Recent content by IGoDwnTwn

Wait....let me get this.....congress does not want to repair/fix roads and bridges or upgrade school buildings.....nor do they want a decent rail system?....congress gest worse by the moment!!! IGO

Greetings Peeps... Update time......I've been able to hossle if I was not able to run as an engineer. It keeps the skills sharp. I'm on vacation at the moment but cant wait to get back to work. The rest of my engineer's class finished their testing and training. That make about 12 new engineers...

Greetings People!!! Update time!! I've completed all training including Metra training. However, as a new engineer, I dont have any seniority to hold anything at the moment. I will probably go back to a conductor job for a few weeks. August brings alot of openings due to folks going on...

Ladies and Gentlemen, Another update...... I am proud to announce that I passed all classes and received my certificate of promotion to....BNSF Locomotive Engineer!!! I still have a checkride to do with the road foreman....just a formality in my view. I start Metra passenger service training...

Hey guys and gals!! Just another update. I am in my last week of the Engineer Training program. There are fives tests that have to be passed. Two simulator runs and the mechanical, ABTH (Air Brake and Train Handling) and GCOR (General Code of Operating Rules). As of today, two down and three to...

Well, If you all see my last post, it's been 6 years. Not very active in the forums huh..... lol! I am proud to announce that after 6 years with BNSF as a conductor working in the yard, I have entered the Engineer's Training Program. I am in my second week of on-the-job training doing runs as...

Greetings railroad fans. I have not been here in a while....matter of fact......since I got hired for BNSF. I decided to stop in and say hello to you all...letting you all know that I'm still with BNSF. Despite the lagging economy, I was not furloughed, however a few of a coworkers were. They...

Greetings, Just another update!! A year and a half with BNSFand things are great. Just wanted to share a moment from the other day with all of you. I was assigned conductor for a transfer run and climbed aboard a 'pumpkin' witha special logo on it. Those of you that are into Trains Simulation...

Hi guys and gals!! Not sure if any of you remember me or the e posts that I wrote. It was last year about this time where I posted that I was hired at BNSF RR as conductor trainee. I also gave a bi weekly report of how my training was going. Well, it's been a year now and all is well. I'm...

Greetings to all, Just wanted you all to know that I am alive and well. Three months into railroad employeement and loving it all. Schedule floats all over the week. Days are as long as 12 hours ( HOS Government rules ). I've done alot of switching and learning more about the trade everyday...

I've finally arrived!!!!! I finished my fully 19 weeks of training and official "marked up". I started my first shift as a BNSF trainman last night working 3rd shift. Thanks to all of you for reading these rather boring posts. But I just wanted to document my journey to a "different world"...

Update time: Week 18 coming up......I've got on the job training with Chicago's metra Aurora line (BNSF). I am scheduled for trains monday to Wednesday. I will be on morning rush hour runs...a 6 hour break...then the evening rush hour runs. I took and passed Amtrak's CHicago Union Station...

Next week (17).. Training for Metra conductor/collector. one week in class and one week on the job training. IGO

oh....there are metal plates between the rails on the service tracks. The plates act as collectors incase of spills and the like. What looks like a middle track is actually a seam in the middle of the plates to prevent leakage to the ground....sort of like a cover were all the roof sides meet. Igo

Which pic?....there are a few shown. Igo