Kinda-dumb confessions thread

[Sliver]

I like tactical mall ninja stuff. I know it's dorky, but I'm a sucker for a retractable baton and a cool flashlight and stuff like that. In matte black.

I bought a sweet new backpack this week. It's called a 5.11 Rush 24. It's so sick. Can fit all my stuff like a knife, mini blow torch, headphones, cables, fisherman's friends, etc. Plus my lunch and a hoodie/rain jacket/vest...whatever is required for that day's missions. It organizes everything a bajillion times better than anything from mec.

Only problem is it kind of makes you look like a mall ninja out in public. I'm more of an in-the-shadows mall ninja. Like I just want to fiddle with my ninja equipment in my room or whatever. The backpack makes a bit of a statement.

But here's the thing. I decided it was worth it. This piece of kit is so rad I'm basically outing myself as a mall ninja.

**

Another thing I've been thinking a lot about lately is train engineers. I honestly shouldn't even know that's their job title. How the hell does anybody know their title? There's gotta be like 14 in all of Canada. It's so niche. They've really pumped themselves up since everyone knows that's what they're called.

Then I got to thinking, as if it's not the easiest job in the world. I bet I could do it. And I am convinced. I believe - with every fibre of my being - if you gave me the morning with an EnGiNeEr I could be doing his job by lunchtime.

**

What about you guys?

[Locke]

Well...I do the taxes for a lot of CP Rail Engineers and have for a couple of decades now, what their job entails precisely, I couldnt really say, but it is a very specialized career and tends to require a lot of days away from home and they tend to get hurt rather frequently.

The pay is pretty good too.

[Fuzz]

I bet if you found a large enough black trench coat you could look like a giant hunchback, and hide the embarrassing mall ninja aesthetic.

[iggy_oi]

Sliver, I don’t know you personally but I know your personality if that makes sense. I also know a lot of rail conductors. Trust me, you would quit. There’s a reason that a job that pays well north of $100k/year with no experience and paid training has difficulty keeping people.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

…… I also know a lot of rail conductors. Trust me, you would quit. There’s a reason that a job that pays well north of $100k/year with no experience and paid training has difficulty keeping people.

Yeah
For whatever reason (irregular work hours, time away from home, stresses of operating such a machine) it’s pretty tough on a lot of the people who do it.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

Yeah
For whatever reason (irregular work hours, time away from home, stresses of operating such a machine) it’s pretty tough on a lot of the people who do it.

They’re also constantly on call and work really irregular hours.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

Yeah
For whatever reason (irregular work hours, time away from home, stresses of operating such a machine) it’s pretty tough on a lot of the people who do it.

It seems bloody miserable.

[iggy_oi]

It’d be a neat social experiment to see how sliver’s skill at their job compares with their skill at sliver’s job

[Jiri Hrdina]

Remember Turtle from the Mike Richard’s show?
That dude quit radio and became a train conductor

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I like tactical mall ninja stuff. I know it's dorky, but I'm a sucker for a retractable baton and a cool flashlight and stuff like that. In matte black.

I bought a sweet new backpack this week. It's called a 5.11 Rush 24. It's so sick. Can fit all my stuff like a knife, mini blow torch, headphones, cables, fisherman's friends, etc. Plus my lunch and a hoodie/rain jacket/vest...whatever is required for that day's missions. It organizes everything a bajillion times better than anything from mec.

Only problem is it kind of makes you look like a mall ninja out in public. I'm more of an in-the-shadows mall ninja. Like I just want to fiddle with my ninja equipment in my room or whatever. The backpack makes a bit of a statement.

But here's the thing. I decided it was worth it. This piece of kit is so rad I'm basically outing myself as a mall ninja.

**

Another thing I've been thinking a lot about lately is train engineers. I honestly shouldn't even know that's their job title. How the hell does anybody know their title? There's gotta be like 14 in all of Canada. It's so niche. They've really pumped themselves up since everyone knows that's what they're called.

