S
SAC Conductor
Guest
Hey all,
Here is first hand account of a day in the life of a conductor, and a trespasser incident. Thought you may find it interesting, enjoy.
Trespasser:
NOTE: Names and dates have been changed or omitted to protect everybody’s sanity, and identity.
This is a first hand account of what conductors do on a daily basis.
I showed up for work at 6:15 am, ready for another wonderful day. Our equipment for the trip today consisted of one locomotive and 5 cars. We had our job briefing and went out to the equipment. Did the standard pre departure checklist, inspected the train for emergency supplies, inspected the door systems, PA systems, safety equipment, headlights, etc. At 0640 we were ready for the oncoming masses of talking cattle, also known as passengers from time to time. 0700 departure from Sacramento, en-route to San Jose (SJC). I collected my tickets, joked a little with the regular passengers, nothing to out of the ordinary. Made SJC with an on-time arrival, not a bad trip.
After our layover we pulled down to station track 4 in SJC, loaded our passengers and departed. Made the station stop in Great America with out incident. Before we could make it to Freemont things deteriorated very quickly. We were informed by the operations department that a freight train ahead of us had gotten passed a STOP signal at Niles Jct. Shortly thereafter the Train Dispatcher informed us that a freight train at Niles had an ‘incident’ and we were to hold at the Freemont station pending instructions. We informed the passengers that a freight train in front of us had some problems and that there would be an extended delay at the Freemont station. While disappointed most took the news quite well. A few of the commuters got together a split a cab to the subway station, but most just enjoyed the AC and relaxed. After about an hour delay we were able to proceeded. After stopping in Hayward we exited the tunnel underneath the old Western Pacific main line (currently a BART overpass), and entered into the crossing at Washington Ave. I was just finishing an announcement informing the passengers about the delays incurred while at Freemont and some ETA’s for future station stops when it happened.
You never quite get over the sound, WOOOSSSHHH followed by a metallic, yet dull thud. You can actually feel as 110lbs of air evacuate the brake cylinders and the trains emergency brakes apply with 20% more stopping force than a full service brake application. I instinctively put my back against the vestibule wall expecting the worst. This is the absolute worst feeling as a conductor, you wonder if you engineer is alive, what you have just hit? are we going to de-rail? how long until I am upside down? As a few thousand thoughts race through your head the train comes to a rather abrupt stop. As I reached for my Pacset (2 way radio) to inquire about my engineers safety and what happened I hear the dreaded radio transmission. “EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY, Amtrak 5xx is in Emergency at Washington Ave, we struck a trespasser, over”. The Dispatcher comes over the radio saying that help is on the way. All the meanwhile a new set of thousand questions hits, how many people are on board? is the trespasser dead or alive? are the engineers ok or hurt (physically and emotionally)?
My partner is already making a mad dash for the “head end’ of the train to check on the engine crew. I instinctively run to my bag grabbing my gloves, safety glasses and a first aid kit. I run to the doorway, and get ready to de-train than decide to wait to hear from my partner instead. As she races by me on the ground I throw her the supplies I have and instead, make my way to the PA. The announcement is always kind of difficult to invent, and even more difficult to deliver in a tone that will not upset the passengers. I give it my best shot and in a somewhat shaky voice manage to get over the PA “Ladies and gentleman may I have your attention please, It appears we have stuck a trespasser on the tracks, while my partner steps off the train to investigate I will be coming around to see that everybody is ok after the hard stop. Once my partner reports back to me I will update you with regards to the situation, thank you and sorry for the delay.”
I then head to the Control Cab to check on the engine crew, who insist they are ok, shaken but ok. I walk the train and confirm there or no injuries to passengers or crew, this is a relief. The dispatcher calls back over the radio asking if help has arrived. I can hear the sirens coming up fast so I know that help is on the way if not already present, so I inform the dispatcher that help is on the scene and there or no injuries to crew or passengers. Now begins the waiting game. Wait for the corner, wait for the investigation, wait for the railway officials, etc. after about a 2 hr and 20 min delay we are informed we can proceed.
Amtrak Operations calls to see if we require a relief crew or will we be able to operate the train. Both myself and the other crew have already discussed the matter and decided upon relief, we have also agreed that if needed we will operate to the Oakland Station (6mi) and take relief there if a crew can not get to us. So as you can guess we end up going to Oakland (OKJ) where it has been decided that we will transfer our rather tardy passengers to a waiting train that originates in OKJ with a final destination of SAC, at which point we are to take the train to the yard where the environmental crew can clean the equipment. We get to the yard, to find that no alternate transport has arrived to get us home to Sacramento. After being delayed for 3 plus hours, we are stuck in Oakland. A few heated phone calls with local management got us a ride in a taxi to the SAC station, about an hour or so later we finally get a cab at 1830 (630pm). Arrive into Sacramento at 2000 (8pm) sharp, and head home.
Its always an interesting day on the railroad, but this is what we do, 14 hours at work, not a single thanks from a manager or even an “are you ok?“ Not that I want patted on the back for doing my job, but having things like a way home would be nice with out fighting for it. Just remember when your conductor seems grumpy or the car attendant is a little harsh its not that we hate our jobs, in fact we generally like work. Its that we probably have spent the last trip dealing with something totally insane, fighting to get paid correctly, and have no support from the managers. Than again its just another day at work for the many of us out on the train and we don’t think to much about it.
