would give you a copy of the disk and tell you how to use the program. He would even let you use his user ID and password until he could get you one of your own.
Oddly enough, with that same little program, a customer could bring up TCS and get information about our own employees and their board assignment and standing, vacations, GOs, GNs, etc., if they so desired, but we can't get that same information on our home computer today.
UP used to pride itself on being at the forefront of innovation and communication. Now it is the only major railroad that does not give its employees access to TCS or its equivalent.
Employees of other carriers can, without leaving their home and driving 25 miles to a yard office for the privilege of standing in line to use a terminal:
Two years ago, the UP was one of the best railroads in the world to work for. Now it seems that the most sinister ways of the old Missouri Pacific have crept out of the shadows and tried to re-make the UP into its image.
Discipline of Children: When we were children, if you got apaddling at school - you KNEW you'd get one again when you got home.
Nowadays as parents, if you discipline your children at home or anyplace - you may wind up in court. But you are held responsible for anything your kids do.
Why it that the media always say: "The car was struck by a train," instead of, "The car was driven in front of a train and struck"?
If Operation Lifesaver could just educate a few stupid journalists enough to keep them from saying the former, it would go a long way toward impressing upon the driving public that it is their sole responsibility to keep these things from happening.
-- Lowell G. McManus, mcmanus@worldnetla.net
Lee B Shell - Dallas "If you want to do me a favor when I lay me down and die, Just dig my grave beside the railroad, so I can hear the trains go by..." "Boomer's Story" (traditional, arranged by Ry Cooder, 1972)
Unfortunately, however, no one in the FRA or railroad managements bothered to figure out that we can't close the windows when the inside cab temperature is 130 degrees.
Furnishing air conditioning to amelorate the harsh, temperatures of cab environment would be a committment to caring for the health of engine crews.
Some railroad managements claim that air conditioning units are unreliable and hard to maintain. Hogwash. I hate to say it, but you and I know that the Japanese could build one.
The railroad industry has to commit, and say, "We are going to air condition our locomotives for the health and safety of our crews. We are going to see that the units work reliably and if they don't work for the whole time between overhauls of the locomotive, we will know why and those responsible will suffer, be they our own engineering and procurement people or the suppliers.
Passenger trains have been air conditioned for 65 years. There is no valid reason why the cold air never made it to the head end of the train except lack of commitment.
"Safety is the Key to Success in any business and includes Rest & NORMAL days off). As the hours and time of the crews get long and hot days wear the body down faster than normal, the next day on the shift the body is less able to upholding it's own strength. Just like a rechagable battery in the quick charge mode, it's capacity is less and less each time, but a slow charge once a week gives back its capacity to maximum level again." -- Ron Roman
Once upon a time, a beautiful, independent, self assured princess happened upon a frog in a pond. The frog said to the princess, "I was once a handsome prince until an evil witch put a spell on me. One kiss from you and I will turn back into a prince. Then we can marry, move back into the castle with my mom and you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children and forever be happy doing so."
That night, while the princess dined on frog legs, she kept laughing and saying, "I don't think so."
-- Kate Rose, Univ. of Texas, Austin
"SNAKEBITES" is an unofficial sporadic publication by the Roseville Switchmen and comes to you absolutely FREE. The publishers say "The contents of SNAKEBITES are half-truths, downright lies, innuendos, rumors and other fiction. Any resemblance to real life people or situations is unintended. If anyone takes offense, they should take a pill, relax and think about getting a real life."
They also say, "Please copy, reproduce, distribute, forward or just leave it on the engine for the next crew."
Address Correspondence to:
E-mail to: sslater@psyber.com
Cy Martin is a locomotive engineer at Centennial Yard in Fort Worth, Texas.
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SNAKEBITES
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