Union Pacific's "Expediter" Lie | Railroad Life

[@tdkeck2010]

Man, they go OUT OF THEIR WAY to make the conductor look useless and bored sitting on the train. This is hilarious. If you know ANYTHING about railroading this video is a joke. I’m surprised they didn’t depict him asleep in the chair with cobwebs on him. And…..”rare occurrence “? 😂😂

[@daviddauphin838]

i remember when conductors were in charge of the train. 5 man crews. this is just another way for them get rid of people - next is elimination of engineers. with ptc and other things happening say goodbye to the jobs - not a good idea.

[@doctormrd]

This "expediter" is nothing more than a repairman. He/she is NOT a conductor, NOT a trainman, NOT a brakeman, NOT a crewman. I've been retired since 2006 and actually have no dog in this fight. But I still follow the rails and their problems because it was my life for 30+ years. If I was still there, I would resist this idea with all of my fight and imagination. Same as I did with the elimination of the caboose, brakeman, etc. Of course, we still lost all of that, but at least I went down fighting every hour of every trip I made. And I would do it again if I could. Sorry fella's, but as long as management comes from outside of the industry instead of the working ranks, YOU don't stand a chance in h*ll of saving these jobs. But fight 'em anyway. It's all you got!

[@artkeyes4784]

as shipper and stockholder and from a up family ,you guys are not slaves, you have my support, shut it down ,,,,I'll bring the coffee, merry Christmas,

[@dwightmcqueen5771]

Respect to all the railroad workers. I'm a car hauler myself but just wanted to tell you all whatever you do stand your ground

[@markthomas4083]

Mr Dwight, thank you for your input. Thank you for hauling the autos, truck drivers do not receive the respect that most of them deserve.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I’m a class 1 conductor and setback locomotive engineer. During a furlough, I was a commuter rail locomotive engineer and we ran Wabtec’s PTC. FRA didn’t let us run a 1 person crew like the company wanted. However, the company just said they trained security guards as conductors (they were useless as trainmen). To me, this is similar. Anyway, we had something like 55 FRA decertifications within 1 year while running wabtec’s PTC. The wabtec tech told me they’ll never be able to get it to work right as the intrinsic code has major errors. This is extremely unsafe and my plan is no longer work for them if this happens. Apparently one of our subs is getting it first… I will not be a part of that and will move to another terminal over working like that.

[@PowerTrain611]

If you have any doubt about PTC and it's reliability and functionality, listen to the Harrisburg area Norfolk Southern scanner feeds. The amount of "Train is stopped, PTC is FUBAR again" is almost laughable... And we want to rely on that alone? What a joke.

[@kbruns33]

The fact that they produced this video like this just shows the level of contempt or disdain they have for train crews.

[@crazyk9girl]

Thanks for pointing out the flaws. Total truth! If they really wanted to address these issues add this as an EXTRA position to assist conductors. I get over 24 hours of held away, they don't care if I rot in the hotel. My yard holds 10,000 ft switch to switch, you tell them you'll be blocking the town for hours if you pick up more cars, they don't care!!! This is to cut our jobs!

[@alpharomeo15]

My father began working for Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1947, at that time it was an engineer, a fireman, conductor, and two brakemen on every train, by 1970 they had gotten rid of the fireman by promoting them to conductors or engineers and retiring out the ones that were older... by the 80s they had gotten rid of the extra brakeman completely by getting rid of the caboose! Now the train only consisted of the engineer conductor and brakeman, then they got rid of the brakeman by promoting them to conductor and making the conductor do the work of the brakeman along with being a conductor, today the train crew is only two... where do you think it's going now... the goal is zero train crew, and if you don't see that... you better wake up! 🧐

[@DogRedful]

Same thing is happening with aviation…it won’t be that long until commercial aircraft are piloted remotely.

[@bigguy7618]

This is hilarious! 15 years engineer with BNSF so glad I retired at 62. Had enough of their crap

[@gregoryking7607]

I can't believe the UP guy got in front of the FRA with this and even worse some of the very first words out of his mouth were about safety being his and UP's top priority. Clearly knowing how unsafe a one man crew is.🤔🤔🤔

[@DATCAPITAL]

Fritz is acting unethically

[@helenhutchins4547]

@@DATCAPITAL he downright shameful.

[@ShawnCalay]

Like how unsafe, America, Canada and Mexico are the only ones using 2 to 3 men....everyone else uses 1 man and some none at all.....

[@jeffbuelt6953]

I was a Railroader for BNSF for 24 years the Railroads lie to the FRA there employees and the public they always have and they always will

[@markmarquezsr1531]

PTC should be interactive with the Conductor , he should be able to access the slow orders,crossing restrictions and form B. Conductors should have there own logon for PTC this would keep the Hoghead eyes on the rail.

[@josephjoestar3275]

I never understood why it wasn't from the getgo, you have the buttons, why not have us use them? I shouldn't be able to access energy management or engineer specific stuff(UPs is done on the PTC screen) but there's no reason I shouldn't be able to pull up a mandatory directive myself.