Here is first hand account of a day in the life of a conductor, and a trespasser incident. Thought you may find it interesting, enjoy.
Trespasser:
NOTE: Names and dates have been changed or omitted to protect everybody’s sanity, and identity.
This is a first hand account of what conductors do on a daily basis.
I showed up for work at 6:15 am, ready for another wonderful day. Our equipment for the trip today consisted of one locomotive and 5 cars. We had our job briefing and went out to the equipment. Did the standard pre departure checklist, inspected the train for emergency supplies, inspected the door systems, PA systems, safety equipment, headlights, etc. At 0640 we were ready for the oncoming masses of talking cattle, also known as passengers from time to time. 0700 departure from Sacramento, en-route to San Jose (SJC). I collected my tickets, joked a little with the regular passengers, nothing to out of the ordinary. Made SJC with an on-time arrival, not a bad trip.
After our layover we pulled down to station track 4 in SJC, loaded our passengers and departed. Made the station stop in Great America with out incident. Before we could make it to Freemont things deteriorated very quickly. We were informed by the operations department that a freight train ahead of us had gotten passed a STOP signal at Niles Jct. Shortly thereafter the Train Dispatcher informed us that a freight train at Niles had an ‘incident’ and we were to hold at the Freemont station pending instructions. We informed the passengers that a freight train in front of us had some problems and that there would be an extended delay at the Freemont station. While disappointed most took the news quite well. A few of the commuters got together a split a cab to the subway station, but most just enjoyed the AC and relaxed. After about an hour delay we were able to proceeded. After stopping in Hayward we exited the tunnel underneath the old Western Pacific main line (currently a BART overpass), and entered into the crossing at Washington Ave. I was just finishing an announcement informing the passengers about the delays incurred while at Freemont and some ETA’s for future station stops when it happened.
You never quite get over the sound, WOOOSSSHHH followed by a metallic, yet dull thud. You can actually feel as 110lbs of air evacuate the brake cylinders and the trains emergency brakes apply with 20% more stopping force than a full service brake application. I instinctively put my back against the vestibule wall expecting the worst. This is the absolute worst feeling as a conductor, you wonder if you engineer is alive, what you have just hit? are we going to de-rail? how long until I am upside down? As a few thousand thoughts race through your head the train comes to a rather abrupt stop. As I reached for my Pacset (2 way radio) to inquire about my engineers safety and what happened I hear the dreaded radio transmission. “EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY, Amtrak 5xx is in Emergency at Washington Ave, we struck a trespasser, over”. The Dispatcher comes over the radio saying that help is on the way. All the meanwhile a new set of thousand questions hits, how many people are on board? is the trespasser dead or alive? are the engineers ok or hurt (physically and emotionally)?
My partner is already making a mad dash for the “head end’ of the train to check on the engine crew. I instinctively run to my bag grabbing my gloves, safety glasses and a first aid kit. I run to the doorway, and get ready to de-train than decide to wait to hear from my partner instead. As she races by me on the ground I throw her the supplies I have and instead, make my way to the PA. The announcement is always kind of difficult to invent, and even more difficult to deliver in a tone that will not upset the passengers. I give it my best shot and in a somewhat shaky voice manage to get over the PA “Ladies and gentleman may I have your attention please, It appears we have stuck a trespasser on the tracks, while my partner steps off the train to investigate I will be coming around to see that everybody is ok after the hard stop. Once my partner reports back to me I will update you with regards to the situation, thank you and sorry for the delay.”
I then head to the Control Cab to check on the engine crew, who insist they are ok, shaken but ok. I walk the train and confirm there or no injuries to passengers or crew, this is a relief. The dispatcher calls back over the radio asking if help has arrived. I can hear the sirens coming up fast so I know that help is on the way if not already present, so I inform the dispatcher that help is on the scene and there or no injuries to crew or passengers. Now begins the waiting game. Wait for the corner, wait for the investigation, wait for the railway officials, etc. after about a 2 hr and 20 min delay we are informed we can proceed.
Amtrak Operations calls to see if we require a relief crew or will we be able to operate the train. Both myself and the other crew have already discussed the matter and decided upon relief, we have also agreed that if needed we will operate to the Oakland Station (6mi) and take relief there if a crew can not get to us. So as you can guess we end up going to Oakland (OKJ) where it has been decided that we will transfer our rather tardy passengers to a waiting train that originates in OKJ with a final destination of SAC, at which point we are to take the train to the yard where the environmental crew can clean the equipment. We get to the yard, to find that no alternate transport has arrived to get us home to Sacramento. After being delayed for 3 plus hours, we are stuck in Oakland. A few heated phone calls with local management got us a ride in a taxi to the SAC station, about an hour or so later we finally get a cab at 1830 (630pm). Arrive into Sacramento at 2000 (8pm) sharp, and head home.
Its always an interesting day on the railroad, but this is what we do, 14 hours at work, not a single thanks from a manager or even an “are you ok?“ Not that I want patted on the back for doing my job, but having things like a way home would be nice with out fighting for it. Just remember when your conductor seems grumpy or the car attendant is a little harsh its not that we hate our jobs, in fact we generally like work. Its that we probably have spent the last trip dealing with something totally insane, fighting to get paid correctly, and have no support from the managers. Than again its just another day at work for the many of us out on the train and we don’t think to much about it.
