Re: O/T Post: Questions on Becoming an Engineer

You're absolutely right, JB. But we all know that when people take their student trips, they work will all kinds of "qualified" people, some more interested in mentoring than others. When a person knows the routine-down the line, cut off the engine, bring it to the switch, send it onto the siding, realign for the main and hop on, get the switch at the other end, bring him thru, realign, then bring him to a stop just before the joint--students are given more leeway. The couple I am thinking of had done student trips, should have known the routine, but were so caught up in watching instead of paying attention to their job, it left the door open for problems. We all know newbies sometimes forget in the heat of the move--I have been know to take off in the wrong reverse direction myself--and we compensate for that. We know not everybody can get on and off moving equipment or run for a switch. My point was that if you are working, you pay attention to your duties and railfan when someone else is responsible for the safe operation of the train. Someday, you'll be one of the old heads and when you work with a bunch of your buddies who read each other's minds and everyone works together to make the runs the smoothest and easiest on everyone, then the fun begins.