been offered a job

[thatboy37]

   bnsf has offered and agreeded to pay for me to go to train school. should i or shoudn't i do it and what are the pros and cons of me doing this if there is anybody out there who has been through this process and can offer any advice. you dont have to work for them if you can offer any advice that will greatly be appreciated.

[trigtrax]

Contact [e-mail] he just completed a train school and is now working for a railroad. I'm not sure if it's BNSF but it might be.. Best of luck to you in any case.

[phillyreading]

Find out what the hours are that you are expected to work, heard from an engineer on FEC that you may have to work 12 to 16 hour days or as long as your locomotive is on the tracks. Ask questions before taking the job!

Lee F.

[MartyE]

Find out what the hours are that you are expected to work, heard from an engineer on FEC that you may have to work 12 to 16 hour days or as long as your locomotive is on the tracks. Ask questions before taking the job!

Lee F.

Although it is always a good idea to ask questions....  What is wrong with working some long hours? 

[dougdagrump]

 Unless the work rules, set by the Dept of Trnspt, have changed you were allowed to work a maximum of 12 consecutive hrs although you could work a max of 16 hours during a 24 hr period. The latter ruling allowed you to work every other 8 hr period. On 8, off 8, on 8, off 8, on 8, off 8, after a while you have no idea as to what day it is. The only thing you know is whether it is dark or light out, and whether you are cold n' wet or hot n' sweatty. But it sure did make the pay checks extremely nice, even after Uncle Sam took his share. I would do this til I didn't know which end was up then me and momma would take a few days off and go away somewhere. Kinda miss those old days.

Forgot to add that the word I hear is that there are a lot of very young engineers running the trains these days. Workloads have far surpassed  crew availability.

[Poppa_Zit]

Omigosh! Reggie! After all these years, finally a real job?

Just kidding. I think you working for a railroad would be like paying a kid to eat candy. And I'll bet a lot of railroaders dream about playing in the NFL. 

Pop Z (who hasn't had a "real" job for 30 years)

[csxt30]

 Unless the work rules, set by the Dept of Trnspt, have changed you were allowed to work a maximum of 12 consecutive hrs although you could work a max of 16 hours during a 24 hr period. The latter ruling allowed you to work every other 8 hr period. On 8, off 8, on 8, off 8, on 8, off 8, after a while you have no idea as to what day it is. The only thing you know is whether it is dark or light out, and whether you are cold n' wet or hot n' sweatty. But it sure did make the pay checks extremely nice, even after Uncle Sam took his share. I would do this til I didn't know which end was up then me and momma would take a few days off and go away somewhere. Kinda miss those old days.

Forgot to add that the word I hear is that there are a lot of very young engineers running the trains these days. Workloads have far surpassed  crew availability.

Doug is right on the money !! I'll tell you another way to look at it, & that is after getting training & qualified & get your engineers liscence, you surely, with your past education, will probably be given an opportunity to go into middle management, say as a Trainmaster or Roadforeman of engines. A lot of the younger train personnell today  all complain of no time off to enjoy all their new cars & motorcycles & other family doings, because they put so many hours in a week. Of course they can make 70 to 80 thousand & more a year, but they're never home. Now as a young trainman, you could get laid off & there's always a possibility of having to relocate just to work & keep the benefits coming in. Epecially in management, they want you to move, & of course you will be compansated for it & can even gain a substantial amount, but not much fun moving a layout !! RR retirement benefits are very good also, as they take out about 3 times what other companies take out of you. Many a trainmem has ended up in divorce because of being away so much & many of those guys were never home for their kids everyday needs & activities, & to just watch them grow up. The money is good, but not being home isn't. I would look into a management job, at least later on, just to insure being home more regular down the road. Myself, I work in a craft that's 8hrs. a day & some overtime, but less money too. Also today, the trainmen can stay in touch with home because of the cell phones !!

Thanks, John   

[mackb4]

 Hello Reggie.I work for the NS as you know a class 1 r.r. same as BNSF.Now read all the lines and in between before you sign anything,like are they going to take the cost of school out of your first paydays,etc.Working for  BNSF will mean you are allowed to work 11hrs.59mins. legally,but up to several hours behond that until you register off duty.Here on the NS we can register 10 hrs. undisturbed rest.It may only be that the BNSF allows you to take only 8 I really don't know that.Also remember the railroad is a 24 hour,7 day a week,365 days a year job,and you will be oncall 24/7 .There's several weeks you may put 50-60-70 hours in.The money,retirement is good (you will work on a  national contract negotiated by your union).Benefits is something that we didn't pay for till about 4-5 years ago.And with the money that the railroads are claiming to make,we shoulsn't have to.The max weeks of vacation is 5 weeks upon the start of your 25th year.There's lots of good,lots of bad to tell about,but if you have more detailed questions to ask,email me and I'll be happy to try and answer .