[@alpharomeo15]

I am fairly shocked at the representations made in this film... as I listen to a UP dispatcher all day long and through the night sometimes, and they're not talking to the engineer... there talking to the conductors 99% of the time... the conductors are the ones interfacing with the PTC control and confirming the track warrant... so I don't understand what that UP propaganda film is talking about, it is a farce and a lie! 🤔

[@scopie49]

@@josephjoestar3275 The reason the conductor doesn't get access to PTC is that would be admitting that the conductor has a use. But if we make it impossible for the conductor to do anything then we can record them on camera sitting there doing nothing and instead asking your engineer constantly to push the buttons instead. Same reason GCOR says a "crew member" must do a roll by and not a conductor. Remove any verbiage about the conductor job title to diminish it.

[@Tegridyvs]

You need to send this video to the FRA so they can hear the real story

[@iman-pv2sc]

You think the FRA doesn’t know all of this……?

[@unadillariveroutdoors9690]

I’d love to see these guys try this on our line. 95% of our line has no right of ways and you have to high rail into spots. This one man crew idea is a complete shitshow and the carriers are trying their damndest to sell it.

[@mutestain]

Ours also has no right of way access in the majority of most of our runs, 250 + miles. I'd like to see the con artists who are trying to sell this crap find, change and everything else involved in changing a knuckle in the middle of nowhere as fast as they make it look.

[@adammccafferty4336]

Yep, I run a detector car damn near 2k miles of test we're responsible for and most of it is inaccessible by right of way, but money talks and an incident will not outperform profits, they don't care about anything but profits.

[@b.s.booger4179]

As a BNSF Conductor now Engineer. It is absolutely terrible by the class 1 carrier’s to push one man crews and say they NO longer need conductors in the cab b/c of PTC. When the class 1 carrier’s themselves choose to have the PTC screen on the conductor side of the cab not functional for the conductor to use. When PTC is engaged by the engineer only, both screens are active but the conductor cannot select anything with his or her buttons. That to me is saying that the class 1 railroads are NOT ALLOWING conductors to justify/perform their job to ensure the safety of both crew members in and around outside the cab!

[@erict5234]

Let's not forget train length restrictions... 15,000 ft trains block crossings almost everywhere in th US!

[@johnathangore4017]

1.) it looks like this will become a very isolated job for both the conductor and engineer. 2.) As a conductor walking on the ground, I typically catch and repair other defects that may cause a delay later in the trip. 3.) Curves with crossings at grade exist. Perspective is everything. What the engineer doesn’t see or sees to late may cause even more fatalities. The control stand is huge, and it’s likely that the engineer’s line of sight is limited and that’s if the engineer is looking up instead of monitoring their several screens. 4.) Incase of a debilitating health issue, how will the train stop to provide the engineer with emergency medical aide if the train has a proceed indication which would prevent the train from stopping until the alerter kicked in. No one would know what’s going on until it’s to late. 5.) Terrain, weather, traffic, dispatching, permanent speed restrictions, hazmat, train makeup and communication will affect how well a train moves. Everything isn’t a bulk commodity. 6.) Work in route is a real thing for manifest trains. How many expediters / Master Conductors will there be available if that train has multiple stops on a 170+ mile trip? 7.) PTC cuts out randomly, PTC integrated with trip optimizer works 50ish percent of the time, hot wheel detectors fail so often that I get alerts from other train crews regarding smoking wheels and have never been alerted by the dispatcher or mechanical desk. Between either setting out cars, cutting them out, or doing an inspection on a car that could have been damaged in route, I have yet seen Technology supersede a person working the problem. 8.)What is the plan for railroad retirement if suddenly a third of your workforce is no longer eligible for employment? Social security is not the answer. If I get forced out, will I get my money back that’s been taken for tier 1 and tier 2? Hopefully the FRA will understand that PTC and other technology will never be as effective as two train members in a cab constantly briefing with one another and able to put boots on the ground as soon as an action is needed to be completed.

[@cl4367]

They won’t use conductors for long if at all for expediter jobs. They will use Carmen or mechanical with much more repair training. Possibly even a sub contractor such as progress rail for example. Being able to fix and repair multiple systems that are subject to failure. That is where this job will head.

[@livefree223]

100% correct. The rest of the conductors functions such as helping land trains will go back to the utilities, which in many cases were previously eliminated as "non-productive starts" in many areas. Also, how many times have you landed a train where there IS a utility, but they are doing other things?

[@LtDan-td4rq]

We use a company name Mainline that's been make a come up. They will do anything this company asks for a buck and the pay horrible. They'll be the ones doing this eventually

[@livefree223]

@@LtDan-td4rq I don't want some underpaid under trained (if trained AT ALL) SCAB RAT touching my train. I hope BLET will make a stink about it.

