Big Jim postedWhat about a Top Gun program where some of the best in the field teach, if they have the later skill. Ha! The RR's have no idea what that is! Even with the tools that they developed, they fumbled the ball from the get-go! With "Safety is of first importance in the discharge of duty" is the motto of the day, the RR's turned their back on proper training! It is sinful in the way that the RR's would not let the knowledgeable engineers instruct their trainee's correctly!
Jim; without getting into specifics; one shortcoming I see with the way things are done now is the tendency for some officer’s to use every infraction - however minor, as an excuse to terminate rather than coach. Tom (Number 90) has noted different times over the years in his posts how he always tried to turn minor issues into a “coaching opportunity” rather than a “gotcha”. (I’ll add this is one of the reasons I have come to have so much respect for the opinions he articulates on this forum.)
I am also aware that there are times during the on the job training period where a CT is told by a more experienced conductor or engineer to do something differently than what is laid out in the book of rules and this goes to your point about railroads not allowing knowledgeable people to instruct their trainees properly.
The problem is the “gotcha” mentality displayed by many officers, serves as an impediment to a trainee actually being able absorb the guidance provided by the old heads. I don’t see where having men and women constantly in fear of being the target of some arbitrary disciplinary action does anything to improve the safety culture within the operating environment. In fact; I believe it has the exact opposite affect.
Curt
