Things I Would Trust More Than Hunter Harrison Running A Railroad

Article  by Ian Cole

Hunter  Harrison  has developed  a bad rap as a railroad  executive. On paper he may look ok, but three failed mergers, a bitterness  towards hump yards and a lack of appreciation  towards employees doesn't  help his case at all. Today at RPJ we made a list  of all the things we'd  trust more than Harrison running  a railroad.

1. Helen  Keller taking my family pictures.
2. OJ Simpson driving  a white ford bronco.
3. Hillary  Clinton  handling  emails.
4. Brock Osweiler throwing  a football..
5. Gas station  sushi
6. A two year old driving a car
7. Bill Cosby as a bartender
8. Casey Anthony  babysitting  my children
9. Myself driving around through the hood of detroit at night
10. Flint tap water
11. Milk thats been out of date for two years.
12. Amtrak making sure they get to me on time.
13. A rex ryan promise
14. Bill bellichick  and a video camera
15. Those annoying  ads that say "singles are 8 miles away waiting  to meet you"
16.  A white van that says free candy in spray paint  on the side
17. Russian  hackers
18. A sex offender as my urologist
19. A moving  company ran by two ex cons that were arrested  for burglary.
20. The crap that comes out of Donald Trumps mouth.
21. Dinner with a cannibal
22. Hiring  slipknot to perform at a three year olds birthday party.
23. And pretty  much anything  but Hunter  Harrison  running or helping to run a railroad....

Bernie Baker: Q & A Session With The Man Behind Streamliners 2016

Bernie Baker is the man who was responsible for Streamliners 2016 which occurred this year in Australia.  He has been working with streamliner locomotives for decades and has a passion for them like how car guys are with Mustangs and Camaros. RPJ had the wonderful opportunity to have an interview with him about his work with streamliner locomotives, his background and some plans for the future!

RPJ:
So what drove you to create the streamliners event?

Bernie:

I Love the design and with so many of them still in service Down Under in various paint schemes it was a case of I had better do something before all the high tech shit sees them out the door. The company I work for have seven on the books.

RPJ:

How hard was it to coordinate everything to make it all happen?

Bernie:

It was not that bad as I have a pretty good network of contacts in the industry and that made it easier.

RPJ:

So you can say you had a lot of experience with these streamliners?

Bernie:

I started on the job in 82 and they have been a staple diet through my career.

We were all EMD until 1984 when through working started from interstate. That meant I worked the ALCO's as well.  So, I'm hooked with Streamliners in the blood.

RPJ: Now what's your opinion of American streamliners?

Bernie:

They're Gods! Without them and Dick Dillworth we wouldn't have them. With what the Poms had on offer thank goodness we swayed towards US technology and engineering.

RPJ:

If you had to pick a favorite streamliner from an operating perspective. What is your favorite?

Bernie:

An original B class with a 16-567B or BC. Many of the B's that are left have C blocks in them and they just don't sound the same.

RPJ:

So would you consider yourself  a railfan or more as a railroader?

Bernie:

Both. I googled Idiot Railfan. I'm a few things on the list, but not 10 of them. Being a railfan railroader means I'm in the box seat. The job must come first. Having said that I'm fortunate the company I work for roster me whenever possible to work the Streamliners, especially the one they named after me - B61.

RPJ:

That's amazing that they named one after you! How did that all happen?

Bernie:

I had just returned from the States in 2014. Two weeks later I had two heart attacks. It was while I was recovering they surprised me with the naming. They said they named it because of my dedication and input into preserving and recoding Australia's railway history and being a dedicated employee.

RPJ:

So what was your thoughts on the North Carolina Transportation Museum's 2014 Streamliners event?

Bernie:

If not for the social aspect of it, I would have been out of there in a couple of hours. It was lacking things to keep me there. This is why I had loco and horn sound off's and of course the fireworks.

RPJ:

So was your intent for your event to make it more attractive to those from outside the railroad world?

