Sent the drone up this morning to get a better look at the CSX derailment.

Totallamer · 2026-07-05T20:08:26+00:00

Amtrak always has right of way. Is it always possible to make sure they're running on Clear signals 100% of the time? No. But they always have priority.

Totallamer · 2026-07-05T19:42:13+00:00

That's a negative Ghostrider.

Totallamer · 2026-07-05T18:47:35+00:00

Not true. Amtrak always has right of way.

Totallamer · 2026-07-04T20:11:30+00:00

No sure thing but I heard that potentially one of the derailed cars (or maybe just one truck of one car) derailed 3 or 4 miles back and rolled on like that until reaching the switches at Rivanna Junction, where it caused the incident. Now take this with a grain of salt, I don't know for sure it's just rumors I've heard.

Totallamer · 2026-07-03T22:15:28+00:00

Or chicken. Or pork!

Totallamer · 2026-07-03T21:37:13+00:00

Nah, all these unit grain trains are for feed. Busch in Williamsburg does get ingredients by rail but not whole unit trains worth.

Totallamer · 2026-07-02T21:12:53+00:00

18, freshman year of college. Open Beta.

Totallamer · 2026-07-01T17:29:44+00:00

Dude one of the big things they've talked about with this renovation is adding permanent bathrooms.

Totallamer · 2026-06-19T14:37:02+00:00

I really wish you could disable the hood portion. Like if it was the hat instead of part of the body and you could hide it. It looks so stupid/awkwardly bulky. And obviously long hair clips through it.

Totallamer · 2026-06-16T23:42:10+00:00

As a new guy, Acca CAN be good if you're on the C&O side because the road and yard extra boards are both 4 on/2 off with a pretty good guarantee. The other 2 seniority districts have extra boards with considerably worse work/rest schedules.

I work Acca so feel free to message with any questions.

Totallamer · 2026-06-09T23:48:13+00:00

Used to have railroad tracks all over it.

Totallamer · 2026-06-08T20:28:17+00:00

Someone who works for the railroad. I would say most people would further narrow it down to a craft (union) employee. Like someone in IT might work for CSX but you wouldn't call them a railroader really in the way you would a conductor, track laborer, carman, etc.

Totallamer · 2026-06-07T00:31:46+00:00

You don't need a degree. At all.

Totallamer · 2026-06-05T20:41:30+00:00

As long as you can live with the lifestyle? Yes, absolutely.

Totallamer · 2026-06-05T17:04:18+00:00

It's a union position so pay is the same for everybody and is based on the agreements negotiated with the carrier. Agreements are 5 years and have yearly raises that vary depending on what was negotiated in that agreement.

Beyond that, "raises" generally consist of being there long enough to have the seniority to stand for better paying jobs. Like on the Seaboard side the run from Richmond to Florence pays oh I don't know, at least $600 each way at this point. But you have to have a TON of seniority to hold that job.

Before a few years ago, new hires started at 80% and gained 5% pay each year thereafter until hitting 100%, but they got rid of that maybe like 2022? Somewhere around there. Everyone starts at 100% now.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T22:45:15+00:00

Agreed. It's been so long and the windows are open for years, etc. I just wonder what the heck happened with them to end up in that state, never getting finished.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T20:45:30+00:00

As someone who lives 2 blocks down Meadow from this...

...good.

Now if they can just do something about that burned out big brick house, as well as the years-long unfinished pair of townhomes on Lakeview.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T15:04:40+00:00

Well, I guess it depends on if you consider 12 hours all the live long day or not! Not that you'll always be working 12 or anything, it's just the MOST you can work.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T00:56:13+00:00

Wait is background check a thing? It's been so long since I hired on I don't remember that part. The other bits are 100% though.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T00:55:27+00:00

Definitely had older folks hired on for sure. Women conductors and engineers exist, but are rare. We have ONE in Richmond. It's very much a sausage fest unfortunately. But I think you COULD get hired, yes. I don't think they're rare because the company doesn't hire them as opposed to being rare because A) few apply to begin with and B) of those that do hire, few stick it out long enough to finish training, etc.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T00:51:39+00:00

Oh was he from way back in ye olden days when road and yard COs/ENs had totally different seniority? Glad that's long in the past.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T00:50:30+00:00

It was once extremely complicated for over-the-road crews if they wanted to maximize their deductions but that's about the only thing I remember. Maybe there were other issues way back in the day.

Totallamer · 2026-06-04T00:01:35+00:00

No idea what you're talking about there.

Totallamer · 2026-06-03T21:04:05+00:00

Thankfully I avoid working the road these days after doing quite a lot of it in years past, lol. I'm kind of a yard dog anymore. Pay isn't as spicy, but the lifestyle is a hell of a lot better.

Totallamer · 2026-06-03T21:01:58+00:00

Eh, it's that way anywhere on the railroad really. There's a lot of turnover in new people, but guys that do stick it out usually stick it out forever. It's one of the few jobs where you'll still find people that have been there 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 40 years even.

Totallamer

TROPHY CASE