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| Working in the rail industry -- still proud? 02/08/2013 at 15:06 #47839 | |
Rich
8 posts |
Years ago if someone asked what I did for a living, I would tell them exactly what, beginning with "I work on the railways". If I got into a heated debate or a 'frank exchange of views' with someone over something the railway was or was not doing, I would defend the industry to the hilt. In short, I was bloody proud to be a railwayman. But to be honest, these days the industry angers and sickens me to a far greater extent than it inspires me. These days all I see is snippy cost- and corner-cutting, and appalling services run almost purely for shareholder benefit, and swathes and swathes and swathes of red tape covering *everything*. If I had a quid for every time in the last five years I've muttered "Blimey, I remember when this job was about signalling..." I'd be a rich man. As opposed to just Rich. So these days, no I am no longer proud. These days I am as likely to add my voice to criticism of the railways rather than defend it. And if someone I don't know asks me what I do, I fib (I tend to say "software engineer", not entirely untrue because SSI data is a program, right?). Is it just me, or does anyone else here feel the same? Last edited: 02/08/2013 at 15:11 by Rich Log in to reply |
| Working in the rail industry -- still proud? 02/08/2013 at 15:10 #47840 | |
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Rich
8 posts |
Christ that sounded so totally negative. Just want to point out -- I do still enjoy certain aspects of the job, and I have very great like and respect for the guys and gals with whom I work. Great engineers, the lot of them, as I am sure are the railwaypeeps among you lot. I just feel that we're being let down by our industry as a whole.
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| Working in the rail industry -- still proud? 02/08/2013 at 22:04 #47857 | |
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tbh183
24 posts |
I don't tell people what I do as a rule - it courts all sorts of nasty comments. I know what I do and if I get to go home without causing too much grief or actually killing anybody, I count that as a good shift. After all, praise is hard to come by even if you perform miracles. Criticism is all to easily dispensed by those in higher positions. But if I do have to declare what I do - I just say that I tell train drivers where to go! (Take that how you will - technically true but can be misinterpreted  ) and rather than get into any heated debates I just give them a quote I heard on television a long time ago, given by Frances Urquhart in the House of Cards Trilogy:"You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment!" [given with a sly smile and a knowing wink]. After all, even things we say on here are governed by the media policy so although I "may" agree with you I couldn't possibly comment!  David Log in to reply |
| Working in the rail industry -- still proud? 02/08/2013 at 23:36 #47859 | |
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Sam Tugwell
494 posts |
Its something that exists even in the younger generations. I get an awful lot of hassle and sniggering for having an interest in the Railways. People seem to slate it as a career path for no known reason that I can see. Hopefully, enough people with an interest will follow it through to a career level and be proud of it in the future. "Signalman Exeter" Log in to reply |
| Working in the rail industry -- still proud? 03/08/2013 at 03:29 #47862 | |
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Firefly
521 posts |
I don't have that problem. Railways are no longer my main career, however I'll happily discuss my railway work with anyone who will listen. Most of my non-railway colleagues are fascinated by my signalling work and they think it's great that I have another string to bow. I personally don't believe the railways are in that bad of state. I use the train every once in a while and 9 times out of 10 it's on time, clean and I get a seat. Why would you be ashamed to be a signalling designer? (unless you work for Hyder!! :lol: ) When I left school at 16 my first career choice was avionics engineering and I had an apprenticeship lined up with British Airways. The oil crises hit and BA decided not to take on any apprentices so plan B was to be a trainee technician with BR. I still recall my Dad saying that BR is not to be sniffed at and he was right. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. Every line of work in the UK is suffering the same problem of fat cat managers trying to squeeze more and more out of the system in order to increase profits and bonuses. It's a national problem not something that's unique to the railway. FF Last edited: 03/08/2013 at 03:41 by Firefly Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Temple Meads |
| Working in the rail industry -- still proud? 05/08/2013 at 16:32 #47972 | |
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Rich
8 posts |
" said:Why would you be ashamed to be a signalling designer? Oh I'm not ashamed of my job. Far from it, I still really enjoy what I do. Well, most of it. I'm not ashamed, I'm just not proud any more. Quote: (unless you work for Hyder!! :lol: )I'm sure I don't know what you mean... :whistle: :lol: :lol: :lol: Log in to reply |
| Working in the rail industry -- still proud? 06/08/2013 at 12:26 #48012 | |
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JM43
4 posts |
Hi Rich... Yeah, i think i'd echo your sentiments entirely! I left school in 1985, joined a track maintenance / permanent way / civil engineering YTS thing and after some time on the P/Way, transferred over to 'Train Crew', as a Guard. (Remember when railways had those)? That was just as the 'Train man's concept' was just comming in, in 1988, so i saw the railway as it was, as a nationalised industry & and was made redundant by the then EWS in 2000, having seen it all turn into a privatised business... Yeah, it was the people that made the difference. (Kept me sane)! Some delightful characters for train drivers to work with! The amount of times i heard, 'It's just a job' though. Also quotes like 'Cover your @r$e and if you can't, pass the buck' stick in my mind. All in all, it just became an 'idiot proof' railway, where common sence (within the rules) wasn't allowed. Having said that though, i'm reminded of the recent events in Spain! Having now left the railway, i'm certainly less stressed. Certainly every night in bed helps!!! Just thought i'd add that, Bye for now... John. Log in to reply |