Bernie:

No it was to make it more attractive to those inside the RR world and to make it an event to remember. Mission accomplished!

RPJ:

Do you plan on running another event like this (Streamliners) in the future?

Bernie:

In 2018, but it will be a New South Wales Railways weekend, past and present. Fireworks included and at the same roundhouse.

12 Days Of Foaming (A Parody Of 12 Days Of Christmas)

Lyrics by Ian Cole (If you steal them I will find you and hurt you...)

On the first day of foaming the railroad gave to me
A Gevo built by GE

On the second day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Two hours of nothing
and A Gevo built by GE

On the third day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the fourth day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the fifth day of foaming the railroad gave to me
FIVE EMD'S
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the sixth day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Six hours delaying
FIVE EMD'S
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the seventh day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Seven solid lash ups
Six hours delaying
FIVE EMD'S
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the eighth day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Eight trains derailing
Seven solid lash ups
Six hours delaying
FIVE EMD'S
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the ninth day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Nine fines for trespassing
Eight trains derailing
Seven solid lash ups
Six hours delaying
FIVE EMD's
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the tenth day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Ten Ferromex's
Nine fines for trespassing
Eight trains derailing
Seven solid lashups
Six hours delaying
FIVE EMD'S
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

On the eleventh day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Eleven defects detected
Ten Ferromex's
Nine fines for trespassing
Eight trains derailing
Seven solid lashups
Six hours delaying
FIVE EMD'S
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
nd a Gevo built by GE

On the twelfth day of foaming the railroad gave to me
Twelve heavy coal trains
Eleven defects detected
Ten Ferromex's
Nine fines for trespassing
Eight trains derailing
Seven solid lashups
Six hours delaying
FIVE EMD's
Four Tim White threats
Three trash 9s
Two hours of nothing
And a Gevo built by GE

The Benefits Of Using Drones While Railfanning

Drones have become immensely  popular  for doing video and photography. They provide views  that one would not be able to get on the ground. Drones are an excellent  tool but they also must be used responsibly, and they also must be registered  on the FAA website. But despite  the hassle and regulations it is worthwhile  to look into getting  one especially  if you are a railfan. There are many reasons to get one and drones can help railfans do tasks that only a drone is capable of.  RPJ has compiled a list of reasons  for railfans to get a drone.

1.  Drones  can fly above train yards: Railroad management  is normally  hostile  to railfans that are in the ground on foot. Railfans are always looking for specific engines and sometimes the only place you can see them by going through a train yard. Unfortunately this is Illegal to do on foot and can result in trespassing charges. However,   a drone can solve this problem as long as it is no lower than 80 feet in the air. So if you have a hard time with getting  a particular  locomotive  and you know it's  in that yard it's  possible  to get it now thanks to drones.

2. They can prevent  a meet blocking  a desired train. One of the biggest  pains a railfan  can run into while railfanning is being blocked  by another train. Just ask the railfans who got blocked  from seeing Nickel Plate Road 765 at Berea and Horseshoe Curve! A drone could  have easily  solved this problem  for any railfan who had to deal with this dilemna by being above the problem.

3. Another thing they can do is remove the annoyance of having  objects or people in the way of your shot:
Let's  face it, most of us have had to deal with the jackass lady with the ipad before that cuts in front of your  shot to get her lousy photo. With a drone you don't  have to really deal with that as you are above everything. It also prevents conflict breaking out thanks to ones ignorance.

4. Also, drones  can take video and have still photos taken out of it: This is very useful  for flying drones above areas with lots of trains such as LTEX, NREX, or museums that have too much equipment  to record  in one  shot.

5. Drones can make shots much more interesting  for your audiences. Let's  face it, I run a page called Worldwide  Railfan Productions  as well and our viewers are always  looking  for something  new and different  than what the competition  puts out. If they get bored because  our  material  is getting  stale we try to do stuff differently  and it tends to gather their interest back into railfanning. Drones  can be an excellent  source of changing it up by providing  unique  views that you can't  normally  get.

