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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp I have been considering going to work for UP. I was talking to a conductor regarding this. He said that there was a railfan in his class who aced the classroom portion. However, onece he started work he (the railfan) decided he hated the job and quit. Does anyone have any idea how often this happen? If you have heard of a such thing, what were the reasons given as to why he hated the job? [/quote] This happens frequently. Railfans who study the rulebooks and have some knowledge of operations can often get through the classes (which are designed to pass people, not fail them unless they do nothing or have serious issues) but once out on the property they discover that the daily life of a railroader is gritty dirty hard and often dangerous. If you stick with it there can be other compensations. Nothing is better than a nice train trip over the mountain into the sunrise heading to the home terminal. Working through LETS (Engineer School-much harder than trainman's class) and being promoted engineer after eight qweeks of torture (and 6 months OJT) is a rush. There are also the detector walks in the pouring rain or wading through the hip deep snow for a kicker or some idiot reporting dragging equipment when nothing is wrong. There's derailments big and small, moments when your heart is in your throat with a propane truck going around the gates in front of you (or a school bus). People from outside including most railfans have no idea what it's like to mark off sick for the birth of a child, or answer the phone at 0300 and have it be the crew caller saying " R.W. Smith(insert your name here) you are called for the FNLA12 as conductor, your Engineer is F.J. Gump, call time is 0430." Dragging yourself out of bed quickly showering, throwing your work clothes on grabbing your grip, your lunch out of the fridge (or making one) and stumbling to your car for the hour plus drive to the terminal. Don't be late. Of course, once you get there the fun begins. Very few of us are "Mr. Personality" at 0430. This includes everyone you will need to work with, your Engineer, the DS, yardmaster, trainmaster, etc. And that's just the beginning. LC
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