Page 3 - November 2020 Track N Times

FEATURE STORY

We Are Railroaders!

By Tyler Beebe, Manager Ballast and Grade

Whenever I meet someone new, and the topic of careers
presents itself into the conversation, people’s ears usually
perk up when I tell them “I am in the Railroad Industry”.
There is a certain mystique and excitement that can bring
people back to their childhood or own experiences of seeing
the impressive network of rail structure and machinery that
deliver the nations goods and people across the US. Every
federal education curriculum touches on the fact that the rail-
roads were the backbone of our great country’s expansion
into the West, which linked the Pacific and Atlantic coasts together, providing the early freedom of movement neces-
sary for citizen migration into the unknown frontier. Railroads are just as important today as they were in 1800’s, and
we should all be proud we get the privilege to be a part of the select few percent of our population that get to make
a career out of it.

As a military veteran, I see a lot of parallels in our profession compared to serving in any branch of the armed ser-
vices. We are highly trained, we work as a team, we follow a chain of command, and we must be dedicated to ac-
complishing missions that are filled with risk but are critical to our nation’s success. We may not be running into bat-
tlefields or firing weapons of war, but each day we must execute our mission with precision and skill. We watch each
other’s backs, we have a voice in our safety, and we do so with the constant strive for perfection and improvement. I
would say we are the closest profession to the military in the private sector. You see that with the relatively high
percentage of veterans at Loram and across the railroad industry as a whole.

As professionals in an elite industry, it is our duty to be the best of the best. Everyone that works in our operating
fleet had to go through a rigorous screening process to be determined that they make the cut, like the military. Use
that confidence to really dig deep into the rules and nuances of our day to day operation. We need to know as much
as we can, not only about our specific role, but also the roles of teams that surround us. Superintendents know what
track and time, track authority, limits, call times, timetables are, but do the general laborers know what those are?

How can we be professionals if we are simply repeating words
from our supervisors, and not truly understanding what they
are and how they affect our mission? Every day is considered a
success if you learn something new. Find a way to develop that
thirst for knowledge. The best piece of advice I got as a young
cadet was “as soon as you embrace this as a lifestyle, and not
just a job, you will be okay”. We are all part of a unique and
important company that has a high impact on the railroad in-
dustry success. This perspective is something that unites all of
us in a bond that lasts beyond the “working day”. Stay safe and
let’s close out 2020 continuing to show we are the best of the
best.

PAGE 1 NOVEMBER 2020