Have any other reasons using  a drone is beneficial  for railfanning?  Comment them below!

A List Of Celebrities Who Also Liked Trains

1. Johnny Cash: While  this may not suprise some, as seen by  his numerous songs that had stuff to do with trains such as "I've  got a thing about trains". Johnny Cash was in fact a railfan, having grown up near both the Rock Island Line and Cotton Belt route, it's  fair to say he had an interest in trains. Also, in his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song "hurt" you can see him in the cab of Southern  Railway No. 4501. Another thing with him is that on his variety  show back in the 1960s that always included a segment on railroads. You could say Johnny  was a train fan through and through.

2. Walt Disney: When you were known for placing  a Steam Railroad and a Monorail both in the same amusement  park you own, it's  fair to say you must have some interest in trains. There have also been reports  that before creating Walt Disney Inc, he worked on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. Not only that he also owned numerous  toy trains. Walt Disney  could be the definition  of a railfan if need be.

3. Rod Stewart: Famous Rock n Roll star Rod Stewart is known for owning a tremendous  HO scale model train layout he calls "the three river city". He was also once quoted stating that  "I'm proud to be a railway modeler,"  "It means more to me to be on the cover of Model Railroader than to be on the cover of a music magazine." Obviously  this bluntly  states he has a passion for trains as well.

4. Joe Biden: Along with being the 47th Vice President  of the United  States, Biden is known to be a passenger train enthusiast. He has logged over 2 MILLION  MILES  on Amtrak  travel alone over the past 40 years or so.  He is a major advocate for passenger rail and played a major role in making sure Amtrak got 2 Billion  dollars to go towards upgrading their trains on the Northeast Corridor. Not only that, he also played a part in restoring St. Paul, Minnesota's  Union Station.  Regardless  of your political  beliefs, Joe has been and continues  to be a major advocate  for trains.

5. Merle Haggard: The fact that Merle's 23rd studio album is called "My Love Affair  With Trains" could be enough evidence  for some that he really  enjoys his trains. His  Father also worked for the Atchison,  Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad and he lived in a house made out of a Santa  Fe boxcar. His tour bus was even painted  with the Santa Fe "drumhead" logo on it! Not only that, but his collection  of model trains was worth over $250,000! So yeah, you could say he was pretty devoted to his trains!!

6. Neil Young: Neil Young has always  been a huge fan of Lionel Trains since he was a young boy. He got his first Lionel set when he was a pre-teen and had kept his hobby since. His special needs son Ben, is also a big fan of the trains and they bond together  through their love of model trains! In fact, their bond was so significant  that Neil had a "paddle" designed for Ben  to operate the trains by leaning his head into the paddle to apply and disengage power to the train set due to the fact he had severe  difficulties  using his arms and legs. Talk about devotion!

7. Roger Daltry: The singer of world renowned  band The Who has a 45×25 foot layout that he operates in his attic with some of his friends. He discovered  this hobby when he was in his "middle age".  Him and  his friend Cliff Parsons were both appalled at the fact that children of Brittain didn't  know much about their country's proud railroad  history, and are working on developing  the 2.5 acre Ashford International  Model Railway Educational Centre, which is planned to feature  up to 30 massive model railroad layouts worth several hundred thousands of pounds! There is no denying  his love of trains when he out that much into it!

8. Frank Sinatra: Ol Blue eyes  had a thing for trains, so much so that he would take the subway from Hoboken to Manhattan  just to see the model trains in window displays at department  stores! His mother pawned an old fox fur she had aquired so that way Frank could have his first train set. Another interesting  tale about Frank was that he would hop aboard streetcars with his friends to the old Lionel train factory and search their dumpsters for discarded model train parts. They would then put together trains from whatever larts they could find! ( Talk about hardcore!) As an adult his interest  never faded, as he devoted an entire guesthouse on his California  ranch to become a model train shrine! This was how he would spend his time out of the limelight  to unwind. Because of the fact that he was on tour constantly, Sinatra  never really had time to buy trains of his own. However, his staff loved him like his own family and went out of their way to buy an actual  full sized caboose that was placed  on his ranch property! Devoted? I'd  say for sure!

