Steam & Excursion > UP Steam Hiring

Machinist - Steam
in Cheyenne, WY
Machinist works independently, posses skills necessary to fabricate complex mechanical components to exacting tolerances on manual type machines.
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Saw this on the UP site, could this be why work seems to be a stand still?

https://up.jobs/search-jobs.html?keyWords=&category=&city=&state=WY&zipcode=&deptIds=&hrngType=

I'd be surprised if there is anyone left who is qualified to operate anything other than a floor buffer.

I have my popcorn ready. Honestly I don't think there is a lack of talent per se, it's more of a lack of people wanting to deal with whatever is going on in that shop as of right now. The video updates seem to show a cheery crew but I have a feeling that there is much more cussing and yelling than we even know or hear about. It's a real shame that it comes to this before anyone "up there" in Omaha even perks an ear up.

Posted from iPhone

chi-townadam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have my popcorn ready. Honestly I don't think
> there is a lack of talent per se, it's more of a
> lack of people wanting to deal with whatever is
> going on in that shop as of right now. The video
> updates seem to show a cheery crew but I have a
> feeling that there is much more cussing and
> yelling than we even know or hear about. It's a
> real shame that it comes to this before anyone "up
> there" in Omaha even perks an ear up.
>
> Posted from iPhone

The plan reportedly is to hire two machinists, one of
which is to fill the vacancy left when the most recent
occupant of that position exercised his seniority and
bumped on a job in a different department to get the
heck out of there. Since he left, there have been no
machinists at the shop.

The other position is to replace another machinist who
also excercised his seniority about a year ago to get
out, after having worked there for around 20 years.

Reportedly, one person has been hired; and the other
job will be filled pretty soon. Expect only "trustys"
to be considered.

I wonder if any machinists out there nowadays know how to run a Turret lathe with their feet! I learned that one back in the 70's while taking a machinist apprenticeship! I remember my Journeyman was Mr. Lew Whitlatch and he was missing a few fingers off his hands! Damned good machinist though! (not that this has anything to do with the present thread).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/14 23:06 by patd3985.

Just curious how many steam crew members excerised seniority and transfered OUT of the steam program before Ed took over. I can't imagine it was very many, but just curious.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/14 07:05 by junctiontower.

Bob Lockman left for the Car Shop where he is the Manager of Mechanical Maintenance. Other than that, nobody bid out. It was a good gig.

And the NMSL&RHS just keeps rolling along. :-)

Yah but he's a nice guy.

Out

EmpireBuilder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bob Lockman left for the Car Shop where he is the
> Manager of Mechanical Maintenance. Other than
> that, nobody bid out. It was a good gig.


Was that a promotion?

Realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> EmpireBuilder Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bob Lockman left for the Car Shop where he is
> the
> > Manager of Mechanical Maintenance. Other than
> > that, nobody bid out. It was a good gig.
>
>
> Was that a promotion?

Actually, yes. Bob Lockman was indeed "promoted" from the "previous" Steam Crew, and did NOT "bid out/off" the Steam Crew. Now for those of you that are unaware of who Bob is, his father's name is painted on the UP Steam Crew Tool Car, i.e. retired Machinist/Foreman Art Lockman.

junctiontower Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just curious how many steam crew members excerised
> seniority and transfered OUT of the steam program
> before Ed took over. I can't imagine it was very
> many, but just curious.

The real question is how often were Steam crew jobs even posted publicly? How often would guys transfer in when openings came up? I suspect the steam crew used to be a coveted deal. Now no one wants it!

Well, that was kind of what I was getting at. My instincts told that until the current regime took over, steam crew jobs were highly coveted, and it was EASY to get qualified applicants, and they seldom left until retirement. I just wanted to know if my perception met reality.

I need work but wouldn't apply for that situation if you held a gun on me. Not even two guns and hoped I would be missed in the cross fire.

junctiontower Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, that was kind of what I was getting at. My
> instincts told that until the current regime took
> over, steam crew jobs were highly coveted, and it
> was EASY to get qualified applicants, and they
> seldom left until retirement. I just wanted to
> know if my perception met reality.


Correct. In fact Steve Lee had developed a pretty large file folder of system-wide UP employees that DESIRED to come and work on the Steam Crew. The lists were grouped by craft, and the qualifications of each and every "applicant". I wonder what ever happened to THAT file?

I
> wonder what ever happened to THAT file?

Click Click "Delete"
History shows these guys usually have their own little black book with "yes men"to fill the void.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/14 19:22 by UPRR3985.

I'm thinking about applying. I sure hope ed can fit in my interview during a recess at Henry's court case since we will both be at the courthouse. Crossing my fingers !

When this same opening was posted a couple years ago a Friend who had just qualified on the other western RR out of Edgemont SD as a conductor was kind of sad the position came along after his move to a class one. He had been at BHCRR for 11 years in the shop and running Steam on 6 percent grades.
He would have been an asset to the UP Steam Crew.
After two years and watching what UP Steam has become he is very happy where he is holding down the Fireman's side of a modern Diesel.
Steve

chi-townadam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have my popcorn ready. Honestly I don't think
> there is a lack of talent per se, it's more of a
> lack of people wanting to deal with whatever is
> going on in that shop as of right now. The video
> updates seem to show a cheery crew but I have a
> feeling that there is much more cussing and
> yelling than we even know or hear about. It's a
> real shame that it comes to this before anyone "up
> there" in Omaha even perks an ear up.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Kind of like that paint commercial (Valspar?) where mommy-executive is on a video chat and the whole family is cheerily talking to mom, and the camera pans back and there is a square of clean wall while the rest of the kitchen looks like a pressure cooker full of spaghetti exploded?

wpjones Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When this same opening was posted a couple years
> ago a Friend who had just qualified on the other
> western RR out of Edgemont SD as a conductor was
> kind of sad the position came along after his move
> to a class one. He had been at BHCRR for 11 years
> in the shop and running Steam on 6 percent
> grades.
> He would have been an asset to the UP Steam Crew.
> After two years and watching what UP Steam has
> become he is very happy where he is holding down
> the Fireman's side of a modern Diesel.
> Steve

A VERY astute guy.