It was a warm day on September 28, and the daily routine of the railroad could be seen from atop the O Street Bridge overlooking the railroad yard below. The sun beat down on the necks of all the men working throughout the yard and the sweat began to bead on their foreheads. There was a constant racket coming from the rolling of cars along the tracks, the linking of cars into a train, and the noise of metal being pounded and torqued as repairs were made on the locomotives. The yard consisted of a simple lay out with all the tracks running side by side and connectors about every hundred yards that switched the trains from track to track.
The cars themselves all appeared old and well used. Some were orange, some brown, some rusted, but they all had a layer of dust and grease from traveling across the country. There was various graffiti painted on the sides of some cars that made them stand out more than the rest.
There was a faint smell of dust and grime but as the breeze whipped in and out of the cars the smells of the city passed by as well. The yard had a sense of community and it worked like a well-tuned machine with each little mechanism playing its role in the spinning of the wheel.
The definition of community; is a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and have a common cultural and historical heritage. Each of these aspects could clearly be seen throughout the yard. The physical layout of the yard at work is much like the definition of a community working together to function and succeed. This community, however, extends further than just the railroad, it stretches out far enough to connect the entire United States in a sense. The railroad was one of the first means of transportation for people and goods and it has expanded since. It has expanded into more than a business but a foundation of our existence. The moving of goods means the survival and economic growth of the society. Sitting there watching the workers move around below each part of the whole could be seen as it all unfolded. Though all the positions couldn’t be seen first hand from a perch on the bridge the result of each job was evident and the different tiers of their “government” played their specific roles.Tobi Beedle has worked for the railroad for almost 20 years and after interviewing him it was easy to gain a better understanding of what the railroad did and its various pieces that make it work. It is all based around the work and success of the small parts that create the union itself. For example, the yardmaster is in charge of coordinating traffic and overseeing all of the operations and all of the workers below follow their orders to make the operation run smoothly. If everyone does their own part the work becomes much easier and more enjoyable. With this comes the success of the union and the history that has come so far. The history of the railroad is extremely evident in the carrying out of the tasks set out for them. From a perch such as the O Street Bridge one could see that everyone knew their role and because the system has come so far all of the kinks have been worked out and the daily routine is perfectly planned. The job descriptions are clear and precise to such an extent that no delay or malfunction is a new experience but rather a challenge to better the outcome from the previous occurrence. Tobi described the routine as a passing on of the tradition from so many before them and this tradition has got the union to where it is today with much success. More specifically he said, “we all have our jobs and we all do them knowing that it worked before and will continue to work as long as we don’t try to change the system.
Another aspect of the community that can be seen in the railroad is the shifts that run throughout the day and the constant progress being made. It is an organization that never rests due to its demanding responsibility. Workers are constantly coming and going and the madness of having so many workers working in such a small area is all organized by seniority and schedules. Much like any 24-hour business there is both good and bad work shifts but everyone adapts and makes it work to an art of perfection. The more desirable shifts are rewarded to those who have been with the union the longest and have the most experience. When a new or vacated shift opens up there is a bid that is placed on the time. The collateral used in this bidding is simply experience with the union. Anyone can bid on an open time and but the bidder with the highest qualifications receives the shift. Many get lucky enough to come across shifts that aren’t as popular to many upper level workers. Often workers that get stuck with the night shifts and oddball holidays adapt to it and find it extremely difficult change. Therefore some slide by with little time spent on the job and obtain a standard work schedule.
With these strange hours and vacation time comes frustration and discouragement in the vigorous routine of working day in and day out. Yet the unity comes through again and often the rewards can outweigh the negatives. Tobi often mentioned the fondness he has developed for the working environment and the people who he works with. They are all in it together and they all share a common interest in what they do. They also gain a sense of importance that they truly deserve by being a part of the union. This sense of being needed comes from not only Lincoln’s need for the railroad but also Nebraska’s need and even the country’s reliance on this union. Not to mention the fact that it is a descent paying job that requires fairly little background in the field. Clearly background and experience will benefit those who can use their experience to obtain those higher paying jobs and more desirable work shifts. In return this creates a competition and helps sets goals for people to work for. Much like anything in life competition can only aid the success of a unit whether it is in the workforce, in a sport, or even among a family. When everyone works to be their best in hopes of being rewarded there is higher level of standards and the group benefits as a whole. This all ties back to the community and unity of the union that this job has to offer.
The overall job description of the railroad is to transport people and goods across the nation at any time and in any conditions. Upon succeeding at this the railroad contributes much more than is often seen by the common citizen. The railroad lends their community to the surrounding locations and plays a great role in the existence of the nation. Without the railroad a majority of the country’s history would have been impossible and we may not be where we are today had this powerful group not been created. Though their services often go unacknowledged the union continues to provide for the nation and will continue to do so for years to come. So the next time you are passing over that O Street Bridge take the opportunity to catch a glance of this great community as it pulls its weight for the greater purpose of the advancement of our country.
