Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: HAWG in Trouble


Upgraded Condition

Status: Offline
Posts: 15613
Date:
HAWG in Trouble
Permalink  
 


This story showed up.  Wonder what we don't know about this.

https://tinyurl.com/y86nmedh

 


__________________

Chilean Night Skies

Uke


Cured

Status: Offline
Posts: 26926
Date:
Permalink  
 

 D'ya suppose they pay into RRB? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballard_Terminal_Railroad

 



__________________

Hmm. That address doesnt look right.
It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.

Gah. Your tab just crashed.



Force Majeure

Status: Offline
Posts: 23396
Date:
Permalink  
 



paywalled out....

Unpaywalled out. Thanks, Opera.

Sounds like one of those, "we never use air in the yard" places. Also, it's strange procedurally in that it doesn't mention OSHA and only uses the word "whistleblower" once. Normally, the way the story described it procedurally, this guy would have been tossed out of federal court on his ass if it was not an OSHA Whistleblower case. It sounds like he has his own lawyers. They could be bounty hunting under OSHA laws.

I'd also not be surprised if he was barred from interchanging with BNSF from his new scab railroad job. Oh, wait, that's a LAMCO guarantee, I don't know bout real railroads.

 



-- Edited by Snippy on Wednesday 24th of January 2018 12:58:26 AM

__________________

Tinhorn Dictator



Upgraded Condition

Status: Offline
Posts: 15613
Date:
Permalink  
 

A train engineer says he was wrongfully terminated by BNSF Railway Company after he prevented a crash. He is now suing his old employer in federal court, saying his case highlights concerns about how locomotives are repaired.

James Norvell, a third generation train engineer in his family, started working for BNSF in 2002. He was fired in August of 2015 because of what happened the month before.

According to Norvell, during a nightshift, he was at the controls of locomotive 2339 for the purpose of bringing 22 freight cars from one yard to another in Portland.

"When I was applying the independent brake I had absolutely nothing," he said.

He says loaded, hazardous tank cars were at the bottom of the yard.

"All around that yard was some of the most volatile fluid you can possibly put in tanks. I felt that any sort of explosion or anything could have caused a pretty good size chain reaction that would have left a hole in north Portland," said Norvell.

He threw the throttle into reverse, causing the train to stop. As a result, the locomotive was damaged, and BNSF eventually fired him for failing to safely operate a train.

Norvell says he talked with BNSF machinist Warren Stout.

"When I talked to Warren about it and got a larger picture for what was really going on, I figured maybe I might have a case," said Norvell.

He says Stout claims there have been past issues with locomotive 2339, and in general, says there have been "band-aid fixes" and "a decline in regular maintenance."

BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas said the company is not commenting at this point. In federal court, BNSF filed a 11-page document. In those pages, BNSF denies any wrongdoing. BNSF also states that the company has "extensive safety protocols, procedures and policies to ensure the safe operation of trains."

But Norvell says he experienced something different.

To BNSF, Norvell says, "This is not my fault here. This is something that you guys have created and put me in this situation, and luckily for you, I was able to take action and not create a larger catastrophe."

http://www.king5.com/mobile/article/news/local/ex-bnsf-engineer-raises-safety-concerns-claims-wrongful-termination/281-511346381



__________________

Chilean Night Skies

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Chatbox
Please log in to join the chat!