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Why work for a railroad?
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I might have a bit of a different perspective. I too have been an avid rail fan since I was 7 years old. Last summer, at the ripe old age of 47, I received an offer I couldn't refuse for the small business which I have owned for the last ten years. With my wife's encouragement, I decided to actually try to live that old dream of being a railroader. I went into it with the attitude that first, I am to the point agewise that it is now or never. Second, I don't want to end my tour of duty on this planet wondering what it would be like. Thirdly, I don't have anything to lose. I feel that if after a reasonable amount of time, if I don't like the job I will move on to something else. At least I tried. Right now, I am a conductor for the Canadian Pacific. Conducting is OK but my goal is to be an engineer. I look at my time as conductor as the price to pay for the end goal. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of people who prefer conducting and do not ever want to be an engineer. They are two entirely different jobs. Why work for the railroad? On the practical side, at least the class one's pay decently, the pension program is great, medical, dental, stock options and the rest are great benefits! The only downside to the work itself in my eyes is the weird schedule. Also, there is personal risk. It is very easy to get killed while on the ground! My big dislike is how the railroads treat their employees. They can be absolutely draconian in their behavior. Personel departments won't return their calls. Every trainman keeps a daily log of his or her work because payroll can't be trusted to pay out what has been earned. I will say though that comraderie is very high. Rails have to depend on each other. Of course, different people have different abilities but yet I have have not met another rail who I couldn't work with. If you have dreamed about becoming a railroader, give it a shot. Just get into it with your eyes wide open! Have an escape plan in mind because over three forths of new hires quit before they even mark up! Reality sometimes sucks! Geoff
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