Our United States Government (remember the United States Government, the government that is supposed to be working for the citizens of the United States?) does not seem to be interested in helping America grow jobs. The middle class needs to look to itself and not the government fools for help. Look for products and services made in at this web site:

Made in America List
Quick Reference Index Updated: 5/1/11

BLET General Chairman's Action Alert Page
BLET Injured Employee's Bill of Rights (pdf)
BLET Locomotive inspection guide (pdf)
BLET Unofficial membership discussion board
CIRT Committee agreement with NJ Transit 
Division 272 Jackets and Hats
Division 272 meeting dates and location for 2011
Division Officers including GCA and National Officers 
Download a BLE application Not a BLE member but wish you were? Now is the perfect opportunity to join.
Downloadable forms and information courtesy of Rebecca Brown and the BLE 171 Web Page
Engineer Training Page  (2010 rules guide part 1 and 2)
Ergonomics Committee (Updated 9/22/10) Pictures of the ALP45DP on display in Berlin.
FRA Fun Facts Page FRA use of electronic devices chart added 3/24/11 (pdf)
Guest Editorials Who does Congress work for (New 11/5/10)
Holidays for 2011 (Updated 2/20/11)
Railroad Humor: 10 Reasons You Should Not Become A Union Officer. 
Links Page (Modified 5/1/11) Divisions 57, 226, and 235 deleted, Division 601 added.
Political Action Page and Newsroom (Added 11/16/11) Congress shoots down PTS technology as too expensive.
Safety Bulldog  The whys and wherefores of "Behavior Based " safety and why the company wants the employee to "buy" into it.
Ten Commandments for Student Engineers Now with a printer friendly version. (pdf)
Learning to Qualify for Student Engineers Now with a printer friendly version. (pdf)
Time claim codes
T'men's Page Who says the BLE is not trying to help?
Weather.com Get your local area forecast right now

New 3/24/11
New Check out the EO26 Flow Chart

On March 28, 2011, Part 220 Subpart C – Electronic Devices will become effective. This subpart will nullify and replace the provisions of EO26.

Attached is a chart which illustrates significant portions of Part 220 Subpart C. This chart has been reviewed and approved for distribution to the rail industry. Feel free to distribute as you see fit.

Notes:

1. This chart was not designed to address all aspects of Subpart C. Please refer to the appropriate regulatory text for all subsections under Part 220 Subpart C. The regulatory text concerning Part 220 Subpart C can be found in the new teal CFRs.


2. Subpart C establishes the minimum federal requirements for the use of electronic devices. Railroads may establish more stringent requirements and employees are to comply with those requirements accordingly.

News of Interest to our Members

New 2/11/11 Railroad Retirement payroll taxes will remain at 2010 levels in 2011. For Tier I, carriers and employees each will pay 6.20 percent on a maximum of $106,800 of wages. For Medicare, carriers and employees each will pay 1.45 percent on all wages. For Tier II, carriers will pay 12.10 percent and employees 3.9 percent on a maximum of $79,200 of wages.

New 1/25/11 Legislation Reduces Payroll Taxes and Extends Unemployment Benefits for Rail Workers.
The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, recently passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Obama on December 17, 2010, affects current railroad workers in two key ways. Specifically, the law provides a 1-year reduction in employee payroll taxes and provides more extended unemployment benefits for railroad employees.
Click here for more information. Courtesy of our Brothers and Sisters in the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen

New 1/25/11 Supplemental Annuity Information
Railroad retirement beneficiaries are reminded that receipt of a private railroad pension or a distribution from an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan may reduce the amount of a supplemental annuity payable by the Railroad Retirement Board. Click here for more information. Courtesy of our Brothers and Sisters in the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen

Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) All you need to know courtesy of Division 171

Thanks to the National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen and
Lawrence M. Mann What Every Railroad Worker Should Know About the Federal Railroad Safety Laws and Regulations  

This link requires Adobe Reader. If you don't have it click on the link to download

Stay in touch with your Division 272 officers!

All Division 272 engineers: If you have recently changed your mailing address, email address, or phone number please let your Secretary/Treasurer know as soon as possible. This is necessary to pass information between the Division and it's members and to keep our records up to date with the National Division.
Those members who have questions about, or wish to contribute to, Division 272 but cannot attend the monthly meetings you can email any of the Division Officers or write to the Division at:

BLET Division 272 PO Box 153 Netcong, NJ 07857-0153
Remember, if you don't participate, don't complain.
We won an award! See what award we won!

This site was created by your brother Hoboken Division engineers to provide an electronic path for the membership to communicate with their elected representatives and each other. It is in no way meant to replace attendance at the monthly Division meetings nor will it become a pulpit for members to bitch incessantly about things which we cannot control. Your suggestions and comments will help us keep it fresh and interesting and are welcome. We hope you will find the features informative and entertaining. Remember, neither Hours of Service nor rule G apply when you are visiting this site so come back anytime and enjoy your stay.

Addendum: Before you call your lawyers and sue us, please read the "Unofficial Hoboken Division Engineer's eye test and  small print disclaimer" below:
The "Unofficial" Hoboken Division Engineer's Web Site is the concept of several members of BLE Hoboken Division and is for the entertainment of Hoboken Division engineers only (and anyone who might want to check it out). The inclusion of any information or links in the "Unofficial" Hoboken Division Engineer's Web Site does not constitute endorsement of the included information or links by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers or it's members nor does the content of the "Unofficial" Hoboken Division Engineer's Web Site represent the opinions of the BLE Hoboken Division engineers or their families, the membership of BLE Division 272 or their families, any other members of the BLE in general or their families, the Management of New Jersey Transit, their employees, their vendors, the vendor's employees, New Jersey Transit's customers, their vendors and employees, any local, state, and federal employees of any railroad regulatory agencies that have anything to do with New Jersey Transit or the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, its successors, and/or assigns, and their families, inclusive. All material submitted for inclusion in the "Unofficial" Hoboken Division Engineer's Web Site becomes the immediate property of the "Unofficial" Hoboken Division Engineer's Web Site" to be used and distributed at will without reimbursement to the contributor in any shape, form, or manner. The  Management of the "Unofficial" Hoboken Division Engineer's Web Site reserves the right to edit all submissions for content and length. All logos are the property of their respective owners.

This site is provided free of charge to the members of Division 272 through the efforts of the Division 272 members Bill "Gumby" Guimes and Steve Kay. Except for the sole personal use of our viewers, no portion of this web site may be reproduced in any form or manner without the express written permission of the web guy.

Thank you, Vets!
Steve Kay, Web Guy - Republic of Vietnam - 1969-70