[@dennisbennett806]

Dennis Bennett 0 seconds ago I am a retired Cp Railroad Engineer. All railroads have the catch phrase, Safety First. It is a lie. Its all about the money! None of them care about the safety of their employees or the public! This is a perfect example of that kind of thinking. This Idea was thought up by some college graduate in the financial department who never worked as an conductor or engineer. Glad you brought up the Hazardous car scenario. Delay in finding out that a Hazardous car is leaking. 45 Minutes getting to the derailment sight, another 45 minutes finding that out, Putting People and Property at risk the whole time. Second great point, on Cp trackage between Chicago and St Paul there are hundreds of miles of track that is not accessible by road. And if there is do they now have to keep them plowed in the winter? good luck with that! Most of the trains now are 2 miles long. try walking that on gravel from a truck, only to find out you need to go back to your truck to get some tool or knuckle. What about the Expediter fixing the knuckle but never walking the train on both sides before or after the repair? Air coming up at the rear he asked, ok everything must be OK. highball! No! The train must be walked both sides from the rear all the way to the engine! Great point about engineer not leaving the seat to use the toilet! What am I supposed to do? Wait for a stop in a siding? Nope, I would be telling the dispatcher every 2 hours or so I will be stopping the train to use the toilet! One trip leaving Milwaukee, Wisconsin headed to Chicago Conductor had symptoms of a heart attack. I notified the dispatcher that we would be stopping at 7mile road and needed first responders to meet us there as soon as possible! Dispatcher responded: Can't you just make it to Roundout, Illinois? Roundout was more than 50 miles away! My reply was: Yes we can do that, cancel first responders and order the Coroner to go to Roundout! Dispatcher response: OK Great, appreciate that! No delays on his shift! Yup, Safety First! They did try to go to 1 man crew years ago, Wisconsin told them it would be illegal to even test the Idea. Hope they are not Lobbied into changing their Position on that! God Bless all you Railroaders out there. Putting up working at their whims, poor scheduling, never having enough Engineers or conductors, away from home 40 hours or more, home only 8 hours (now it is 12) working over your miles, canceling your vacation, putting in claims just to have some arbitrator side with the Railroad for breaking the contract and settling for pennies on the Dollar, all things that I hear still are normal railroad operating procedures! Wonder why they cant get people to work on the railroad? The retirement is ample, yes ample, not great. Hang in there and wait for your Ample. Oh and if you earned Social Security they will give that to Railroad Retirement to subsidize your Railroad Retirement Payment! Sounds fair to me? Thanks Ronald Reagan, for no double dipping, unless you were in the Military or had a government Job! Gotta go and spend time with my Family on this Christmas Day. Only since being retired am I able to make plans for any Holiday! Dennis

[@pamhensley3126]

I love your content you have one of the best ways of relating what your talking about so everyone understands the average person doesn’t understand our language at all

[@suffer8318]

The other funny part of that UP video is the fact that on BNSF in places they have a similar role already called a rapid responder and sometimes its 2-3 hours before they show up to help fix problems.

[@Juniorsjigs]

Correct. The conductor usually has the problem fixed by the time the responder gets to them.

[@LtDan-td4rq]

Absolutely right and personally, iv never taken 3 hrs to replace a knuckle unless it's on the side of a hill and 20-40 handbrake are required but longer and heavier trains don't impact that at all 🤔🙄🙄🙄

[@corymyers9705]

You need a Wheeltruck instead of Rapid Responders fir Car Inspection . That's WheelTruck work anyway or Machinis/Electrician Locomotive work within 125miles of any shop to shop . Utility won't work because of FRA Rules and Time claims I would put in lol . Responders are where shops are 125+ miles no mechanical is available. .

[@corymyers9705]

@@Juniorsjigs problem ? Like a broken knuckle or airhose only right ?

[@Juniorsjigs]

@@corymyers9705 yeah, the common things.

[@keithjeffrey8587]

I actually had a broken knuckle on my train 147 cars back not too long ago with me on the head end. Only took me about an hour to an hour and 15 min to walk back, secure the train, pull up to the knuckle on the ground, replace it, shove back to a hook and then walk back up to the head end. If I were in a truck and responding to where my train was, easily a 4-5hr job if not more. Would have taken 3hrs just in drive time from the nearest terminal

[@nc4tn]

In my 39 year career, the railroads bluffed their “pilot program” work life programs a half dozen times to the government. This is no different. I’m retired now; this UP video gives me PTSD.

[@matthewgaines10]

Agreed. PTC wasn’t created to replace a crew member. It was made as a safety redundancy system. It was meant to augment existing staff. This UP video is a disingenuous description of the job responsibilities. If the wayside detection equipment replaces a conductor’s responsibilities, they already would already be doing it today. The time savings they claim are both arbitrary and questionable. If they really wanted to improve transit times, PSR wouldn’t be the theme of the day. Maintenance and staffing would increase, not decrease.

