To all my railroad brethren,
I hope this letter finds all of you well and in good spirits. I wanted to let you know that I will not be returning to work with you. On Wednesday, March 23rd, I will be returning my remaining equipment and officially resigning from NS.
I have to admit, I have collected many great memories and friendships along the way. From the red-eye, called-on-short-rest trips, to working the yard and kicking cars for hours, it was more than a decade to remember.
I can understand how some of you may be wondering why I would not choose to return. Here's why. First, I honestly didn't think arbitration would be in my favor with regards to the combined circumstances of the incident that got me removed from service. Therefore I simply set it in my head and heart to move on. Second, and more important, I had the chance to see how my children benefited with me home and on a regular schedule. I can honestly say that the improvement in our relationship cannot be measured. When I had considered these along with all of the other factors with an honest and impartial eye, it didn't take long to figure out what I needed to do, or what the best choice for my family was.
It is true, I am not making as much now as when I was on the railroad. But that's not an issue either. I chose to keep my eye simple when I worked for NS, and now I can say that I own my home and my vehicles as well. So, even though I make less money now than I did, I don't face any financial hardships, and that is primarily because I didn't do as some have done, and load up on the things that a railroad payroll can afford, and leave myself up to my eyebrows in debt. No, I may not have the newest, best, fanciest, or shiniest of things, but I can sleep at night and not worry about how my bills will be paid.
To close, I wish you all the best in your endeavors. I know that the railroad life isn't the easiest. But for those of you who are reading this, you have made it bearable, and even enjoyable. Stay watchful on the road. Be mindful in the yards. And may you come home safe to your families. After all, aren't they worth it in the end?
With Sincerity and Best Regards to Each of You,
James
