Conductor Training

[Jordan6]

It's getting closer.......yes I'm appying for the conductor training program at JCCC in Overland Park, KS.[swg] All I've got to do is be accepted and pass an interview. It's going to be a dangerous, stressful job, but with rewards and it's all I've ever wanted to do.

I am seeking advice from fellow railroaders and railfans as to make this life long goal my career.

[AntonioFP45]

Jordon,

Best wishes to you!

It is stressful and challenging. Your personality, and attitude will make the difference! I assume that you intend to work for a Class 1 road like the UP or KCS. You'll be working with quite a mix of people, some with positive supportive attitudes and others that are either tired, burned out, angry, or trying to climb the ladder. Be positive but don't reveal too much of your personal life as it may come to bite you later (I know first hand!)

In transportation I've found that some of the worst people to work with are workers or managers that when something goes wrong they go into the: It's not my fault! or I didn't order that> BLAME GAME! Then there are the ones that will lie to you without battng an eyelash.

Years ago, I found myself constantly arguing with arrogant bosses or snotty co-workers. They could be very discouraging people.

I finally learned to keep a very cool head and let the "FLAME THROWING" people talk their noise. I noticed that the truth always rises to the surface sooner or later. In fact, one of my "Control Freak" bosses who seemed to enjoy "harassing me" so I would blow my stack became even more irritated when he noticed that I remained calm. He would typiclly retort with " By your attitude, you really don't care about the situation!!!" My typical response: "Actually Bill, I really do care but one of us needs to have a clear thinking head, so would you like my help or should I get back to work?" He very quickly changed his tone. When my reputation as a cool headed thinker got around my shop, I was eventually promoted as a management trainee though I was still a Union member .

Another thing that I found EXCEPTIONALLY helpful:
Keep a "personal" Log Book!
I believe conductors are required to keep "Official Logbooks" but a personal one that you can keep in a lockable briefcase or in your pocket is desireable. During my 15 years In the transit authority, I was often called on the carpet at times for mistakes I supposedly made days or weeks before. Since my bosses had "short term memories" I would, for example, pull out my personal log book and would say " Oh, you're correct . On March 17th I didn't complete this job assignment but according to my facts that was because you ordered me to take over this other job".

From what I understand, this kind of scenario occurs frequently in the railroad industry.

To sum it up: The successful railroaders that I've met have this type of cool headed mentality. They let the garbage slide past and when they have to battle they have notes, logs and strategy ready! [^][;)][:D][:)][swg][tup]

Hope this helps, Amigo!
God Bless and may you enjoy your training and career!

[csxengineer98]

some advice...
when you start your OJT....dont go into it with the addidut that you know it all...that is the fastest way to get blackballed with many crewman... a rookie that acts like he knows it all aready will not get any help.... and it will just make learning the job that much harder... go into to with an open mind..forget eveything you think you already know about how the rail road works... STUDY STUDY STUDY.... learn the road...learn the jobs.... ask questions...and DONT DO ANYTHING THAT WILL GET YOU HURT.....common sences are about 90% of all rail road rules...if its not safe...DONT DO IT...... if you come across something that you dont understand... STOP... dont take a chance on the " ill figer it out on my own"...ask someone for help... a yard master... crewman..someone... they cant fire you for asking for help...they can and will fire you for the "ill figer it out on my own" and your solution was WRONG....
GET JOB INSURANCE..... rail road unemplyeement is only like 250 bucks a week... not nearly what the rail road wage is...i have LOCOMOTIVE EGNIEERS & CONDUCTORS MUTUAL PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION....
thier are many others out thier...so you will have to shop around just like if you where buying any other kind of insurnce... job insurance will pay you money for evey day your off for up to so many days... like i said..youll have to look around at what plan works best for you... most job insurnaces will cover being fired for all but 2 reasons...insubordination...and a RULE G violation...also you have to be fired..not layed off to be able to be able to collect a job insurance check...
and last thing....
GOOD LUCK.... this job sucks at times..but it beats the hell out of working in a factory or some office someplace
csx engineer