[@htssoutboardsboatstrains9784]

Have to mention a experience I had as a "Rail Fan" getting some film for my logging channel , trains are cool and different. Was videoing a rather large for our local RR train, 75plus cars....and HEARD the defect report 'No defects" on the radio, WATCHED a car go by with a locked up axle. Just hadn't built enough heat yet I guess and the train was going slow as they usually do at that point. Called a friend who ... called another individual who worked for the rail road in a significant enough capacity and before the end of the train was out of sight, they had stopped and started the analysis process. AND they proceeded to move slow up to a place where they had a siding , cut out that car, and continued. That car sat there for a month. Point wasn't "Rail Fan" are anything other than a PITA for you folks BUT that event along with ANOTHER career ( Ex manufacturing engineer) just made me skeptical of those monitoring systems. Folks the wheel is in one of the video's should someone doubt me :)

[@georgebenson6036]

This is the first video of yours I have ever seen. I think you should produce a video about the undue influence of hedge fund managers on the operation of trains. The extreme greed of these organizations has led to the wrong-headed changes in the industry. The absolute focus on OR, to the expense of everything else, is the root cause of the problems the industry is having now with low customer satisfaction and worker discontent. I wish you would name names and hold them accountable for the trouble they are causing. These organizations need to be stopped.(period)

[@RailsTailsandTrails]

perhaps there are some things being worked on already =)

[@michael029138]

Railroader for 40 years, Penn Central, Conrail, and NJ Transit, "Freight/Passenger Brakeman, Freight/Passenger Conductor, Special Duty, Rules Examiner, and Trainmaster. I was qualified on appox. 600 miles of railroad, and just about every time we broke down, there no access road to the train. And yes, it took two men to carry the knuckle to the break. My worst trip, walk 70 cars from the cab to the break, 70 cars back to get the knuckle, 70 cars up and put the train back together, 70 cars back to the cab and get pushed out of town. Oh yeah, this was on the freight Hi-line at 30th Station Pa, and yeah, no road access.

[@DJPhantomRage]

Not only do we not get sick days. They are not denying FMLA requests, and playing games in hope you give up. Constantly kicking back the request each time for more information, till it is just denied. We need a class action lawsuit.

[@B4Ctom1]

We just spent 8 hours after my HOS expired waiting for the next train to pick us up. 3 tracks wide area, bad weather, no way to pick us up even with the right of way. -21 degrees, bad air. What would happen if I was engineer only? Who would secure the train? Me? Ok, then who is going to keep the unsecured train from rolling away in the -21 degrees when the air is bleeding off faster than the brakes can hold while attempting to tie it down?

[@opiumextract2934]

Just think of all the miles of track without a road next to them that are off in the middle of nowhere. How tf are we supposed to get to those Lance?

[@tvpigy9290]

This just proves that the executives know nothing about the railroad they run, im willing willing to bet that they think running a train real is just like running a model train

[@Spraychain]

It’s crazy how they’re not showing the engineer through all of this! What about when he has to use the restroom? Become fatigued and know is around? Sometimes as CON and ENG we rely on each other to confirm a signal or even rules in important situations. There’s so many factors it scares me. You also hit it rite on the nose, most popped knuckles happen in the middle of nowhere. I’ve walked my fair share. Great video, thanks for showing and telling people the truth!

[@enamoradodeti88]

No conductors log? Also how many times have you compared info with your engineer in regards to your trip? What if that break was only 10 cars away. 20/30 min over the truck taking 2 hours.

[@johnnyjones2255]

I was put out of my maintenance position by a couple of office-bound bean counters, who had no idea about what I did, with my 30+ yrs. experience. Before I quit, I let them have their way and watched the company enjoy all that expensive downtime. When they wanted me to go back and do what I had done before, that’s when I loaded up my tools and split. They called me for almost a year, but it was too late.

[@Ryan-eh9dw]

How about in the winter during a blizzard They expect a truck to get to the train good luck with that when you got ten foot snow drifts to drive through

[@jeffjackson9947]

Just where are these mythical magical roads appearing from that this “expediter” is getting right to the problem? Where I operate you can barely walk the row because of the brush and obstacles along the way.

[@stanhumphreys9282]

Have fun driving over MOW access roads in the dead of winter to the broken knuckle location.

[@jefferymaclean8865]

UP was so concerned about making their case for one man crew that they didn't realize they made the case for 2 man crew when it comes to blocking crossings because after the engineer dropped the knuckle he pulled the conductor over the crossing therefore allowing traffic to cross the tracks in about an hour. Once again UP leaps before they look

[@matthewf1979]

“Making the locomotive engineers shifts more consistent” BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@brucelove1426]

