I want to be a track laborer for UPRR. Questions.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone give me a description of the work? I am 23. How is the pay? Is it worth it? Thanks.

Shaun.

[JoeKoh]

Shaun
first welcome to the forums.Second prepare to wear heavy duty workboots and prepare for all types of weather.You might be in one state one week and another the next.but it could turn out good for you.I hope it does.
stay safe
Joe

[edblysard]

The hottest, filithiest, most back breaking and unapreicated labor on the face of the planet.
Coal miners dont work that hard.
Out doors in all weather, sheer physical labor involved, even though they do have machines that do a lot of the work.
Be ready to be called at any time, to almost any location, for weeks at a time.
But, if you like building big things that last a long time, this may be the job you've been looking for.
And, its a foot in the door. If you decide to apply for a T&E position, on most roads, your senority will carry over with you.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

I don't know about the UP, but on the BNSF your seniority will not carry over. Say after your year of uninterrupted service, you decide that you wanna go TY&E, the only thing that you will get is put to the top of the roster for the day you hired. For example, say there were 50 guys that hire TY&E on Nov. 15th. system wide. Instead of drawing for seniority; lottery style with those 50 guys, you and any other craft transferrs will draw amongst yourselves and go to the top of the list for that start date. Many of our MOW guys are transferring over to TY&E. Some of these guys have 10 years in and I have all of them beat in TY&E seniority. MOW on our RR is a tough gig and furloughs are common and long for new hires. If that is what you want, go for it! If you are looking for an "in," that's O.K. too, but, if it were me and I wanted to eventually go TY&E, I would do it right off. Remember, anybody that hires out before you (like I say, I can only speak on my RR) will have seniority on you and when it comes time for the axe to fall, a few spots could mean the difference between you working and sittin' on the couch.
Ken