News Clips

"We did what we thought was right for the BLE on May 8, 1999, and we are doing what is right for the BLE today. The future of what we do will be in the hands of the members of both unions where it rightly belongs when that day comes." - BLE International President Edward Dubroski, on the Advisory Board's decision to renew merger talks with the UTU. Kansas City Star, June 18, 2001, circulation 281,945.

"Running a locomotive is like driving a highly responsive sports car. The feel is a big part of it." - BLE Regulatory Research Coordinator Bob Harvey, commenting on one of the shortcomings of remote control locomotive operations. Toledo Blade, June 18, circ. 332,943.

"I struggle. Everybody struggles. I have fallen asleep for a few seconds. You can't ignore this. It's a ticking time bomb." - BLE Division 76 (Winnipeg) member D.W. Boyko, on the problem of locomotive engineer fatigue in the railroad industry. The Globe and Mail, June 12, 2001, circ. 330,679.

"It is the number one issue for people who are operating heavy machinery like locomotive engineers." - BLE Vice-President and National Legislative Director-Canada George Hucker, on the problem of locomotive engineer fatigue in the U.S. and Canada. The Globe and Mail, June 12, 2001, circ. 330,679.

"This will provide a guaranteed minimum benefit for surviving spouses, who have suffered deep reductions in benefits when a retiree passes away." - President Dubroski, on the improvements provided by the Railroad Retirement and Survivors Improvement Act of 2001. Press Associates Inc., May 28, circ. thousands.

"Three brave railroad workers - a BLE locomotive engineer and two members of the United Transportation Union - put their lives on the line to stop a wayward, unmanned train. Railroad operating crews perform extraordinary safety sensitive tasks which require constant vigilance, as evidenced by these three heroic railroad workers." - President Dubroski, congratulating the railroad workers who halted the runaway train in Northwestern Ohio. Press Associates Inc., May 28, 2001.

"The real issue is getting time off. The industry hasn't changed in 150 years. We're on call seven days a week and 24 hours a day." - BLE General Chairman Merle Geiger (BNSF-MRL), on BNSF work-rest rules. Omaha World-Herald, July 18, 2001. circ. 335,795.

"The problems were so numerous. Any time you have a structural defect relative to the locomotive itself, it is a safety problem." - Long Island Railroad General Chairman R.M. Evers, explaining how the railroad's brand-new locomotives were found defective and sent back for repairs. New York Times, June 20, 2001. circ. 1,133,991.

"It's like a solar collector. If it's black, it will absorb and retain more heat than a reflective surface. Both are going to get warm, but one is going to be warmer. One degree is still one degree. If they're going to paint them black, then they can paint them white. The inside of a locomotive cab, our data shows, runs 7 to 9 degrees higher than what the ambient temperature is. Our concerns are the physical effects on safety because of the added contribution to fatigue." - Bob Harvey, on the difference between white locomotive roofs and black locomotive roofs and their effects on cab temperature with respect to locomotive engineer fatigue. Trains.com, August 14, circ. thousands.

"The ultimate challenge would be for management to crank up the heat in their offices to 110 and see how they like it." - Bob Harvey, on making railroad management understand the problem of heat in locomotive cabs. Trains.com, August 14, circ. thousands.

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© 2001 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers