Speed--Tunnel; Derail Operation

[HRBran99 at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/13/1999 9:25:12 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
twg at pulsenet.com writes:

<< But I'm the first to admit I do not know how pay
 hours are calculated or what minimum apply. >>

This is all calculated from the language in the current labor agreement. In 
the late 1970s, early 1980s, it was very much worth an operators time to run 
a tripper, especially on your day off. I enjoyed coming in on an off day for 
a morning and an evening tripper. Report to SHJct at 6:30AM, deadhead to 
Clearview Loop, leave Clearview around 7:00AM, arrive Downtown Pgh around 
7:25AM, deadhead to SHJct. You have actually 'worked' for 1hour, 45minutes. 
Under the labor agreement you get "Time to Make Four Hours." That is 2hours, 
15minutes given, and then since it is your off day you get "half-time." Thus, 
working not quite 2hours translated into 6hours pay. Do it again in the 
evening rush hour and you have made 12hours pay for under 4hours work. That 
was the labor agreement in the 70s/80s. I have not seen a current contract so 
cannot say what they are doing today.

This did not happen often, though. There were only two or three 42/38 
trippers which paid this way. If you came in a got a 35/36/37 tripper, just 
the running time made you work nearly the four hours you were guaranteed 
under the contract.

HrB