Brother, I totally agree with your effort to bring to light, the false narrative they are trying to sell to whomever. I was a UP employee from 1970 till 2013, (43 years) worked as a telegrapher, switchman, brakeman, conductor, was also cutoff for 8 years, and during that time, I worked in maintenance of way, on the tie gang, and got promoted to machine operator, before they called ma back to work and got into engine service. So, I totally know what you are talking about, We also fought the crazy ideals they are trying to push now. But the main thing I can offer, is, work with your union to reach and combat the lies the RR Is trying to sell. However, on the other hand, the RR has lots of money to push their ideas into reality. Does not matter if it makes sense or not, some pencil pusher, college boy, came up with this idea, and $50 bucks, says it is some bigwigs nephew, son, or some other relation. As you well know, what ever the RR does, it is all about making the stockholders money, and hopefully get the investors to believe the garbage they are selling. Sadly, right now it may be just be UPRR talking about it, but all the other RR’s are paying attention! The sad part, the RR is continuing to lower wages, deprive the new hires of benefits, make them tak reduction in wages for longer times, all this coupling to the fact, the RR is the easiest place in the world, to get hurt, or killed. Of course the easiest way to throw a wrench in the works for them, is notify the FRA every time you see a RR violation, or hazardous situation, that the RR refuses to address. Sure, the RR will pay off the FRA, but I’d you keep reporting the violations, but never tell them who you are, but refer them to your union official. The RR has a bunch of people sold on their lies, but the more infractions on the part of the RR, the FRA is going to start come looking for why there is so much being reported. Truth be known, if the RR would just spend the money to fix the problems they ignore, the crew would be happier, and be more willing to help the RR “”expedite traffic” That is assuming they are not already losing boatloads of cash on no shippers. Because they are charging the shippers out the butt, for the same ole service. Work safe, and Have a Blessed Day!

[@Espeemodeler]

Interesting how Sam acted so natural with that ride along, and that jeep at that last crossing looked just like his jeep… 🤨😆

[@huntersquires7107]

I wonder if they are showing this video to the conductors trainees? "Hey guys and gals...we really need your help right now and look forward to providing you a great career with a great retirement. However, at the same time, we are trying to flush the craft we are training you for straight to the septic tank."

[@WhooSRK]

Not long until engineers are fixing our own trains.

[@livefree223]

Best double my fucking pay and tell the dog catch to get suited and booted cause I'll make that shit take forever.

[@jimkelton4052]

I'm retired now, almost 5 years, but the quality of people that they hired on my RR left me no choice but to get out of the seat and take the reverser with and go find the problem. The stuff I reading here is crazy.

[@3006USMC]

@@jimkelton4052 …..it was that bad?

[@jimkelton4052]

@@3006USMC Yes, it was that bad, nobody cares anymore. You are basically a number and can be replaced. The morale in labor is depleted.

[@danakraemer8512]

Maybe the UP should run the business with just 1 V.P.

[@fredspindor1624]

PTC stands for "Positive Train Control" as stated in the Video it reports Signal, Switch, & some Crossing operation to the Trains & Dispatcher, has nothing to do with Train condition it can not Replace a Conductor or the Carman they have Cutoff (if trains don't Comply it has the ability it Stop the train)

[@dknowles60]

failed in allen town pa railed to stop a train that ran a block signal

[@johnrobertfox7775]

BRING BACK 5 MAN CREWS AND CABOOSES ! 😎

[@chris8554]

That’s some of the best walking I’ve seen on the railroad 😂

[@Quirkimus]

What they don't say is it might take the "Expediter" 3+ hours just to get to the train, depending on where it breaks down and how bad the weather is.

[@shawnr761]

Exactly

[@Ink30]

This, yip

[@Quirkimus]

@@oldchunkofcoal2774 LOL 5 minutes... Funny

[@Quirkimus]

@@oldchunkofcoal2774 bold of you to assume the chances of breaking right next to a truck are the same as not. Our rapid responder (which these would basically replace if corporate greed gets it's way) covers from Laurel MT to Guernsey WY. Please let me know how arbitrary these times are I'm allegedly making up.

[@Captainslow556]

Just imagine the shape of those vehicles will be in after a few months. And what happens if you get in an accident?

[@billlane165]

If UP is worried about the conductor walking so far, then bring back the caboose. Then you will have another crew there to assist. They will never do that. They cut those jobs years ago.

[@JosueRodriguez-kk6wn]

The Halloween Brakeman agreement of 1985, the EOT, the defect detector, and the economy killed off the caboose. Even that, cabooses were liabilities to both the worker and the company.

[@bryonwhaley2981]

You are right about everything except one thing. The overlords at the top are not disconnected from the job. They absolutely cannot be disconnected from something they were never connected to. Most of these people have never laced up a pair of work boots let alone kick a rock with them. We are witnessing the end of the railroad industry as we know it. The level of dishonesty and ridiculous situations in this video is unreal

[@RailsTailsandTrails]

TOUCHE!

[@randyschochenmaier7805]

It never took me 45mins to walk 69 cars, I want to go home

[@rondav41]

I was told by our rr ptc person that our rr wanted to make the conductor ptc interactive on the conductor side but up was adamant that the conductor side was to be display only.

[@keithjames5114]

I was told the same except it was NS stopping UP from doing it. They all just lie and pass the blame on to some other scapegoat. They are all in agreement on these decisions

[@kbarker13077]

So when you paused video and pointed out ptc was not engaged, may I add too that the engine was not moving as well, if you notice the speedometer on ptc was reading zero.

[@mstersm00th35]

20+ years on the RR I can definitely see the class 1's pushing hard for this and it actually going through. They don't care about the workers at all.

[@KatoOnTheTrack1]

The channel I didn’t know I needed to subscribe to.