[edblysard]

Jordan,
Antonio and CSX gave you good advice.
Dont let the negative attitudes of others affect the way you do your job.
If you dont know what to do, stop.
Then ask, because your actions can cause tremendous damage.
Last, CSX told you to but job insurance, do so ASAP, just in case.
Ed

[csxengineer98]

oh yea...
one more thing...
when your in the yards....ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SWITCHPOINTS.... NOT THE TARGETS... targets can be changed... the switchpoints will never lie...a runthough switch can do major damage... and if you should run though a switch....DO NOT TRY AND BACK UP...the damange is done...backing up will 100% with out a dought put your train on the ground... tell the yard master...you will get an *** chewing...but you wont cuase a derailment
running though a switch is bad.... but they will give you some time off without pay to think about it if you run though it..and then derail
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Jordan,

CSX, Ed, and Antonio all hit the nail on the head. Listen in school, study, etc, but the best instruction you will ever get is from your coworkers. These guys have been here a long time and have a lot to pass down to you. My attitude has changed quite a bit since I first started OJT. A lot of newbies may know the rule books better than the old heads, but by no means do we know squat about railroading!!!![ i worked five weeks in the yard to start training and on the last day in the yard at the last minute of the shift, I watched a remote engine hit the ground because my forman was trying to do too much instead of looking at the switch points. I was standing about ten cars away with the switchman and I watched the engine rock back and forth and almost tip over!!! When you're working you can take your sweet time, if you are unsure of your switchpoints and how you are lined up walk your route in front of your train, trust me the engineer won't mind! [:D] I have just started on road training going up to Chicago to Barr Yard, Clearing Yard, Bensenville Yard, etc. These yards are enourmous and quite intimidating to a newbie, but just like these guys said, If you don't know ask!!! The hours and time away can get a little trying at times, but the pay and benefits are hard to match. And most importantly during your training, be involved in the work and ask your trainer to let you do some of the work while they watch, they'll be there to catch you if you fall. And most of all good luck and be safe!!!

Nathan

[swg][#welcome]

[Jordan6]

[^][bow][bow][bow][bow]

I would like to send a BIG thanks out to those who have given a piece of their time and knowledge in this topic. All of your reponses are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, your soon to be railroader,

[Rodney Beck]

Jordan6 pay heed to csxengineer98 those are very very good points when you are on ojt. I have been a conductor for 2 years now and love it even when the phone rings in the middle of the night to go to work. I used to work in a steel mill for 6 years and hated every day of it the bet advice I can give is study remember the passing score on the conductor permotion exam is 90%. Rodney Beck Conductor BNSF

[csxengineer98]

jordan
your welcome... get job insurance... and stay safe....
remeber..they put a dump valve on the conductors side.... if the engineer isnt controlling the train like he should be... dont be affraide to dump it...
you will learn from the conductors you will train under....what engineers are the ones you have to baby sit so to speak...not all engineers are created equal...some are a hell of alot better then others....
this is information you will learn on the field...
GOOD LUCK...STAY SAFE...AND KEEP THE WHEELS ON STEEL...
csx engineer

[hogger42]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jordan6

It's getting closer.......yes I'm appying for the conductor training program at JCCC in Overland Park, KS.[swg] All I've got to do is be accepted and pass an interview. It's going to be a dangerous, stressful job, but with rewards and it's all I've ever wanted to do.

I am seeking advice from fellow railroaders and railfans as to make this life long goal my career.

Jordan

I did my Engineer recertification at Overland Park. The folks there are the best.
They will do whatever it takes to help you understand the material being presented.
So keep your ears open and don't be afraid to ask questions, the people there are
there to help you and believe me, they will.

