Why railroad contracting is more like hockey than golf

摘要

This is my favorite time of year. Golfers are out in full swing. Hockey teams are in hot pursuit of the Stanley Cup. And railroad contractors are working at maximum capacity.It's a close call about which one of these passions I love the most, but there's no doubt that hockey is a lot more like railroad contracting than golf.Preparing for a game at the rink is, in many ways, similar to planning for a railroad construction project.Safety always comes first. You can't go out on the ice without all the right equipment and with skates sharp and sticks fine-tuned. It's the same on the railroad. Don't even think about entering the right-of-way without all the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, and equipment to do the job at hand. And they must all meet current specs and be in good working order, too.Then there's the question about who's in charge. In hockey, the chain of command starts with the coach, but also includes assistant coaches, the captain, and assistant captains. On construction projects, the superintendents call the shots, but you better believe they get their authority from the railroad or property owner. The employee-in-charge and foreman fall in behind. This hierarchy is essential to ensure everyone knows their role, avoids injury, and does not get at cross purposes.Before the game begins the coach makes sure the team knows the game plan. That includes contingency plans depending on how the game progresses. Teams are ready to gain an edge through strategic line changes and by capitalizing on power plays.