[@ReedyCreekRealtyRaleigh]

Mighty clean vest on that "conductor." Mighty clean. And how many times have I been on a road train when the engineer had PTC issues where it has to be cut out and run manually? NOT RELIABLE for this purpose.

[@KutWrite]

My experience as a CSX conductor matches yours, except we didn't have PTC nor "Precision Railroading" which are used today. I've never worked as an engineer, but I wonder if they worked alone on the train how many would fall asleep while running. I wonder why they couldn't just give train crews apx 8 hour shifts and exchange crews wherever they are when the shift is over. I suspect they're working toward eliminated crews altogether, as they're doing with so-called autonomous trucks and other vehicles.

[@suffer8318]

See when PTC was announced it was never meant to take jobs away and here we are, "Sam sits idle for long periods of time with a non interactive PTC screen." Yeah bro thats why conductors threw a shit fit when it released that the engineer was the one logging in and accepting all of the notifications like authoritys, speed restrictions and what ever else will wind up being acknowledged.. Funny how roughly 5ish years later now that PTC is active on heaps of routes that we dont need 2 man crews unless theirs an unexpected event...

[@johnduncan8804]

Nov 6th at 1900 and its still light out side?

[@miltgray7577]

My buddy left our small mechanical shop to be a UP "expiditer". I'm sending him this video to give him crap. He drives around in the little rail truck looking for "crap falling off". I'm the outbound inspector for our shortline rail company

[@jimg6476]

I watched this video last week. Just recently retired in August with 53 years of railroad service as an engineer, conductor, brakeman.. number one when I hired out a crew had a 5 man crew. The bean counters think this elimination of a conductor is a prudent decision. It looks great in Omaha but in the real world it's really not feasible. During many strikes over the years the rr would get the office personnel out in the field to operate trains. The feedback from these folks was they hated it. They got dirty, had to work at night etc. I worked grade territory the Tehachapi mountain and the coast line through Vandenburg AFB. Both lines are in accessible by vehicle. Let's say a utility man is based in Los Angeles and gets a call for service in rush hour traffic ? 2 hours or more to get to a location. Plus don't forget the utility man is under the hours of service. 12 hours. He can't drive needs to be patched by someone else. Plus the vehicles will be broken down relics. I could go on and on..

[@richardcolemanjr3749]

Those Railroad executives most think the European system will work here in the US, Canada and Mexico. Train Drivers there don't have the distances or the tonnage as trains here. Cargo airlines are pushing for the same thing. One pilot in a cargo plane. This stuff is just another way to Profit over the people.

[@shawnr761]

The crews I haul, ARE VERY engaged with each other, and communicating with each other, I've heard these guys talk

[@neilcrawford8303]

Hi from the UK. During this ideal scenario that UP dreamed up (guy available in the truck & not already busy elsewhere, close to the situation, easy access to the fault), what is the engineer meant to do in this situation? If the coupling breaks, does he just stay in the cab and radio the problem to dispatch, or does he leave the cab to inspect the train leaving the cab unmanned & no one at the controls? We only have drivers (engineers in US terminology) on our freight trains here, but the big difference is the journeys are much shorter, maybe just an hour or two, trains much shorter, the heaviest being about 40 cars and 4,000 tons of aggregates. Certainly nothing on the scale of the behemoths on the US railways.

[@cdp9156]

The end game is running trains remotely from a command center much like how a dpu remote unit works.

[@jacksonwhittier3646]

I think their endgame is those autonomous freight trains like Rio Tinto uses in Australia.

[@swervingto]

The writing is on the wall. This video is a wasted breath

[@25mfd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnKQeHSda56ld68 man this is SCARY

[@markthomas4083]

I agree basically w the tone here, don’t replace a human w some type of short cut disguised as a “tool” or improved method. Keep the man/woman when ever we can, don’t replace a live body with any “out motive” upgraded expediter. We need men and women to be utility tools not mechanized “tools”. Don’t cut our jobs. And the nonsense about the employee being home w family is always the red flag for me. My comment probably is not presented very well, my thoughts are not always clear…. We need to avoid the PTC at all costs. Great video. Just subscribed to this channel.

[@2kanchoo]

They should keep 2 man crews AND the expediter. Having someone that can come out and help with train moves, knuckles, watching points, spot/lift elevators would make so much go faster and smoother. Just like they used to have yard utility jobs up here. They were separate of yard crews and would drive around lining trains up, watching points, helping crews switch bad orders. Made everything faster, easier and more efficient. Edit: should have watched the entire video first, you said exactly what i did at the end lol.

[@htssoutboardsboatstrains9784]

Been watching this stuff now for a couple of years. NOT a train person but as a former manufacturing engineer, former business owner ( excavation ) and former Highway Dept. person. So the first thing that comes to mind is HOW many additional locations would the railroad have to build to be within a 1/2 hr of all points of the entire system. The implication & pitch is that they can respond in a less than 45 minute time frame. HOW many trucks would then have to be purchased, how much does that add to the maintenance & fuel costs. How accessible IS the system to trucks, or will they have to ride rails or a helicopter. As a former Union officer ( pres.) often had to deal with attempts to rationalize the cutting of work force. Always wondered what was the rational. ALL business is about people, not bits & bites or machines. Also as many can attest, and machine is a mechanical device that will age and fail. Putting all the dependency of track side systems also implies more inspection & repair costs. Always seems to me that a system as large and has as much impact as a railroad, communication network etc. would be better served integrated into the community it interfaces with either as a customer or property vs. having a digital and distance "buffer" from those they impact.

