slchub wrote:It just keeps getting better and better.
Now we have "expert railfans" who can assist the TE&Y crews in car counts, determine who can and cannot operate an RCL and feel that they are experts in the arena of the RR by having taken a fair share of cab rides. I guess the guys who are employed by the RR's have no clue as to what the scope of our jobs are.
Better have a railfan on the head end of every trip.
HeeHee! Nothing finer than having foamers telling employee how to do our jobs, eh?
Actually, while such people mean well, it is actually best to stay OUT of company operations. Fans, while well-intentioned, may be violating Union Contract Rules by inserting themselves into things they neither understand nor need to be in! I would think most buffs would not have any understanding of time tickets and how they may cause a monetary claim against the company.
I once learned of a situation where a fan was "volunteering" to clean up the passenger station and provide friendly information to passengers---supposedly for FREE. Well, you can't STOP someone from hanging around some outlying flag stop and talking to the passengers, etc. BUT! Somehow this guy got hold of a key to the AGENCY office and was going INSIDE and playing "agent", using the radio and the train order wire. This violated the Clerk's Agreement as well as FRA RULES as this kid was NOT rules qualified.
I then sneaked over to the station and hid out to observe. This "Foamer Extraordinaire" was LOADING BAGGAGE, flagging the train to stop for passengers, going inside the station where there was not supposed to BE anyone at all! IOW, this job had been CUT OFF, but this nut was out there doing it for FREE with no authorization. As soon as I got some flash photos of him performing railroad work, I confronted him and demanded that he stop. He said he had "permission" (HORSE HOCKEY) from "somebody", so I told him, "OK, I am filing a time claim for ALL the division clerks against AMTRAK for letting unauthorized civilians perform railroad work, for the period of 3 MONTHS prior and current AND a report to the Federal Railway Administration and a CHARGE against Mr. Foamer for willfully violating US Law and FRA Rules by endangering railroad operations, interfering with railroad communications, and a charge to and with the railroad detectives against the individual for BREAKING and ENTERING the agency office. I don't know HOW he managed to get into the Extra Board Key Box located on the side of the building, but he had managed to dupulicate a key for his own ring. Sonny, I told him, if you want to make this HARD for you, I can sure see if I can get you some jail time!
Once he saw I WAS serious, he began to get a bit nervous! We won our claim, the boy was stopped from 'playing agent' (tho he continued to hang around the outlying station), but he no longer gained access to the station.
Minor assistance that has nothing to do with the operations of the railroad are fine (Coffee runs, cigarette lighters, etc), but you really need not try to "play railroad" because there SOME issues fans don't understand. Let the employees do their jobs, keep the fantasy what it is: a fantasy!
Gadfly