Least desireable jobs in railroading

[Anonymous]

I know all jobs are important in running a railroad. But I would like to know what some of you think are some of the least desireable jobs out there that have to be done whether we like them or not.
Larry

[Anonymous]

I would say a crew clerk (guy who phones people up in the middle of the night to tell you you gotta work or that you're bumped) or a supervisor. Welding is a dirty job.

[Anonymous]

I started out 33 years ago with a pair of heavy grease buckets yoked to my back while I hiked on foot for miles, slopping grease on switch points as I went. I had applied as a brakie, but was turned down because they said I was too fat at 5'11" 180lbs - go figure.

Now some might think such duty was pretty bad. I am now a signal engineer in a big white office building. My railroad engineering job fascinates me and I am grateful for its relative physical ease (being partially disabled), but I look back on my first railroad job with a lot of nostalgia and pride.

Especially I miss the outdoors, the wind and rain in my face, the smell of creosote, and the drama of watching out for the constant parade of trains I had to stay out of the way of.

Though the job may be darn tough, The worst day railroading is still better than the best day doing anything else. Except maybe being with the wife and kids.

I now sometimes get to take them with me when I have a chance to go out into the field - the best of both worlds!

RmC

[BRAKIE]

When I worked on the PRR I always thought a lowly switch tender had a less then desirable job next to the hump rider whose job was being phase out when I went to work on the PRR.On the Chessie I always felt sorry for the poor hapless crew caller-a thankless job at most.By observing todays railroad I reckon I will say it a welder.

[cabforward]

the worst job is the job you have but don't want..

[Anonymous]

Hey guys, don't bag on welders too much. I welded for 7 years (on almost everything imaginable at my side job, and track work at my regular Union job) and I loved it. Then I hired out on the RR. I have to say that hostling is the easiest job going (get forced to it when the board is exhausted), but, everybody hates hostlers in the yard.....When you are switching the bowl and get your move lined out, the hostlers sneak through and screw up your lineup. No biggie for me, but, the old heads get a little miffed about it.

[JoeKoh]

I would say either a crew caller or the signal maintainer who could get paged to do a job during nasty weather.

[Anonymous]

i work for the union pacific..the worst job is yardmaster..they are busy ..its crazy lol

[wabash1]

the worse one i can think of is either the t&s gangs who come from all over and not get home for weeks on end. or the bridge department working with very few people and having to do the job like they had a full crew. and in either job not alot of excitment.

[Anonymous]

Check out the replys under the topic "Odd Loads". Dave Nelson (replied on 5/5/03 8:30am)describes some very nasty loads on C&NW. Anyone handling those cars were probably being punished for something. I still get the dry heaves thinking about it.

G.Setter

[Anonymous]

Larry,

I think everybody else has missed it. Is lowest guy in any section gang or extra gang. Physically demanding work, still some by hand, in all kinds of weather in every kind of place immaginable, say 30 miles West of Tuscon in July.

Mac

[Anonymous]

It does sound like the bottom of the barrel.

[ironhorseman]

THE SHOPS

I don't have any work experince with any railroad, but recently I took a tour of the old Katy Railroad (now Union Pacific) backshops in Parsons, Kansas. This building was completed in 1907. The way the tour guide and some of the old timers that worked there 20 and 30 years ago described it this was the dirtiest, grimiest work they'd ever seen. When RailWorks (www.railworks.com) took over the shop several years ago the dirt and grime was so thick they had to use tractor shovels to scope it out. The floor is still covered in a layer of beat down grease. When some of the old former employees were asked if they'd ever want to come back to work here they said no way. Once they got their hands clean they'd never want to come back.

ironhorseman

[Anonymous]

From where I'm looking at it at VIA, I'd have to say the poor lowly cleaner on the midnight shift who has to clean all those discusting train washrooms!! Nope, never will you EVER catch me doing that one, those poor sods.

My boyfriend had a summer job when he was uni spraying chemical weed killers along the tracks on the back of a pick-up truck for CN and contractors. It was hard work in the dead of summer, however there was a lot of adventure and really good pay for a student. He got to see almost all of Ontario and Quebec, sleep in hunter's and traapper's camps. But he was away from home and was only off home twice for five days the entire summer. That's adventure that teaches you how to work hard, eh?

[Anonymous]

Train DS