Real-Life Decision Making
As with many aspects of the job, a yardmaster's decision making must
be quick and constant. All judgment calls in the yard are made by the yardmaster.
That includes everything from where a train will park, to which crew will
work on it, to when it will leave again.
"The job is entirely decision making," says yardmaster Steve
Lucas. "You decide the size of the train, what traffic goes on it, what stays
off, when it will leave, who does it, how they get it done, everything."
Decisions can get downright cutthroat when trains get backed up. A major
decision made often in times like these is who goes first -- whose cargo on
which train has to wait while others get to butt into the line. This choice
is made in a moment, but has a lasting effect on customers.
"We've only got two tracks, one going east, one west," says general
yardmaster Josh Turner. "Say there's five trains waiting to go in either
direction. You have to decide which is more important and which have to be
held up. Certain trains have more priority."
You're a yardmaster in Turner's yard. Two trains are waiting
to use the same eastbound track that has been closed all morning because of
a derailment down the line.
One train is full of empty coal cars. The other is full of auto parts.
What do you do?