Lessons from a Lifetime on the Rails

After decades working on the railways, I’ve learned a thing or two about the importance of mentorship. It’s not just about the job; it’s about the people you guide along the way. As I look back, I realize that helping younger workers find their footing was one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‍​⁠​‌​⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠⁠‌‌‍​‌​‍​‌‍‌​‌‍​⁠‌⁠‍‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌‌​⁠‌‍‌​‍‍​⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‌​‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​

But i totally get what you mean about mentorship! I remember showing a new engineer how to troubleshoot a faulty signal. It’s like teaching someone to fish; once they get it, they can help others too.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‍​​⁠‌​​⁠​⁠​⁠‍‌​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‍​⁠​‌​⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠⁠‌‌​​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌​​‍‌⁠​⁠‌​‌‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌‍‌​​‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌⁠‌​‌‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