[@rickszabo4312]

Good point, those roads will be gated ,the companies don't care to much for trespassers. Well up here , our RR don't like to clear the few access roads we have of snow. I know how to solve that, give the expediter a Skido then install Harso 307 Hi Rail gear on it. But U.P. forgot the best news was that with this new system they will directly pass all those savings on to the customer , not sure about U.P. we report the fuel surcharge to our customers as profit every quarter. Customers and employee's getting the short end.

[@tl7622]

We r not allowed to operate using ptc as signal indication or use ptc to verify which track we are going to. We r not allowed. We have to operate signal indication and be paying attention to actually signals

[@josephjoestar3275]

You cannot tell me they didn't purposely get a knuckle for this video and have a manager filling in as a conductor

[@josephjoestar3275]

And apparently UP made their propaganda video unlisted. Hilarious

[@richardyule3853]

So glad this (The railroad part) is over with for me, 32 years. Work for the city now after 8 more years done with that.

[@DieselDucy]

1 man crews are a recipe for a disaster. The day we go to one man crews, I will probably get fired as a locomotive engineer because I WILL bring a radio to listen to. They can NOT expect a train driver to sit on the engine all alone for hours on end. Not to mention all the PTC enforcements that will happen. There have been several trips I have been dead ass tired and my conductor has saved our asses from getting in trouble.

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

What about the millions of $$$ that the railroad will have to shell out in lawsuits when another Lac Megantic happens!!!

[@johnlawsonsr1589]

I wanna see a 350 lbs + engineer walk a 2 and a half mile long train in 25 degree weather!

[@brettbanta2100]

Hell, I'm 175, and I don't wanna do that. Lol

[@3900Class]

They clearly don't know how bad it can get in western Nebraska in the winter. Atrocious on every level.

[@mom_im_losing_it]

Yes Iowa has a harsh winter

[@karlreinke]

***Disclaimer*** I an not a "railroader" but merely a "foamer" [not one of the know-it-all ones, either] I have questions: 1. "UP says there would be no loss of jobs or paycuts." If this is true, then WHY are they hell-bent on doing it? Are they seriously going to have people believe that they are going to replace one-for-one an on-train conductor in a given territory with a dude riding around in an F250 four-wheel drive with a set of tools? That actually seems more expensive. They specifically say the conductor "takes his truck home" so in a given territory you will have an additional 30 trucks to maintain for 30 conductors. 2. "In the event of a breakdown, the conductor currently climbs out of the locomotive and walks along the train to where service is needed. UP says expeditors could drive up to the job site in a truck and have better tools and equipment to use. The train would start rolling again in about two-thirds the time that it currently takes." Couldn't "Carmen" fulfill this role? 3. In their video the railroad depicts a scenario where the guy drives a pickup along a right-of-way access road to get to a broken knuckle. This assumes the "traveling conductor" is in the immediate area? What about the cost of keeping that access road plowed in winter? What about the costs of investing in 4wd trucks instead of 2wd? This whole.thing stinks.

[@froghorntreebeard]

railroads used to promote people from the ground up. Business school graduates who have never pulled a pin, set a handbrake, or even worked around slack action have no business in any executive position in a railroad. Profit over people and safety is not sound business practice and should obviously be unacceptable

[@donlipsky2696]

Isn't the conductor required to inspect BOTH sides of the entire train to insure that nothing has derailed or that an obstruction has occurred with the knuckle break?

[@RailsTailsandTrails]

The both sides when going into emergency is for key trains.

[@Jumpingoffthecliff]

It seems crazy to me to have only one person operating a train. It seems unsafe for all involved, the engineer, the shipper and the general public.

[@badbill8204]

This guy is totally correct on all counts. As a retired railroad worker of 39 years Iknow from years of experience.

[@noss1z28]

Funny they said manage "sick" time in the video... what sick time?....

[@The_Rat_King23]

Gods, how do you not have a target on your back with your railroad? if we were to bring that up to our Canada land based company (guess out of the 2) we would be termed quick fast and in a hurry .. But you're not wrong at all. this video speaks volumes to the reality of it all. As a conductor, this just shows me that my job would be Axed so fast.

[@davidpuckett3291]

Thanks for putting these videos out man. I just hope the community watches these especially after the incident in Ohio. Let’s hope the government acts on train size and length, crew size and quality of life. What helps customers with on time deliveries….more power on locomotives and using that power to move. Maybe, proper dispatching and train size. 19,000 foot train waiting 6 hrs for a train to arrive because it fits nowhere. This is a JOKE…send this video and comments to the FRA.

