Article by Scott Clay

Even though I was officially hired by Union Pacific on June 20, 2000, I did not get called to duty until September 29th. I was called by the Director of Training and told to report to the administration building at Proviso Yard on October 2nd, for a two day indoctrination. "Report at 8:00 AM dressed for work!"

I arrived at Proviso at 6:30 AM. Still in disbelief that I was actually here, I sat in the parking lot until about 7:15 contemplating what this job would be like. After hanging around outside on pins and needles I finally got out of my truck and walked in. I was directed to a classroom toward the back of the building. When I arrived at this room there were nine places set up. Each place had a UP rule book, an on-the-job training guide for Engineering employees, a bright orange hard hat, an orange reflective vest, safety glasses, work gloves, and ear plugs. I picked a spot and sat down, before long other people began to arrive. Then our instructor Mr. Tobin arrived and talked to us while we waited for the last couple of people to show up. When the first guy finally arrived at 8:02, Mr. Tobin said, "You're late." The guy explained that he missed the turn into the yard and that it had taken some time to get turned around. The second guy showed up at 8:10 and had no good excuse for it, at which point we were told that from that point on tardiness would result in dismissal.

The first day was spent in the classroom watching different films about working for the railroad and about safety and so on. They even had one that was similar to the "gore" films they showed when I was learning to drive, the kind with graphic depictions of all the ways you could become crippled or get killed while working for the railroad. Then there were some written tests, and finally an overall explanation of the job in general. At the end of the day we were given homework in the form of a safety certification book to read and be tested on the next day; after which we would go out into the field and do some hands on training. Before we left for the day we were told to report at 7:00 AM the next day, and were again reminded about being punctual. We were told that at 7:00 AM the door would be locked and anyone not inside would be out of luck.
I went home that day even more excited than before. I studied the book I was given and read through the job training guide as well. I could not believe it, one more day of training and I would be sent to my assigned headquarters and be on the job for real.

I was sitting in the classroom by 6:00 AM the second day, and by 6:30 almost everyone else was there as well. All but three from the day before were present. As promised, when 7:00 AM rolled around, Mr. Tobin got up and locked the door. Sure enough, at 7:05 the door knob rattled, then there was a knock. It was the guy who had missed the turn the day before and he said the same thing had happened this time as well. He was dismissed on the spot. At about 7:30 the second guy showed up and was summarily dismissed as well. The third guy never showed up. When he called he said he overslept and knew he was done, so he did not bother coming in. The easy way in which these three people were dismissed made a believer out of me about where the railroad stands on tardiness!

After a short discussion in the classroom, we were taken outside of the building where several track tools had been laid out. Each tool was explained to us as to its purpose and proper use. After about an hour of this and answering questions, we were taken into the yard to construct a 39-foot track panel. On the way to the location we passed right through the diesel service area. I was ecstatic, but kept it to myself, as I had not let on that I like trains. When we got to the location we did stretching exercises and were given a job briefing. Then we were shown how to lay out the ties, set the plates, roll the rail on, set and drive the spikes, and how to gage the opposite rail. When all was said and done, we were exhausted and dirty, but we had a perfectly good track panel constructed.

We returned to the classroom where we were told where to report for duty the next day. Four guys were assigned to Proviso, the one woman in our class was sent to Sterling, Illinois. I was sent to DeKalb, Illinois, and told to report to Mr. Campbell, who was the Roadmaster there at that time. Then we were told good luck, work safe, and were released for the day. I reported to DeKalb the next morning, excited about working on the railroad. I was also very nervous about it as well, but overall very glad to be a part of the railroad. And just so you know that I had not forgotten about the railroad's stand on tardiness, when the Roadmaster arrived at 6:00 AM, I was already sitting in the parking for 20 minutes! When he arrived I introduced myself and he shook my hand and welcomed me to the Union Pacific. I smiled, because at this point I was finally an honest to goodness employee of the largest railroad in North America, and I am still proud of that to this day.

Next month I will tell about my experiences in the month-and-a-half before being furloughed for the winter, and how I had to take a temp job to make ends meet. Until then, work safe!