by UPRR engineer
Anyone know what a UHB is? I had the worst stew ever on my job a couple weeks ago.
Well the week before that we had the other new guy, i could tell right off that stew #1 was gonna do mighty fine. He fit in just fine. His first trip ever was with us. I wanted him to get the most out of this week so i told the brakeman let him watch you do something first, pull me past a switch, make a hook, pull and hang fred. Then you watch him, let him be the brakeman. He caught on quick, and i let him know he was doing a good job. He asked good questions about what i was doing as i ran the train, and we pointed out things, A blocks and what not, what the next light might be, listening in as the track inspector got track and time, yes to the switch, no to the switch. Good stuff, and he was getting it.
The next week we had #2 stew, the first question i asked this guy, "How was last week? Should have the hang of it pretty much right?" "OHH YA... this job is CAKE!" I grinded my teeth and smiled because i knew better. I did hear him on the radio once last week when he was on another local. His cockyness upset me a bit, and i got more upset as the day went on. I dont know what his instructor told him he was suppost to be doing on student trips but i think all he got out of school was, call out the signals, say "here comes a east bound", bring to my attention that i was speeding, and rub my conductor the wrong way all day. I think he might have gotten off to help about 20% of the time. Most new guys dont know how to take a break, got there coat and radio on them, gloves close by at all time, ready to bail off in a seconds notice. Not stew #2, he was a UHB.
The next day i had enough of this crap. My conductor and brakeman are both cut back engineers. I told the brakeman you run today, and ill ride this new guy. So we bail off at the first stop and i started ripping ass. "YOU GOT THIS??" "GET YOUR DOPE OUT" "WHAT THE HELL" I didnt cut the guy any slack. He couldnt do anything right. Ya everything i said, didnt help a bit. At the end of the first stop i had enough, i gave him the good talk, "If monkeys could talk, the UP would have them out here doing this crap, its not a hard job." "75% of the guys who mark up aint any better at this stuff the day they first stepped on the property, better start paying attention and get in there and do some work!!!" "I dont care if you get hurt or tear sh*t up, your not playing with my job." Some of it might have stuck, but not much. I got back in the chair and ran the rest of the day, he did a little more after that, but not much.
Later on in the week our trainmaster caught up with us, and i bailed off to talk with him. They all know me well, ill talk freely, when they ask.... i tell. First thing he asked "Hows he doing?" I went off on a rant and ended it by telling him i gave him the "monkey" speech. He laughed, i told him the other guy was a keeper, this guy needs to be beaten daily to get any work out of him.
Well the week before that we had the other new guy, i could tell right off that stew #1 was gonna do mighty fine. He fit in just fine. His first trip ever was with us. I wanted him to get the most out of this week so i told the brakeman let him watch you do something first, pull me past a switch, make a hook, pull and hang fred. Then you watch him, let him be the brakeman. He caught on quick, and i let him know he was doing a good job. He asked good questions about what i was doing as i ran the train, and we pointed out things, A blocks and what not, what the next light might be, listening in as the track inspector got track and time, yes to the switch, no to the switch. Good stuff, and he was getting it.
The next week we had #2 stew, the first question i asked this guy, "How was last week? Should have the hang of it pretty much right?" "OHH YA... this job is CAKE!" I grinded my teeth and smiled because i knew better. I did hear him on the radio once last week when he was on another local. His cockyness upset me a bit, and i got more upset as the day went on. I dont know what his instructor told him he was suppost to be doing on student trips but i think all he got out of school was, call out the signals, say "here comes a east bound", bring to my attention that i was speeding, and rub my conductor the wrong way all day. I think he might have gotten off to help about 20% of the time. Most new guys dont know how to take a break, got there coat and radio on them, gloves close by at all time, ready to bail off in a seconds notice. Not stew #2, he was a UHB.
The next day i had enough of this crap. My conductor and brakeman are both cut back engineers. I told the brakeman you run today, and ill ride this new guy. So we bail off at the first stop and i started ripping ass. "YOU GOT THIS??" "GET YOUR DOPE OUT" "WHAT THE HELL" I didnt cut the guy any slack. He couldnt do anything right. Ya everything i said, didnt help a bit. At the end of the first stop i had enough, i gave him the good talk, "If monkeys could talk, the UP would have them out here doing this crap, its not a hard job." "75% of the guys who mark up aint any better at this stuff the day they first stepped on the property, better start paying attention and get in there and do some work!!!" "I dont care if you get hurt or tear sh*t up, your not playing with my job." Some of it might have stuck, but not much. I got back in the chair and ran the rest of the day, he did a little more after that, but not much.
Later on in the week our trainmaster caught up with us, and i bailed off to talk with him. They all know me well, ill talk freely, when they ask.... i tell. First thing he asked "Hows he doing?" I went off on a rant and ended it by telling him i gave him the "monkey" speech. He laughed, i told him the other guy was a keeper, this guy needs to be beaten daily to get any work out of him.
Last edited by UPRR engineer on Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
, if you know what I mean. Regards 
