You are going to meet lots of famous people through our Hi My Name Is series. But we want to put the spotlight on some of you that are just as interesting but relatively unknown. Let's meet Anthony Proetta. 

What is your Job Title?

Locomotive engineer. 

 

How long have you been driving the trains?

Never ask an engineer if he drives a train, it's almost as bad as calling him or her a conductor. We don't drive trains!! We run them, or operate the equipment. It's not an automobile, there is no steering wheel, ha ha! Regardless, I have been an engineer for 5 years. 

 

What made you want to be a conductor? 

Ha ha!! Engineer you mean?? 

Everyone loves trains. Whether you're a child or an adult, at some point you've admired a train. I have always admired trains. I never imagined I'd ever be lucky enough to run them. I worked my way up, starting as a track worker, building and repairing the rail road tracks, then eventually with a good reputation, I was accepted into the position of "Engineer". Something I've always wanted to do. And I can honestly say, I love my job. 

 

Craziest thing that's gone down on your train.

The craziest things mostly happen on holidays like St. Patty's day, Cinco De Mayo, etc, when there are drinks and drugs being consumed. Htuge crowds of intoxicated people are all taking the trains to go party or parade. Some times the crowds get along and crowd surf each other down the aisles until the police come. Or they don't get along and fight in the aisles until the police come. So, eventually the police are called. It's pandemonium. 

The best story I have is when a friend of ours, a well-known frequent passenger of our trains, who happens to be a drag queen, was getting harassed by three gang kids. He beat up one of the gang kids while wearing high heels. They never bothered him again. 

 

Famous people on your train?

Yes, all the time. Sometimes it's hard to recognize them. Sometimes not. I see a lot of athletes. Met Mark Messier of the NY Rangers hockey team, friendly guy.  But this is New York, and in New York no one cares about celebrities. 

I actually moved a train around that was used while they filmed a movie that should be coming out this year called "Blood Ties". It was an interesting experience. The actors involved included Billy Crudup, Zoe Saldana and Clive Owen. No big deal. 

 

Weird creatures in the tunnels?

Rats the size of cats. Roaches the size of mice. And the occasional houseless person looking for a nap. I'm usually willing to share my food with all of them. 

 

Any train facts that are cool to know?

A single train car can hold about a hundred people per car on our trains, that means on an 8 car train the engineer and conductor are responsible for getting about 1,000 people to their destination safely in a single trip!

 

Thank you Anthony, for sharing your stories and insight in what it's like to live in your world. Think you have what it takes to be a person of interest on HMNI? Hit us up on our FB page about who you are and what you do. Maybe you can be the next "Hi My Name is" profile.