What Do All The Acronyms Mean?

[MrFSS]

We see lots of acronyms here in the forums. Over the years I have come to understand many of them. Is there a master list somewhere? Can someone give us a list of them and what they stand for. I'm referring to ones such as:

OBS

LSA

and so forth.

Might be a help for those new to Amtrak and this forum, too.

Thanks!!

 

[denmarks]

OBS - On board staff?

LSA - Lead Service Attendant

please continue...

 

[printman2000]

OBS - On board staff?LSA - Lead Service Attendant

please continue...

What is a Lead Service Attendant?

Does OBS stand for any On Board Staff? or just certain positions?

Thanks!

 

[trainboy325]

OBS is On-board Service. OBS is the division of the Transportation Department that oversees the "service" component of running trains.

OBS craft jobs include the Operations Service Supervisor (OSS), Lead Service Attendant (LSA), Service Attendant (SA), Train Attendant (TA), Food Specialist (FS) and Chef. LSAs are employees that have duties that require management and selling of company funds and stock. LSAs have the job of dining car stewart, lounge car attendant and specific food service car operations (Pacific Parlour Car, Acela food service, etc.). Service Attendants are dining car waiters and food service providers that don't have specific stock or fund duties. Train Attendants are primarily coach and sleeping car attendants. Food Specialist are the second cook and dishwasher in the dining car. FS are not used with diner-lite or dinette food car service. Chefs are that, the primary food preparer. Chefs and LSAs have accountability requirements that allow for debits in their paychecks if stock is lost or not accounted for during the end-of-trip remittance part of their job. The other three jobs don't have specific debit or accountability clauses in their duties. There are inventory responsibilities for the Sleeping Car TA for complimentary beverage stock, but all are designated non-revenue and have no dollar amounts assigned for remittance accountability at end-of-trip points.

The Operations Service Supervisor (OSS) is the "employee in charge" or EIC of the OBS staff members. This position, unlike the other OBS crafts is not covered by the Amtrak Service Workers Council (ASWC) union contract. They are covered under a union contract represented by ARSA (Airline and Railroad Supervisors Association). This position, which over the last few years, has been widely phased out by passing the job of "management" to the Dining Car LSA and the Conductor. OSSs do still exist, and are being used primarily now to ensure compliance with Amtrak policy over implementation of diner-lite and other service changes for the OBS crews.

Hope this helps.

 

[MrFSS]

Hope this helps.

WOW - Thanks!!

 

[jccollins]

Our member battalion51 has compiled an awesome and quite extensive railroad dictionary explaining many of the railroad acronyms. You can view it over on his Amtrak Florida site by clicking HERE.