Trains.com

Question for people working for railroads

2125 views
18 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 6:17 AM
I like my job. I'm still relatively young, 29 and it tends to put a damper on my social life and makes relationships short. I knew what I was getting into and don't plan on quitting. Besides, I've got to meet alot of people and see alot of the country. I've dated girls in every state that I have been in. What happens at the away from home terminal stays at the away from home terminal! HeHeHeHe!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 6:17 AM
I like my job. I'm still relatively young, 29 and it tends to put a damper on my social life and makes relationships short. I knew what I was getting into and don't plan on quitting. Besides, I've got to meet alot of people and see alot of the country. I've dated girls in every state that I have been in. What happens at the away from home terminal stays at the away from home terminal! HeHeHeHe!
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upper Left Coast
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by kenneo on Thursday, July 17, 2003 4:02 PM
I grew up next to a railroad (UP's OSL in Idaho) when they were still running steam even on some passenger trains. Rode my first steam engine out of Caldwell at age 5. After highschool, hired out for summer work out of Portland on the SP. Wanted to be in engine service, but no openings, Nothing in train/yard service either, but station service had Telegrapher openings, so there I went. Worked summers while attending U of O in Eugene, where in my sophmore year met and married. Believe me, school full time and RR full time don't work, so quit school. After we lost our child in late 1965, I got that dreaded "final notice" from the draft board, so decided I would enlist in the Transportation Corps instead of being placed where the service wanted me. Ended up as NCOIC of my unit (and, also, acting CO) and at the end of my enlistment, they had bars on me and wanting me to re-up for 4 with a $5000 bonus. Went back to railroading. Have worked as a Telegrapher (sparkei), CTC Interlocking Operator, Bridge Tender, Manual Interlocking Operator, Agent, Hump Operator, Yardmasters Trim Clerk., Customer Service Rep (Traffic Dept), "Mudchicken", Property Manager and Conductor, Brakeman (both freight and passenger) and "Snake".
Eric
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upper Left Coast
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by kenneo on Thursday, July 17, 2003 4:02 PM
I grew up next to a railroad (UP's OSL in Idaho) when they were still running steam even on some passenger trains. Rode my first steam engine out of Caldwell at age 5. After highschool, hired out for summer work out of Portland on the SP. Wanted to be in engine service, but no openings, Nothing in train/yard service either, but station service had Telegrapher openings, so there I went. Worked summers while attending U of O in Eugene, where in my sophmore year met and married. Believe me, school full time and RR full time don't work, so quit school. After we lost our child in late 1965, I got that dreaded "final notice" from the draft board, so decided I would enlist in the Transportation Corps instead of being placed where the service wanted me. Ended up as NCOIC of my unit (and, also, acting CO) and at the end of my enlistment, they had bars on me and wanting me to re-up for 4 with a $5000 bonus. Went back to railroading. Have worked as a Telegrapher (sparkei), CTC Interlocking Operator, Bridge Tender, Manual Interlocking Operator, Agent, Hump Operator, Yardmasters Trim Clerk., Customer Service Rep (Traffic Dept), "Mudchicken", Property Manager and Conductor, Brakeman (both freight and passenger) and "Snake".
Eric
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:15 PM
SpecR-

Nope, no such thing as part time on the railroad. The closest you could probably expect to come is a summer job on the track gang or maybe in train service. One possibility is to look for employment at a short line or tourist line. Volunteering during the year at these places might also grease the way to a summer position.

LC[8D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:15 PM
SpecR-

Nope, no such thing as part time on the railroad. The closest you could probably expect to come is a summer job on the track gang or maybe in train service. One possibility is to look for employment at a short line or tourist line. Volunteering during the year at these places might also grease the way to a summer position.

LC[8D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 9:22 PM
I grew up around the Maryland & Pennsylvania, the "Ma & Pa". They were still running steam some times, but their EMD switchers were pretty neat too. My grandmother lived 1/2 block behind the Towson, Md. depot, and it seemed that every time we were going to see her or a cousin (all up and down the line), I'd be looking for trains. I'll never forget the feeling when we came up York Road into Towson, and the familiar black girder bridge over the road was gone.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 9:22 PM
I grew up around the Maryland & Pennsylvania, the "Ma & Pa". They were still running steam some times, but their EMD switchers were pretty neat too. My grandmother lived 1/2 block behind the Towson, Md. depot, and it seemed that every time we were going to see her or a cousin (all up and down the line), I'd be looking for trains. I'll never forget the feeling when we came up York Road into Towson, and the familiar black girder bridge over the road was gone.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy