cpamtfan
OBS Chief
I was reading the Amtrak section of Railpace magazine and saw a blurb on the return of on board service chiefs. Is this a sign that more of the old is getting returned to Amtrak?
Possibly. I would like to have COBs on board again, the idea sounds good to me-- I would also think it creates promotion opportunities and thus opens more new positions.I was reading the Amtrak section of Railpace magazine and saw a blurb on the return of on board service chiefs. Is this a sign that more of the old is getting returned to Amtrak?
This was mandated by arbitration at the National Mediation Board.I was reading the Amtrak section of Railpace magazine and saw a blurb on the return of on board service chiefs. Is this a sign that more of the old is getting returned to Amtrak?
Chief of On-Boards Services. They are managers of the OBS staff (the train attendants). The Conductor manages to the T&E crew, they are responsible for conducting the train. The COBs were responsible for passenger services.I'll bite. What is an on-board chief? How is it different from a conductor? Does the on-board chief report to the conductor or vice versa? What does "COB" stand for? "Chief, On Board"?
COB stands for Chief of the Boat. Sorry I had to do it.I'll bite. What is an on-board chief? How is it different from a conductor? Does the on-board chief report to the conductor or vice versa? What does "COB" stand for? "Chief, On Board"?
Those online surveys will be ending soon. Unless of course some last minute decision is made to save them.The people in these positions will need to be held accountable. In the past, too many were invisible. Or they sometimes just side with the crew member when issued about service were raised. Maybe those online surveys will help
With corn like that, it's a good thing they have a COB to store it on! Yes, I'm sorry too for having to do it! :lol:COB stands for Chief of the Boat. Sorry I had to do it.I'll bite. What is an on-board chief? How is it different from a conductor? Does the on-board chief report to the conductor or vice versa? What does "COB" stand for? "Chief, On Board"?
I'll bite. What is an on-board chief? How is it different from a conductor? Does the on-board chief report to the conductor or vice versa? What does "COB" stand for? "Chief, On Board"?
Thanks. I assume that even though the OBS and T&E crews are separate, that the conductor is the ultimate authority on the train?Chief of On-Boards Services. They are managers of the OBS staff (the train attendants). The Conductor manages to the T&E crew, they are responsible for conducting the train. The COBs were responsible for passenger services.(...)
OBS and T&E crews are separate.
Trainmen and Enginemen.I'll bite. What is an on-board chief? How is it different from a conductor? Does the on-board chief report to the conductor or vice versa? What does "COB" stand for? "Chief, On Board"?Thanks. I assume that even though the OBS and T&E crews are separate, that the conductor is the ultimate authority on the train?Chief of On-Boards Services. They are managers of the OBS staff (the train attendants). The Conductor manages to the T&E crew, they are responsible for conducting the train. The COBs were responsible for passenger services.(...)
OBS and T&E crews are separate.
Also, what does "T&E" mean?
I would surmise it might still be the Conductor's responsibility, don't ask me how I came to that answer-- it was just impulse.So, upgrading on board will be done thru the COB?
Was one for the T&E and one for the COB? :huh: Since they are separate, you answered twice! :lol:double post
LoL no Dave. Just, no.Was one for the T&E and one for the COB? :huh: Since they are separate, you answered twice! :lol:double post
Thinking about it, I bet you're right.I would surmise it might still be the Conductor's responsibility, don't ask me how I came to that answer-- it was just impulse.So, upgrading on board will be done thru the COB?
ALC's analogy is correct. Basically if it involves safety or the physical operation of the train, then the conductor is the law. If it involves problems with OBS crews, passenger comfort, problems with sales of food in either the cafe of the diner, then the COB is the law.Trainmen and Enginemen.I'll bite. What is an on-board chief? How is it different from a conductor? Does the on-board chief report to the conductor or vice versa? What does "COB" stand for? "Chief, On Board"?Thanks. I assume that even though the OBS and T&E crews are separate, that the conductor is the ultimate authority on the train?Chief of On-Boards Services. They are managers of the OBS staff (the train attendants). The Conductor manages to the T&E crew, they are responsible for conducting the train. The COBs were responsible for passenger services.(...)
OBS and T&E crews are separate.
Also, what does "T&E" mean?
Yes, but they aren't "managers" so to speak. They make the train safe and on time. The COB is a bonafide manager, his/her job is the comfort and satisfaction pax.
Think of a cruise ship... there is the Captain and there's the Hotel manager. They're separate entities within the same system. The T&E change every so often at designated crew change points as per FRA and union agreement. The OBS stay on the train for the entire run. Thus while a Conductor will get on and off every six to eight hours or so, a COB stays on board all the way.
The conductor would still handle that, since it is a ticketing issue and that is the conductor's responsability. Now it is possible that the conductor might ask the COB to actually bring the person up to the sleeping car and introduce him/her to the attendant, or the conductor might do it himself. But collecting tickets remains the conductors job, and on board upgrades involves changing tickets.Thinking about it, I bet you're right.I would surmise it might still be the Conductor's responsibility, don't ask me how I came to that answer-- it was just impulse.So, upgrading on board will be done thru the COB?
The previous Chiefs and the new Operations Supervisors are not management they are union. That is what the whole arbitration decision was about. The former chiefs had a difficult time disciplining fellow union members and the new Operations Supervisors will have the same issues.Trainmen and Enginemen.I'll bite. What is an on-board chief? How is it different from a conductor? Does the on-board chief report to the conductor or vice versa? What does "COB" stand for? "Chief, On Board"?Thanks. I assume that even though the OBS and T&E crews are separate, that the conductor is the ultimate authority on the train?Chief of On-Boards Services. They are managers of the OBS staff (the train attendants). The Conductor manages to the T&E crew, they are responsible for conducting the train. The COBs were responsible for passenger services.(...)
OBS and T&E crews are separate.
Also, what does "T&E" mean?
Yes, but they aren't "managers" so to speak. They make the train safe and on time. The COB is a bonafide manager, his/her job is the comfort and satisfaction pax.
Think of a cruise ship... there is the Captain and there's the Hotel manager. They're separate entities within the same system. The T&E change every so often at designated crew change points as per FRA and union agreement. The OBS stay on the train for the entire run. Thus while a Conductor will get on and off every six to eight hours or so, a COB stays on board all the way.
Aye, there's the rub. The problem is from the pax perspective, they are managers.The previous Chiefs and the new Operations Supervisors are not management they are union. That is what the whole arbitration decision was about. The former chiefs had a difficult time disciplining fellow union members and the new Operations Supervisors will have the same issues.
I don' think its a union man vs union man issue so much as a "Hey I paid my dues as an Attendant, LSA, etc. Now I'm top dog now so I don't have to do anything" attitude. I'm sure the union issue is there but there are plenty of crafts where one union man/woman is the supervisor of another. Yardmasters and train crews, (in the yards), for example. The Engineer and Assistant Conductor are technically under the supervision of a Conductor as well. There are Chief Clerks and regular Clerks as well all over the RR industry. The Journeyman tells the Apprentice what to do and so on.And union man vs. union man might be the reason so many of them hid out in their rooms for the entire trip. IIRC, about 75% of them were very invisible.