Less of me for a couple weeks

[jackalope]

As you may or may not know I work for the railroad and am currently in locomotive engineer training which isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds. I've been there 10 years as a conductor and remote control locomotive operator but I was "promoted" to engineer trainee back in October and went to school for damn near a month, passed, hell not only passed but was 2nd in a class of 48 so not too bad right?

Well now I'm back at my home terminal and I'm doing on the job training and what's known as qualifing which means I have to know like the back of my hand everything on the tracks that I run. By everything I mean the mile post of every interlocking, every switch, every station, land mark, every grade (up down or level ground) every crossing, every detector, speed restrictions, the normal speeds all the yards, their tracks, their lengths, lengths of sidings and it goes on and on and on!

The people who did this before me had a whole year in which to do this but they "stream lined" the process and I get to do it in 6 months! Did I mention it's over 400 miles of track on 2 different railroads and 8 different rail yards! Oh and I'm not good with numbers too!

Did I forget to mention if I don't pass all thus stuff I'M OUT OF A JOB! Yeeeesss that's right folks I'll be unemployed if I can't get all this shit in half the damn time everyone else has had to do it for...well since they put a time limit on it back in 1989!

I've been ok till now but I have a BIG test coming up and I need to do a lot of studying which will effect my presents here. I HOPE to God I pass, it's in a couple weeks and then I'll be able to resume my full duties here. Till then I'm going to be as scarce as hens teeth! Just wanted to let you guys know so you don't think I bailed on you all.


Hope you guys understand, hope even more that I pass! And I'll see ya around.......just not as often.

Terry

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Terry, have fun playing trains and lots of luck with the tests/evaluations etc. See you on the other side.

Alwyn

[jarndice]

Good luck Jack, And if you do hit the buffers with your results, Southern Region in the UK is on the look out for Drivers (Engineers)
Shaun.

[silversurfer1947]

Sounds a bit like the London taxi drivers' knowledge. Interestingly, their studies of the routes, streets etc actually changes their brain structure. They develop an enlarged hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that deals with navigation in birds an animals. The knowledge takes 3 years though, but your 6 months ought to make a difference.

[dgsselkirk]

Good Luck Terry, don't get lost and end up in Canada!

[Estnische]

Good luck Terry - sounds like you'd better watch out for the Fat Controller!

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[Jake79]

Good luck Terry hope you do well

[c.rainford73]

All the best to you Terry im sure you'll do great

[Aussie]

Good luck.

[43rdRecceReg]

Your experience of 'derailments' here, should stand you in good stead, Terry! The very best of luck to you. Whenever I think of American trains (and I've been on one from Boston to New York..), I always think of Buster Keaton in 'The General'...for some reason. Anyway, we'll forward the spam to you to keep you on track!