Nostalgia & History > UP dispathers

Back in 1996 I considered taking a job with UPRR as a dispatcher in Omaha.  
One weekend I flew up to Omaha for a job interview and testing.  
The one requirement I had before accepting the offer?  I needed to 
sit with a TW and CTC dispatcher.  

Glad I did.  I gain respect for the UP dispatcher, 
I thought I was overworked and under appreciated on 
the BN.  Boy was I mistaken.  I had it much better than those
UP dispr.   I did not get to sit with any of the former SP dispr.  
They were just moving to Omaha and were located above the UP dispatchers
who worked in a bunker,  Dark basement.

I thought the dispatching softwre and hardware the UPRR used was not mouse driven 
but keyboard.  For lining signals and switches you had to make keystrokes,  
Digicon on BNSF was mouse driven and had enhancements that were designed to 
streamline signal and switch manulations to a min,  Allowed me more time to 
focus on the other dispatcher chores,  MW, Slow orders, crew dogcatches, vans,
weather issues.  Planning meets, making sure power moves, set out and pickups 
were completed.  

I can't tell you how many times train crews reminded me of there hours of service, 
And once they reminded me of how much time they had to work, the next question?
What the plan for us?  Do you have a relieve crew ordered?  What time were they on
duty?  Was a van called for us?  Where are we parking?  

Next question was dispatcher I need time to work on the 10 mph frog?  This was from a welder,
I was amazed at how double stacks pounded the frogs and points on crossover switches.

On the former ATSF, 10 mph slow order was rare.  Section would work on night trying to repair 
the situation to raise the slow to at least 25 mph. 

Power desk would drop off a list of power moves we needed to complete.  On Gallup West,
it was power change out at Gallup for the coal trains we ran,  
On Clovis West, it was Pedernal dropping off units for upcoming rock trains,
I digress again.

UP dispatchers are exempt and had a company pension plan (Harriman or somehing close),
they had more vacation days, and better 401-k company matching.  
I had with BN higher quality of life.  I could bid on any desk in the office and
hold it if my senority was high enough,  If you had a boss that you didn't get along with
bid off to a different desk and zone,  I don't think UP dispatchers had that freedom.
Plus they lived in Omaha.  I like Ft Worth,  I left work not beat up and exhausted.  
I was able to do normal things after work without having to think back did I 
forget to do something.  Can I call in sick?  Just kidding,   My stress level 
wasn't bad.  I enjoyed my 25 years dispatching on BN/BNSF.  If Covid hadn't 
come along I would of stayed longer.   
I choose to stay with BN / BNSF.  

You don't realize how good you have it
until you visit someone else and see how they have it,  

Just my 2 cents.  

How very, very true.  The same could be said in the trucking business.  Sometimes I talk to other drivers from other companies, in their brand new truck, but all I here is the stress caused by management.  They often tell me they'd gladly take an older truck with less stress.