Don't get me started on RR's and unions!
Union (BRASC) screwed us like a house cat by buying off local chair to the top!
Did the same thing with the BLE and the BRT. Dimwits thought the UTU would be a big improvements over BLE and BRT.
All they did was gather all the sheep onto one corral, like"Judas" steer, leading harvest of the herd to slaughter.
About 1965, the RR cut off all firemen. The firemen were engineer trainees.
About 1975, the RR suddenly figured out they couldn't just "replace" retiring/dying engineers.
Later, the RR made a promise that if they removed the caboose and went to two man crews, they would NEVER put over 75 cars on a train.
UTU agreed.
RR continued putting together 100 car trains.
....and still are.
They replaced the caboose with F.R.E.D.(Flashing Rear End Device).
By the time an approaching engineer realizes he/she is approaching a F.R.E.D. at speed, it's too freaking late!
One man crew?
What can two men do that one can't?
Replace a knuckle?
Set out a B.O.?
Repair an airhose?
As a matter of fact, what can a four man crew do that a one or two man crew can't.
Might as well go with unmanned locomotives.
At least personal inuries will be reduced to derail cleanup crews only! LOL!
Railroad motto
"Uphill slow,
Downhill fast,
Tonnage first,
Safety last!"
Please tell me you're just a foamer. The part I put in bold suggests so.
