Definition of 'trick'

I believe the word "trick" means the same as "shift"...as in "the three to midnight trick is my favorite"...I remember my mother talking about bidding on tricks she wanted to work at the telephone company years ago...

Howard...

It's a nautical term.

Trick: The period of time during which the helmsman remains at the wheel/helm,  - "my trick's over"...

My grandfather worked in boiler operation at a coal burning electric plant until 1971. He always referred to his rotating day/night schedule as being "trick work" - he would let us know his schedule by indicating which "trick" he was on for the week.

That's what I remember as well. 

I agree about being unpleasant but pays the bills.  But why would anyone possibly ever hate a RR job?  REALLY??   Thought every RR loved his/her job.

You have obviously not experienced the pleasures of working at all hours of the night, being away from home at least 50% of the time, and never knowing when you are ever going to work.

Hot Water, should have said <sarcasm off>.  Read enough books and magazines to realize RR ain't the most funner job.

I once did a "hat trick" (3 time slips in a 24 hour period) on Christmas Eve:

Deadhead by bus from OKC to Tulsa Cherokee yard...took loaded grain extra back to OKC...called on my rest to take the same train to Quanah, TX for FW&D delivery.  HoHoHo.

I have heard of crews clearing a mainline of hog-law trains and turning in 5 time slips in one trick.  I think they had some combative conversation with the Timekeeper.

Railroad shifts in dispatching offices and telegraph offices were referred to as first trick (daylight), second trick (afternoon), and third trick (midnight), respectively.

Thus, someone would be the second trick Dispatcher on the First District, or the first trick operator at Summit.

It's interesting that none of the usual resources give the etymology of "Trick" when used as a synonym for "Shift", although most of them do mention the nautical use as a turn at the helm for 2 to 4 hours.  I can only guess that the early railroaders adopted this term from their seafaring counterparts.  Railroading and sailing were among the few professions that worked around the clock until the use of electricity became common.

On a side note, I've worked a rotating shift for many years now, and even before I started shift work, I was subject to callout at any time.  Working all hours of the night in a remote location can be a surreal experience, and covering 3rd shift is exhausting as well as mind numbing.  I'm fortunate that my present job has a safer work environment than the one a railroad crew experiences; I have nothing but the utmost respect for the railroaders who work around the clock in all kinds of weather. 

I believe but not sure, if basic early RR whistle signals were borrowed from steam boating whistles, like start, reverse and stopped. 

A related usage may be the name of one round of some card games.

How about this being close enough? My grandfather(retired SP Engineer) and my father(retired SP Conductor)made me promise to never work for any railroad. They did not want me to work as hard as they had in conditions as hazardous. It seemed like my father was never home. After he retired he went to work for a local shortline. It was nice to have him home. Almost like a regular job.

After college I entered the medical profession. I was almost never home on a regular basis. Conditions were just as hazardous, just in different ways. 

Replacing your coworker's coffee with decaf?

Farting the cab and immediately saying "Do you smell popcorn?" causing everyone else to take a deep breath to see if they do.