[@Thecruisingrancher]

I am an old school, retired truck driver. Work hard or find something else to do. Tired of bitching, no sympathy. You are only worth what you are worth. Nothing more!

[@bdpt109]

Bahahaha….”after recoupling, the train can immediately depart without having to wait for the conductor to walk to the head end.” I can’t count the number of times I’ve walked an entire 12-15k footer, fixed a knuckle or the like, walked alllll the way back to the head end, and then waited several more hours for the air to recover in negative temperatures. These trains aren’t the sports cars the C-Suite execs make them out to be.

[@raysmith1414]

Carrying a knuckle while going down into and up an overgrown ditch in the middle of nowhere sounds real safe. That's if theres even a road nearby to park the truck. This is ridiculous

[@ordiebox9903]

I like how he was tieing the brake with his lantern in the same hand. Looks like Sam is a FNG.

[@kenparrack]

I think the biggest issue is there are vast stretches of rail that are not accessible by vehicle. Not even an ATV can get to these places.

[@cutNdryfirewood]

I’m a Carman. I see the 1 man train coming. And when the train needs help, his Carman is stuck on the side of a road with a flat tire.😂 In my location we had 60 Carman. Ten years ago. Now we have 9 Carman. Yup, it’s that bad! No hiring. Told us “we’ve got all the Carman we need!” I’m looking to leave.

[@codymarrott9409]

I had a engineer have a heart attack in 1994 when I was with the sprr what will they do then

[@RailsTailsandTrails]

send a lawyer to your spouses house

[@carystone7168]

I’ve been told there is capital investment for roads being made along of most main lines next year. Also track inspectors are on their way out of a job also with autonomous inspection equipment. (Locomotives and box cars with inspection equipment)

[@Wr3nch78]

I don't want to watch the UP video, i know its bs. I'm thankful that there are insiders like you and others to tell us how it really is. If a person outside of the rail industry (me) thinks this is a extremely bad idea, then that says something. I hope the FRA can see through this. I wish they can run through this scenario when its on the Great Salt lake causeway, when the train broke a knuckle in the middle of the lake with no vehicle access. (forgive me if i'm wrong, but I hope you get my point.) I am completely on your side. great video and discussion.

[@Wr3nch78]

Or Donner pass! You (UP) are telling me that you can reach a train with a broken knuckle anywhere on Donner pass by pickup and change out a knuckle without any "special train movements" Sorry I call bs on this Expiditor position.

[@PCBill0622]

I used to drive for PTI. In less than two years there were numerous times we could not access trains because of road conditions or weather. In fact there were many locations where there was no road access at all to get get to the train we had to drive across some farmer’s field IF it wasn’t too muddy.

[@johnhannahM2.0]

Railroading has become a jail sentence rather than a job.

[@James-wc1mt]

So is it not safe to apply for a conductor position with Union Pacific?

[@kbruns33]

The job is there until its not. If you can plan around that then there ya go.

[@jacobshaw8453]

I love how Sam is wearing super clean manager PPE. He was in violation of not keeping his conductor's log if you pay attention. It was also awfully convenient that the break happened along a side street and not in the middle of nowhere which is most likely. FRA definition of Conductor: A person in charge of a train or yard crew. "A person" not a computer. Also the only reason the Conductor can't perform PTC functions and alleviate the Engineer from being overwhelmed is because it's not plugged in behind the screen.

[@mikepriceup]

UPRR my road is desperate to show their shareholders that they are still in charge. I'll just say they aren't being truthfull on well their entire speal. Ptc does alot of good but saying it can replace the conductor is laughable.

[@user-ji3yi4oq1m]

As a union pacific conductor/ engineer this is a way to continue PSR and shows us employees they don't care about us. Ptc fails they have got us so use to it that we forget are territory as a newer engineer i have never run with out it and now they want energy management (auto pilot) trying to get rid of the engineer too.

[@williamphillip9749]

Unfortunately the UP just needs to send a compilation video showing conductors sleeping the whole trip and doing nothing

[@RailsTailsandTrails]

TRUE, however it would back fire because they would send that video and then have to answer to everyone why they haven't done anything

[@DJPhantomRage]

Love to see you do this job. With the schedule, no days off, 90 minute calls and not fall asleep sometimes. But hey, way to stand up for the workers. You must be a manager or company boot licker.

[@williamphillip9749]

@@DJPhantomRage yeah I’ve done it since 2011 stfu and in Chicago no less, don’t lecture me there’s good employees and crappy ones but we’ve all fallen asleep

[@DJPhantomRage]

@@williamphillip9749 I may have read your comment wrong and miss understood your intent. I apologize. Just a topic that can get heated and we are all on edge due to the carrier's abuse... another 13 hr day has me all angry at the world.

[@25mfd]

yea if they did that it would backfire on them... UP would call it a compilation video showing conductors sleeping the whole trip and doing nothing but the union would call it a compilation video showing conductors who are beat, worn out tired and haven't had a day off in 15 straight starts and are just plain old clobbered... i would LOVE to see that backfire on the UP