07-01-2014, 01:27 PM
I'll take the opportunity to tell a story that was told by my FRA inspector at the KJR. He was an old timer, and a great guy, but very strict with the rules that related to safety. CSX had had several severe wrecks on one of the substantial grades in the Allegheny mountains and he had to go ride with the various crews down the grade to make sure they had had proper train handling classes. (he had 30 years railroad experience before joining the FRA).
So, he tells me one morning he climbs in the cab and there is this little girl doesn't look old enough to be out of grade school at the throttle. Kind of dismayed he asked her if she had ever taken a coal train down this grade. She told him she had, and sit back and relax. He related that she handled that train better than any trainman he had rode with, and he asked her how she came to be an engineer.
She told him her husband was taking the test so she went along too. He didn't pass, she did.
So keep it in mind there are some darned good engineers out there and their gender has nothing to do with it.
I wish all the candidates the best of luck. We need to have these trains crewed.
So, he tells me one morning he climbs in the cab and there is this little girl doesn't look old enough to be out of grade school at the throttle. Kind of dismayed he asked her if she had ever taken a coal train down this grade. She told him she had, and sit back and relax. He related that she handled that train better than any trainman he had rode with, and he asked her how she came to be an engineer.
She told him her husband was taking the test so she went along too. He didn't pass, she did.
So keep it in mind there are some darned good engineers out there and their gender has nothing to do with it.
I wish all the candidates the best of luck. We need to have these trains crewed.