Railroad Preservation: So Many Projects Not Enough Hands

The rail preservation industry has become so massive, that there seems to be a new project started at least once a week. Rail preservation projects are responsible for keeping tourist lines running, locomotives operating, and keeping equipment in good condition. To ensure that this all happens, there needs to be hands there to help get these projects completed. These projects require a wide demographic of people who can help. From welders who can join the necessary materials  together, to writers like myself who can help get the word out about these projects and potentially help raise funds for these projects. The problem is, where are all these people?? Is there some other factors that are creating this dilemma?
Rick Rowlands was courteous enough to take time for an interview regarding this whole problem.

RPJ:On any given weekend when you are helping with a preservation project, like let's say laying down rail or doing cosmetic touch ups on a locomotive, is there typically a lack of volunteers?

RR: It depends on the project and the location.  Projects such as steam loco restorations tend to attract more people than lets say restoring a caboose might.  Projects outside of major population centers tend to have more volunteers than those located in cities.
The real lack is in competent qualified people.  Its relatively easy to find people to do manual labor, but its rare to find those with skills and even rare to find someone who is a self directed with skills.  Someone that you can give a project to and who can get it done with minimal direction

RPJ: What are some ways this problem can be fixed?

RR: Well for one, schools need to stop pushing college only and start getting people interested in the trades.  Because college grads who can't change a tire are not going to be the ones who volunteer at the local rail museum! Another problem is there seems to be a disconnect between the railfan population and the rail preservationists.  Not much crossover between the two that I see.  Some more fans need to volunteer at the local rail museum.  Make some friends, learn a skill etc. There is much more to railroads than chasing heritage units and taking pictures.   Working on the stuff can also be a lot of fun and nothing is more satisfying than after a long hard day, looking at what you accomplished. Whether it be a paint job on a car or a section of track built.

RPJ: For sure, a big boy can't fix itself! What do you think are some of the reasons why railfans and preservationists don't intermingle much? Is there tension or just a lack of effort?

RR: Some of us preservationists can be grumpy and not as welcoming as we could be.  I think we don't do as good of a job on outreach. Also, many fans just don't have an interest in working with their hands because they haven't been exposed to it.  Many kids grow up and never have worked on anything so its something totally alien to them. it goes back to the schools and pushing college and getting rid of shop classes. High schools used to give kids a well rounded education. You could take wood shop, ,metal shop, auto mechanics etc.  Nowadays schools contract with vocational schools to offer those classes, but unlike in the past where a student could take a shop class or two, they now have to choose between college track and stay at HS with their friends or choose trades track and go off to the vo-tech.  You cannot become well rounded in that case.
Its not supposed to be an either-or.  Its suppose to be a little bit of both, this short sighted decision made by many schools has caused this country HUGE problems.

RPJ: So where do you see the preservation industry if things don't change?

RR: Slowly dwindling away.  Smaller operations will close up and the larger ones will find it harder to get people.  Look at most museums you visit,  Mostly older people.

RPJ: What can the average Joe in the preservation  industry do to prevent the flame from dying out eventually?

RR: I don't know.  Demographics and shifting societal interests seem to be against us

RPJ: So do you think this is more of a political dilemm a that may be out of our control?

RR: The entire country is changing away from being a manufacturing powerhouse and when the manufacturing jobs are lost so too are people who know how to do things.  Also when the good paying jobs go away people have less time for leisure activities because they are busy trying to survive.

RPJ: Do easier times lead to better volunteer turnouts?

RR: Generally.  Also more visitorship

RPJ: One final question do you feel there is a need for these projects to reach out more through social media?

RR: More  communication is always helpful!