Oh yeah, if nobody else has mentioned it, buy a STEEL Thermos jug[tup], don't waste your
money on a glass one[tdn]

hogger

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by hogger42

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jordan6

It's getting closer.......yes I'm appying for the conductor training program at JCCC in Overland Park, KS.[swg] All I've got to do is be accepted and pass an interview. It's going to be a dangerous, stressful job, but with rewards and it's all I've ever wanted to do.

I am seeking advice from fellow railroaders and railfans as to make this life long goal my career.

Jordan

I did my Engineer recertification at Overland Park. The folks there are the best.
They will do whatever it takes to help you understand the material being presented.
So keep your ears open and don't be afraid to ask questions, the people there are
there to help you and believe me, they will.

Oh yeah, if nobody else has mentioned it, buy a STEEL Thermos jug[tup], don't waste your
money on a glass one[tdn]

hogger

if you dont drink coffie.... make sure you bring lots and lots of Moutin Dew... and always bring lots of food... pack for a long day... never know how long your going to be on the road...
csx engineer

[edblysard]

Oh yes, a steel thermos.
Have droped mine from a moving train, it lived.
Its been used as a hammer, a door chock, paper weight and foot rest, and to hold coffee, every once in a while.

Last piece of advice, (trust me, there is tons of it on the way)

Never, ever, put yourself in harms way trying to save a car, or prevent a run through of a switch.

They are only cars, and if they get banged up, well, you can always get them welded back together.

You, on the other hand, dont take too kindly to being welded on, it hurts and smells real bad, so dont let the impluse to try and straighten a drawbar out on a moving car, or beat a moving car to a switch, make you do something unsafe, because as sure as you do, the car will split the switch just as you get your hands on the throw handle, and the thing will snap up and over and knock your teeth out.

All this stuff outweighs you a thousand times over, once its running free, there aint a darn thing you can really do to stop it.

Nothing, absolutly nothing out there is worth geting hurt over, not a single thing.
By passed knuckles happen all the time, and can be fixed, split switches can be repaired, hand rails and grab irons are cheap, compaired to you losing a hand, or your life.

No locomotive, no railcar, no switch is worth you spending one minute in the hospital, ever.

And when the old heads give you a ration of crap about a simple question, remember, not a one of them were born knowing anything more about railroading than you do now.
Let it slide, and get on with your job.

CSX told you already, you will find engineers that make your job sweet, and engineers that make your job twice as hard as it needs be.

When you hook up with a good one, listen to what he tells you, because to get to the seatbox, he already did what you are doing now, and most likely knows the best, and safest way to go about it.

You are going to find guys who show up only to get a paycheck, and could care less if anything ever gets done.
But you will find a lot of them who show up every day, and do the work the best they can, because they love the job!

I'm betting your in that second group!
Stay Frosty, and stay cut in...
Ed

[wabash1]

I will only add to the mix of replys here. Csx said get job insurance. I have heard this for years but i dont have any job insurance. i dont need it. I have a savings plan that i will get to keep all money i have invested. this is my insurance plan. the simple way to put it is if you go by the rules ( or as close as posible) they wont be any need to have the fired insurance. point if you are conductor and your engineer is running 50 mph in a yellow block and not slowing down and you are looking at a stop signal ahead. big hole that train. it is not worth you losing your job because a engineer wants to amtrak it to a stop. there is not a train master or any other employee going to say anythig bad to you for stopping this train that engineer might bad mouth you but when the facts come out he is the one who will be talked about. if you are on the ground making a shove move to a coupling give good car counts. if the engineer is going to fast ask him to slow down most will. but dont tell him 8 cars then 20 ft later 4 cars to adjust his speed this will only cause confusion. he is trying to learn you and you are trying to learn him. if he wont controll his speed stop him. remeber all of this is being recorded on tape over the radio and on the engine ( train movement on engine only ) and something i didnt know until 2 years ago they can compair the time on the radio tapes with the engine tapes and see who is at fault. and dont lose your sense of humor. this will make going to work fun and the day will pass faster. and most important of all. mentioned here before. dont leave your common sense at home bring it with you. this is the most important tool you have to work with. and dont be affraid to use it. railroading is 99% common sense.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

