morning, because you don't have seniority at the time to get something better. I mean something can happen anywhere and anytime. You could go to the store and encounter safety issues there, too. But here, not really. Of course, I would always like to see more sheriffs around, even on the buses, maybe even more so for the people that are on the buses because the potential for immediate danger is more prevalent on the buses.
Ceres: If you could change something about your job, what would it be?
Andrea: Probably the crazy schedules that we have sometimes. It makes it hard, you know, to just get sleep. Fortunately for me I don’t commute that far to and from the job, but you have some that have a lengthy commute every day. Factor in a long drive, a long day, and a short turn around and it can take its toll physically and mentally on anyone. I think that if we kind of had more set schedules with fewer and shorter splits, it would be easier on all of us. For example, the extra board work rotation. I know that there are some companies where the board is broken up, where some people just stay in the morning, and others just stay in the afternoon, which, to me, makes more sense, and it’s a benefit because maybe those operators won’t get burned out so much. The earliest they’re coming in is, maybe, midnight, but they're not going to work any later than noon, or something like that.
Ceres: Do you like your job?
Andrea: I love it! It's fun and easy and not every day is the same, even though I do the same line.
Ceres: What would you say to a woman who would want to be a rail operator?
Andrea: Go for it! I would be surprised if you didn’t love it. Once you get past the intensity of the training and the studying, and you get all your bearings down of how everything works, it’s very easy. Now, understand that there is a lot of responsibility, but it is definitely fun. Also, I could see why someone would think that we, women operators, encounter discrimination here. It seems there could be a lot of discrimination in the freight industry because it’s a lot more men; they’re just so used to it being all guys. But not here.
Ceres: What could be a reason why a woman would be hesitant to apply for a job as a Metro Rail operator?
Andrea: Intimidation, possibly. You see, I’m just not the type of woman who gets easily intimidated by much. Maybe for me, it comes naturally. For example, I have a motorcycle, and I love it. I ride across this country, and have ridden in two other countries, and in inclement weather, and some people are fascinated by that. They ask me, “You’re not afraid?” “No, I'm not.” So, driving a train could be a bit intimidating, too. Maybe they think it’s too much for a woman to handle. Maybe they’ve heard that it’s too hard, that there is too much pressure on us. Yes, there are things that are hard, but the reward, on the other hand, makes it so much more worth it to me. I’ve been doing that for x-amount of years already, and it’s great! And you know, someday, I’d love to go to New York, and ride in the cab of a subway train, on their system, along with the operator, and see how they do it. And someday, I’m going to meet the right person that's going to get me in there [Laughter].
Ceres: I believe that everything is just a question of wanting to do something, and just doing it. It may take time, but if you really want to, the sky is only the limit!
Andrea: Yep. I know I’m gonna do it, someday!
Ceres: Any good stories you want to share?
Andrea: Here is something that happens to me all the time, and it’s a simple story and funny too. [Laughter] Last time, this lady came to me and asked, “Which train is leaving first?” And I looked around, and there was only one train on the platform! I turned to the train that was there, then to the empty side of the platform, and I said, “I only see one train!” The lady looked too, then looked at me, and then the light came on, and she starting laughing, and she pointed at the only train. “That would be the one, then,” she said.
operated by a woman, and I couldn’t get to her. The following days, I started chasing the mystery female operator, telling my friends, that I knew there was one in Union Station, that I had heard her before. I would go sniff
around the MTA operator booth on the platform, asking questions, trying to ambush her to no avail, always on the lookout. Finally, MTA provided me with your name. It wasn’t until I ended up again on the same late Red line that it dawned on me, when the female operator made the announcement; MTA had put me in touch with that same mystery woman I had been chasing for days. It was YOU, all along! [Laughter]
Andrea: [Laughter] Now, that’s too funny! Wow, what a trip! It was meant to be, then.
Ceres: I guess it was.
Al Mohymont for Ceres Magazine
"I’ve been doing that for x-amount of years already, and it’s great!"
34 - Ceres Magazine - Winter 2016
Cont. page 40