Don't ask me why this subject popped into my head. Somethings can't be explained but I thought the group would enjoy. Not trying to start an argument about who was more important,but suspect my biases will show.
A yard foreman was a promoted helper. He could work as a foreman if his seniority entitled him to do so or as a helper anytime he wanted. Foremen were promoted by yard masters when they felt a man had enough experience and smarts to do the job of supervising
the crew. Often this happened in a pinch when a crew was needed or someone didn't show up. His responsibility encompassed the yard and yard limits on the mains and branches that yard crews could work within. No exam was required to become a yard foreman.
A Conductor on the other hand, had to be employed in train service as a brakeman, for a minimum of two years, the prior 90 days in road freight service and pass an extensive book of rules test on signal aspects,train orders, train rights,safety rules,etc. when
your you notice to attend the test you had a set period of time to study. If you failed the test you remained a brakeman. You had two more opportunities to pass the test. If not you were a brakeman for ever. Many men chose to "Chuck their rights " and remain
brakeman rather than starting over at the bottom of the seniority list as a Condr.
This meant they could hold a better job but could never work as a Condr. Many guys did this to stay on preferred passenger jobs or certain freight jobs. Problem was later on,as passenger jobs disappeared and these guys got older there were far fewer chose spots
where to land.
On the other hand,if you took the test and passed you were now an examined Condr., this meant you were lower than low. You kept your brakemans seniority and your current run but whenever the extra board was exhausted your phone rang and you went or "chucked
your rights". A guy who was my brakeman in the C&I pool lost his Condrs. Rights that way by refusing to go when called as a Condr. He had a law degree and had practiced as a lawyer.
So for a long time you got pulled from your nicer brakemans job and ended up working some less desirable night or far away from home job. You could be "forced" to the least wanted job on the division. That clause was a real downer if you were the youngest "examined,non
working Condr ." On the division. So when I got my letter to attend the
Exam class I was pleased to note the large number of names below mine.
I was never in danger of being "forced" to some god foresaken job.
On the other hand my phone started ring at odd times when I didn't expect to be called for work. The real problem was most of time the entire regular crew had "laid off" so if you hadn't work the job before as a brakeman the crew was really lost(that's why
the 2 year rule was in place).
Gradually you moved up the seniority list and ended up having brakeman twice your age under you,especially when working the Condrs. Extra list,filling in for the regular Con.
Leo