The railroad’s communication technicians are seemingly present in everything the Belt does.

If it receives or transmits radio waves or otherwise helps employees communicate, they maintain, repair, enhance and install it. But their responsibilities don’t end there.

Communication Electrician JamesPetrusek works on a project.

“Think ‘anything that has a wire,’” Communication Technician Joe Quinlan said.

He and fellow Communication Technician Jim Petrusek recently repurposed a room in the General Office Building that will be dedicated to implementing Positive Train Control. Quinlan noted he and Petrusek could do something radically different in a moment’s notice. Both men and their teammates are on call 24 hours a day, and when a storm threatens the railroad’s ability to communicate, communication technicians can expect to be called to duty.

The variety of the job is one of the things he likes about it.

“What we do touches every employee,” Quinlan said.

He also is glad that the railroad industry is committed when it comes to safety.

“We make it as safe as possible,” Quinlan said. “The railroad has made safety No. 1.”