Then I got to thinking, as if it's not the easiest job in the world. I bet I could do it. And I am convinced. I believe - with every fibre of my being - if you gave me the morning with an EnGiNeEr I could be doing his job by lunchtime.

**

What about you guys?

You need to make yourself some kind of utility belt.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Another thing I've been thinking a lot about lately is train engineers. I honestly shouldn't even know that's their job title. How the hell does anybody know their title? There's gotta be like 14 in all of Canada. It's so niche. They've really pumped themselves up since everyone knows that's what they're called.

Not everyone knows what they’re called. People call them conductors even though that’s a different job. Knowing that engineers drive the train is a dorky bit of knowledge.

Then I got to thinking, as if it's not the easiest job in the world. I bet I could do it. And I am convinced. I believe - with every fibre of my being - if you gave me the morning with an EnGiNeEr I could be doing his job by lunchtime.

I doubt it would take the whole morning. It’s not a complicated job but it requires constant attention and has got to get boring. It also sucks when you hit and kill people, which every engineer does if they stay on the job long enough.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

They’re also constantly on call and work really irregular hours.

Why the hell would they be constantly on call lol? That makes no sense.

750 meter trains don't just appear. It takes all kinds of planning to assemble a train and fill everything up and schedule its route, I'm sure. They don't just spring it on the "engineer" the morning of.

Basically the job is 'slow down for the corners'. I think I can handle it.

[Calgary14]

Divorce rate north of 80% for railroad engineers as well

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Why the hell would they be constantly on call lol? That makes no sense.

750 meter trains don't just appear. It takes all kinds of planning to assemble a train and fill everything up and schedule its route, I'm sure. They don't just spring it on the "engineer" the morning of.

Basically the job is 'slow down for the corners'. I think I can handle it.

They do work irregular hours but I'm not certain they're 'always on call.' There are 'on call' shifts and my understanding is...again, people get sick or hurt so need to be replaced from time to time.

And...at least for the Old Timers? That pension is amazeballs.

Its an old school way of life. I deal with a lot of the old CPers.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Why the hell would they be constantly on call lol? That makes no sense.

750 meter trains don't just appear. It takes all kinds of planning to assemble a train and fill everything up and schedule its route, I'm sure. They don't just spring it on the "engineer" the morning of.

Basically the job is 'slow down for the corners'. I think I can handle it.

I lived in a railroad town for a few years and I have family that are engineers, conductors and brakeman (honestly not sure if brakeman exist anymore) and they are on call for days at a time. Even though the trains are “planned” to a degree, their departures are always subject to change and even though you could be “third out” (two others ahead of you on the board), those two can “book off” at the last moment, then, all of the sudden you’re next up.
They never know for sure when they are working.

[Shazam]

"North" of $100K, what is that? Is that like $120K? Is that supposed to be a lot of money?

[Fuzz]

For someone with no education and not much manual labour, it is a lot of money. Probably double the median income.

[Shazam]

Rail conductors have no education? Well I hope they took physics 30.

[fotze2]

I’ve just heard CP rail is an evil corporation to work for. Ruthless. They saw CNRL and said hold my beer.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Rail conductors have no education? Well I hope they took physics 30.

Doesn't seem like physics 30 is a requirement. I had meant no extended education. Sure, high school. I had also forgotten the physical part of the job:

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to perform work that can be physically demanding such as walking up to 10 kilometers a day on uneven ground, climbing up and down and lifting and pulling heavy objects (up to 80 pounds on occasion)
• Willingness to work unscheduled shift work in a 24/7 operating environment
• Working up to 12 hour shifts which include days, evenings, overnight, weekends and holidays
• Ability to report to work within a two hour call window, after scheduled rest
• Excellent focus, attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Strong communication skills (provide clear and concise instructions/directions including over radio)
• Willingness to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions for long periods of time
• Must be able to pass the required physical job tasks for the job position, written examinations, read and understand safety instructions, read and understand operating rules and regulations and other written or printed material in English
• Must be at least 18 years old
• High school diploma or general equivalency required
• Valid driver’s license required

https://careers.cpr.ca/job/Kamloops-...3L9/592882617/