Reply #35: Absolutely [View All]

as a former switchman, brakeman, conductor, and engineer, I know. You get caught short of sleep. You are on call 24/7 365 days a year. You can go off duty and be back to work 8 hours later. They have to give you 8 hours off after clocking out, but they can call you after 6.5 hours, give you 90 minutes to be there, that's your 8 hours. We all get caught short and the rule of thumb is, if the train is moving, conductor naps, when train is stopped engineer naps. Of course that is against the rules, but it is a necessary evil. You watch each others back. Sad to say, but this crew didn't work together very well.

The Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroads are trying their damnedest to implement 1 man crews. Thats a scary thought.