• August 01, 2023

1. What is the name of your profession (position)? My profession is called Centralization Post Operator. 2. What is your job and what are your responsibilities? My job is to prepare a route for a shunting diesel locomotive. Previously, this was done by switchmen who manually translated the arrows .... Several arrows were assigned to each, and each time, in order to prepare the route, they had to run ahead of the diesel locomotive and “throw counterweights”. Now, thanks to technological progress, I alone do all the work of preparing routes for the odd park. Under my control there are five arrows and five tracks for securing the wagons with "shoes". For "fixing" there used to be a separate position, "Shoemakers", whose duties have now been distributed between us and the compilers of the trains. Therefore, it turns out that now I am fulfilling the duties of five or six people at the same time. 3. What education is required to get your position? To work as an operator, you need to get a railway education, at least at the level of a technical school. And do an on-the-job training. 4. Describe your working day. My working day (like all railway workers) begins with a safety briefing and a shift reception from the previous operator. A “fixing log” and a log of “brake shoes” are accepted, taken very carefully, because for the loss of such a shoe, at best, a severe reprimand, and at worst, criminal liability. The next change is quite routine, maneuvers and reinforcements, reinforcements and maneuvers. I sit at the console and switch the toggle switch for switching arrows, nothing complicated, everywhere there is a blockage from “incorrect preparation of the route” and “transfer of arrows under the composition” .... But there are insidious situations in which automation is not an assistant, so you should always carefully monitor what you are doing. The hardest thing is to have at night, when everyone wants to sleep, and it becomes more difficult to control each other, and the monotonous switching of toggle switches and “mumbling” into the walkie-talkie simply lulls .... 5. How comfortable are your working conditions (all day outside, or in the office with a cup of coffee)? Of course, my “post” is not an office, but it’s warm and clean inside, there is a kettle and the opportunity to drink tea myself and treat the compilers if they have a “window” in their work. For a hot cup of tea after a frosty street, a lot is said goodbye, and in case of problems, I can always count on them. 6. What do you like most about your job? I like a good, friendly team, necessary and responsible work, and a schedule, "Day, night, two days at home." In general, I like my work. 7. What do you dislike most about your job? Yes, probably, like all night shifts .... Very hard mentally. Especially in the morning, it is at this time, according to statistics, that there are most gatherings and accidents. 8. If it's not a secret, what is your salary level (is it enough to write whether you are satisfied or not)? My salary is small, and to be honest, italways missing. But over time, there will be an additional payment for the length of service, and they also promise to raise our station’s class (for many years now) ... .. So I’m working, one might say, for the future. 9. Describe your team, what kind of people work with you? As mentioned above, our team is friendly. The work is difficult, and without a team spirit, and a sense of elbow, there is no way to do it. Therefore, some come and go, but the best of the best remain, able not only to do their job, but also to help others. 10. What human qualities, in your opinion, are most important in your business? First of all, attentiveness is important for my work, and the tolerance of monotonous work without losing vigilance, and of course the ability to get along with people .... 11. Work gives me additional opportunities (here is everything that work gives you except money, from self-expression and communication with interesting people to the opportunity to visit different countries). My work does not provide any special opportunities. Is that preferential travel once a year, but it's also a lot. Every year I go somewhere to rest, a free road for this comes in handy…. 12. Do you have the opportunity to evaluate your work on a five-point scale, what grade would you give? I think that the four will be quite fair. Such a job, of course, is not the ultimate dream, but I like it, and as the first step on the career ladder, it is quite suitable. 13. Why did you choose this job? Probably because we have a family of hereditary railway workers, on the maternal side. Since childhood, I have heard conversations about diesel locomotive trains, turnouts and hauls .... Somehow everything was postponed, and when it came time to choose a profession, there were no more questions. 14. What do you think we did not include in the plan and what else would you like to share with us? I would probably attach my job description, but, firstly, not a railway worker would understand it, and secondly, this is a very, very long write. So, perhaps, there is nothing more to add. 0