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() I am not sorry that my wife and I bleed Union Pacific for what they pay us to do this. We both do the same thing for them. She just went to work at 2215 and will be going to Jacobs Ranch Mine. Thats a 245 mile trip plus a 45 mile van ride back to the hotel. For this she gets paid about $450.00 for hauling a mile and 3/4 of train and running 4 locomotives...two up front and two remotes on the rear. Same thing coming home only it weighs about 21000 ton. There is nothing out here that is flat ground. It does take some talent to do it right. And Good Golly, All that "big pay" for complying with a myriad of FRA regulations that even our managers can't understand.
Leonidas, I think thats fair pay for what is involved. I realize you are anti-union. Well, so be it. We get no Holiday Pay, We have no sick days. But, you know what, it's kind of something that gets in your blood so you do it. I've been doing it for 38 years. Tomorrow night is a full moon and I'll get to see it in the middle of the night from the windshield of a locomotive in desolate Wyoming. I'll also probably get to see a perfect clear sky as the sun comes up. Temperatures are supposed to be around 15 below zero on Sunday morning out here. Hey, stand outside and breath the clear COLD air. That's a job benefit to me.
I was right short of taking my bar exam when I lost the fire for saving the world, but weren't we all, now we strive for medriocty. I think it was the correct decision.
I'll retire in a few years and I'll have almost a million and a half miles on the rails. I have seen stuff that you can't believe and I have no regrets.
As for what I have been paid I make no apologies and I don't think the company that pays me does either.
Hope all is well,
Mark
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