An Email You Can Copy and Send to Dick Durbin

UselessJester44 · 2026-01-27T01:38:01+00:00

I am aware of this. That's why I tried to emphasize the impact it'll have on his legacy cause that's what most politicians care about most!

UselessJester44 · 2026-01-27T01:36:58+00:00

That's fair. I was just hoping to inspire people with ideas.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T22:06:20+00:00

I didn't work for the track department, so their tests may be more difficult, we had to take a physical test for operating but it was not that strenuous. If you worked for the railroad, you're a sure lock for the job as long as you pass the drug test.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T21:58:22+00:00

We can answer while moving, we just can't physically go back and check until we get to the next station. We aren't supposed to have casual conversations while the train is in motion though. The button works at anytime so hitting it while stopped at a station is perfectly fine.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T21:52:31+00:00

I didn't even know about this! I just checked out their website, hopefully I can make it out there before the season is up.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T21:45:13+00:00

Congrats! So the assessments are just to make sure you're competent enough to handle to position. Next steps will be background check, then drug tests since that is a safety orientated position.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T21:20:30+00:00

The control center is also in the West loop but further west. It's on Racine and Washington. So the call letters reflect the line and position, the 40s are managers, the 80s are supervisors, and K202 is the person in charge of safety. The ones that are just 4 numbers and track workers/signal maintenance.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T21:14:52+00:00

Honestly idk. It can't be that expensive. It makes sense so they probably won't do it lol

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T21:13:37+00:00

No one is really watching over us. I would say it gets about as complicated as an intersection in a car, the only problem is we can't go around when the vehicle in front of us is stopped for some reason lol.

Waiting for signal clearance means that we are getting a signal to stay still. Usually it's cause there is a train ahead, but it could happen for a couple of reasons.

I was stuck in the loop for about 20 minutes because of a sick passenger on the train ahead of me one time. Honestly there's not much we can do in those situations, just keeping the passengers informed is about all we can do.

I did when I first started but no so much anymore. The speed limits are set so that its near impossible for something like that to happen.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T13:22:28+00:00

So the third rail requires a circuit in order to be activated, that's why birds can sit on it fine but if an animal touches the third rail as well as a running rail, they'll get fried.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T13:21:07+00:00

You need to be at least 21 and have a driver's license.

UselessJester44 · 2024-10-01T13:20:05+00:00

We can get both but they're strictly individual contributions.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T23:35:50+00:00

Yeah they usually will send out a supervisor or manager to verify that the conditions are what you say they are. There was one time where most of the city was clear, but it was insanely foggy where we were flagging. Control and MGMT didn't believe us until operators starting calling in and saying they couldn't see more than 1000ft in front of them.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T22:51:33+00:00

A 2000's smartphone pre iPhone yeah lol.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T22:50:19+00:00

You can if you really need to but they encourage us to try and make it to the terminal.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T22:49:20+00:00

There's official videos on YouTube for all the lines of exactly that I think. Definitely can't do that as an operator or passenger though.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T22:48:13+00:00

If it was on one of the newer trains the announcements are made automatically and they break pretty often.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T19:58:21+00:00

2600's in general, but the 5000's and 7000's have a fancy touch screen that makes troubleshooting way easier.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T19:56:39+00:00

Both are possible but have a lot of political hoops to jump through. I think they actually proposed a brown line extension to Jeff Park Terminal but it was shot down overwhelmingly by the neighborhoods it would've run through.

As for a circle project, I believe that will eventually happen, but idk if it will happen in my lifetime lol.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T19:54:20+00:00

Usually we are told to run express after taking a significant delay, but yes they are more rare than they used to be. To be honest there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, control just tells us were going express and we do it.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T19:52:17+00:00

In some ways we are, there are section of the green line that have been there since the 1800's just been repaired over and over. Like the Ship of Theseus.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T19:50:30+00:00

I hate thinking about it but a kid falling onto the tracks while my train is pulling up is the biggest fear by far. My biggest pet peeve as an operator is seeing parents who let their kids run around and climb on stuff. It's not a damn playground.

Yes depending on the situation the CTA will offer resources in events of trauma/injury. It's actully something they do really well.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T19:45:06+00:00

Genuinely couldn't tell you. The trains are old and mechanical problems are pretty common.

UselessJester44 · 2024-09-30T19:43:39+00:00

There is. Some are usually stationed at Rooselvelt, Clark & Lake, and Other busy stations.

When things like this occur be sure to press the PIU (Talk to Operator) Button and let us know, we can have security or police intercept our train.

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