MinnKota Railfan
Imperfected Orchestration - Judson, MN
What does it take to Orchestrate? Coordinate? Synergize? Buzz words aside, peel open the door and enter into the world of steel horses.
Red and green flow lines tracking on buzzing CTC screens 16 monitors wide, grease laden pressure gauges, rusted cut-bars, pinched glad-hands, and struck angle-cocks. A world of swinging tools, tattered steel toes, and humor in misfortune. Persuasion through blood, sweat, and tears; not to mention expletives, brute force and overexertion of body parts.
A foreign language to the populous, speaking in control points, mile poles, x'd boxes, and authority limits. Shove 12 back to a joint job 20. Set, centered, and red-zone called. All this, transmitted on analog radio waves across archaic Kenwood receivers.
Three hour call-out as the extra-board lights up at 3:16 AM. Maintainers shed sleep from their still drowsy eyes as they back the truck out of the driveway for a midnight track light call.
"Yeah, The rail stripped at the joint."
"How far did it jump?"
"About 6 inches."
"Do you need a puller?"
"Definitely."
"Alright, I'll call the welders in."
The orchestrated precision of the railroader is one of imperfection. A world of unknowns, fed by the drive of uncertainty. Men and women who jump in the saddle, leaving all they love behind - not knowing when, and in some cases IF they will come home. All to push the American Dream into tomorrow.
In my time at Union Pacific, we had a creed we pledged to.
"I have the courage to care. Worn with a lion’s pride, it means those I work with will have my back, and I will have theirs. I pledge to shield myself and my team from harm. I will take action to keep them safe, by fixing an unsafe situation, addressing an unsafe behavior or stopping the line. In turn, I will have the courage to accept the same actions from my coworkers, who care enough to correct my path. We wear this badge out of respect for each other and those who have gone before us. On my watch, we will all go home safe to our families every day."
A wise man once told me - "Remember kid, everything we do, everything we say has to have a purpose. It has to matter, because the stuff we work with doesn't care. Everything you touch here is large, metal, and unforgiving. The rail doesn't know if your fingers are in the way - But don't worry, she'll make room."
To all my railroad family, remember times are tough, but you are tougher. Keep fighting the good fight and come home safe.
Imperfected Orchestration - Judson, MN
What does it take to Orchestrate? Coordinate? Synergize? Buzz words aside, peel open the door and enter into the world of steel horses.
Red and green flow lines tracking on buzzing CTC screens 16 monitors wide, grease laden pressure gauges, rusted cut-bars, pinched glad-hands, and struck angle-cocks. A world of swinging tools, tattered steel toes, and humor in misfortune. Persuasion through blood, sweat, and tears; not to mention expletives, brute force and overexertion of body parts.
A foreign language to the populous, speaking in control points, mile poles, x'd boxes, and authority limits. Shove 12 back to a joint job 20. Set, centered, and red-zone called. All this, transmitted on analog radio waves across archaic Kenwood receivers.
Three hour call-out as the extra-board lights up at 3:16 AM. Maintainers shed sleep from their still drowsy eyes as they back the truck out of the driveway for a midnight track light call.
"Yeah, The rail stripped at the joint."
"How far did it jump?"
"About 6 inches."
"Do you need a puller?"
"Definitely."
"Alright, I'll call the welders in."
The orchestrated precision of the railroader is one of imperfection. A world of unknowns, fed by the drive of uncertainty. Men and women who jump in the saddle, leaving all they love behind - not knowing when, and in some cases IF they will come home. All to push the American Dream into tomorrow.
In my time at Union Pacific, we had a creed we pledged to.
"I have the courage to care. Worn with a lion’s pride, it means those I work with will have my back, and I will have theirs. I pledge to shield myself and my team from harm. I will take action to keep them safe, by fixing an unsafe situation, addressing an unsafe behavior or stopping the line. In turn, I will have the courage to accept the same actions from my coworkers, who care enough to correct my path. We wear this badge out of respect for each other and those who have gone before us. On my watch, we will all go home safe to our families every day."
A wise man once told me - "Remember kid, everything we do, everything we say has to have a purpose. It has to matter, because the stuff we work with doesn't care. Everything you touch here is large, metal, and unforgiving. The rail doesn't know if your fingers are in the way - But don't worry, she'll make room."
To all my railroad family, remember times are tough, but you are tougher. Keep fighting the good fight and come home safe.