An early spring crew change near Crestline, OH., 2016 photo by B.A. Beighley
Another winter on the railroad has come and gone, and with its final cool gusts I am reminded of my previous winters spent hunkered down in the front of my truck, trying to catch some sleep in the parking lot of the Connelsville Yard. That was years ago now, and for many winters after, the railroad had enjoyed unusually busy winter seasons. There were periods where things slowed down quite a bit, but most guys were able to hang on to the extra boards or hideout on some almost forgotten switchman's board. However, this past season was a brutal reminder that our jobs depend entirely on both National and Global economics.
I've been told by the 'old heads' that when it comes to the ups and downs of the economy, the railroads are the first to feel the effects and the last to recover from them. Now that I've been through two really nasty recessions I can tell you from personal experience, that they were right. Back in '07 I had to chase my job as far east as Maryland, and even then I was only hanging on to one spot on the last extra board in that terminal. I spent months away from my family, and spent many lonely nights wondering if I had perhaps made the wrong choice in becoming a railroader. The next three winters were just as bad, but by the winter season of 2010, things had seemed to stabilize and I was able to hold jobs in my home terminal all the way through to spring. That was the same story all the way until this past winter.
The coal is gone. Regardless of your feelings on fossil fuel consumption, and for reasons that people like me will probably never know, the east coast railroads have lost their biggest money maker and it is not coming back. Entire subdivisions are being abandoned, terminals are being closed, a lynchpin commodity is lost, and a part of railroad culture has forever changed. The end story here is this; railroading is changing, and railroaders themselves are likely to go the way of coal before I can make it to retirement age.
I do not know how many more spring crew changes I will get to see. There should be plenty to at least see my kids off to college, and I may even make it to an age that could force to company to offer me a "buy-out" but I'm no longer certain that this is a job that I retire from.
