CharlieMcCandless Wrote:
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> This sort of thing was phased out around WWII. Now
> no one may be promoted to engineer ahead of
> someone hired before them. Also there is mandatory
> promotion to locomotive engineer. New hires can't
> choose to remain a conductor.
> All three of the men listed were off the list by
> 1945. That left only F.R. Black, who stayed a
> fireman throughout his career.
Charlie,
This must vary by carrier. Under BNSF rules, engineer training vacancies are filled by seniority. Eligible Trainmen can elect to pass up the opportunity unless the carrier is unable to fill the entire training class at a given terminal. In the event positions go unfilled, the carrier will then force-assign the oldest post-1985 (non-protected) conductors to complete the class. So far this hasn't happened where I am as we've had adequate new-hires willing to fill the classes.
When I hired out, I was advised to take the engine promotion at the first opportunity. I passed it up the first time I was eligible as I wasn't in a position to go for a variety of reasons. I did take the next opportunity a year later. In that time 40 men entered the roster "ahead" of me at other locations on the seniority district. That translated to 3 or 4 men "running around me" in seniority at my home terminal.
Another interesting phenomenon is the number of new-hires that have elected to forego engineer training entirely. Generally these people hired out into good trainmen's seniority and don't want a substantial cut in pay to start over again at the bottom of the roster as engineers.
Finally, We're also hiring a lot of older folks these days - Men (and women) with only 15 or so years left to work. Many of these folks are opting out of engine school as they're better off financially to remain trainmen. It has taken me about 5 years to "recover" from taking my engineer promotion. I'm just now in a seniority position as an engineer comparable to what I had as a conductor at the time I took my promotion.
I might add, that I didn't surrender my trainman's seniority when I promoted. If I can't hold as an engineer I can still exercise my rights as a trainman. On former Santa Fe territories I can freely "flow back" to the ground as a trainman, seniority permitting at any time.
FWIW,
-Jeff Ford
