Let me add that our fine elected officials are doing a fantastic job and ridding Long Island of the younger generation and the retired generation.
High taxes, high cost of living, excessive and out dated rules in their incorporated villages, as well as the refusal to make the necessary adjustments to improve the quality of life.
But as K&K said. This forum is the intended medium for railroad enthusiast both employee and non employee alike to share their interest and knowledge of such to keep the history, heritage & memory alive. It's very prideful to know the LIRR CO, regardless of who's operating it, (NYS-MTA) is an monopoly still operating under its original name and charter. (1834)
Just my observations as seen through my eyes:
Over the last 50 or so years the LIRR went from being a railroad to a customer service organization.
Placing excessive priority in customer service and customer empowerment over day to day train movement and railroad operations. This enphisis in turn resulted in a huge loss of institutional knowledge and experience, of which some believe that PTC will replace the need for an experienced and seasoned railroader. PTC being viewed as the bandaid.
So in conclusion: Today's "empowered customers" are enjoying the benefits they so vigaruously fought for and earned over the last half century.
Note: Many new laws and regulations in addition to some of today's technology have also created more problems for foul weather operation then when everything was the old way too. This would make for it's own informative and intresting discussion.
The views expressed above are solely the private opinion of this user. They do not reflect the views, opinions, stance or otherwise the decisions made by the railroad, organization, agency, or society to which forum or topic a post is made.