I will only add to the mix of replys here. Csx said get job insurance. I have heard this for years but i dont have any job insurance. i dont need it. I have a savings plan that i will get to keep all money i have invested. this is my insurance plan. the simple way to put it is if you go by the rules ( or as close as posible) they wont be any need to have the fired insurance. point if you are conductor and your engineer is running 50 mph in a yellow block and not slowing down and you are looking at a stop signal ahead. big hole that train. it is not worth you losing your job because a engineer wants to amtrak it to a stop. there is not a train master or any other employee going to say anythig bad to you for stopping this train that engineer might bad mouth you but when the facts come out he is the one who will be talked about. if you are on the ground making a shove move to a coupling give good car counts. if the engineer is going to fast ask him to slow down most will. but dont tell him 8 cars then 20 ft later 4 cars to adjust his speed this will only cause confusion. he is trying to learn you and you are trying to learn him. if he wont controll his speed stop him. remeber all of this is being recorded on tape over the radio and on the engine ( train movement on engine only ) and something i didnt know until 2 years ago they can compair the time on the radio tapes with the engine tapes and see who is at fault. and dont lose your sense of humor. this will make going to work fun and the day will pass faster. and most important of all. mentioned here before. dont leave your common sense at home bring it with you. this is the most important tool you have to work with. and dont be affraid to use it. railroading is 99% common sense.

wabash
i have heard some people tell me to lose the job insurance and just put that money in a savings account.... thats sounds good..but when i started crunching some numbers... putting the money that i would be spending on job insurance in a saveings account would not be enougth to live on if i would to be fired.... i chose to stay with the job insurance.... my plan pays me $99 a day ...and if you add in rail road unemplyeement to that figer...i make the same...if not a few dollors a day more for being fired...lol....and i get to keep all my money in my other saveings acconts as it stands right now... i look at it as the same thing as car insurance... you pay into that for years...and you may never use it.... money gone.....but think about the finacail wreck you could end up in if you where not to have it and wreck your car...also...you can write the money you pay for your job insuarnce off on your taxes....i follow the rules to the best of my abbilyt..but.... sometimes...sh1t happens.... i would pay a few dollors a month for some kind of protection...then to risk draning my savings acconts should i screw up.....but to each thier own
csx engineer

[wabash1]

I know where you are comming from. and i was thinking totally of the utu fired insurance program. the plans offered to the engineers are much better. and they are avaliable to conductors to. the plans are from other independant sources ( insurace companies) and have better rates than the utu plan. everything is a gamble with the railroads sometimes we need to equalize the playing field in our behalf.

[csxengineer98]

the dirt on a boss is always good......... its even better when you make an annomouse phone call to the FRA....
and 1 more good rule of thumb to remember....
do exactly what managment tells you to do.... THEY WILL MAKE YOU PILES OF MONEY... be it overtime...extra pay clames...
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Good Luck be safe

DOGGY

[Anonymous]

I dont know what everyone else thinks about this but the biggest thing I learned when i got on the railroad was that everything i learned in school was almost useless. A couple of the old heads showed me how to do everything without breaking the rules and get the job done safely. I dont know how it will be where you are going to work but my advice would be is listen to the old guys. They might be grumpy but they been doing this longer than we have.

[Anonymous]

The most important thing that school does for you is get you aquainted with the rules. Many of my training conductors have told me that going by the rules can make you more money because going by the "book" often takes more time. There are a few conductors in my terminal that have implemented the use of rules into their job and have turned into a science. They usually end up getting overtime every time they work because they do everything by the book. However, you have to be careful because if you slow up your train too much you start getting managment looking at you, and that leads to trouble. But, just like everything else in life, moderation is the key. Don't take advantage of a good thing because it can come back to haunt you. Anywho, I have one more month of training, then I'll be marked up taking trains into the railroad maze of chicago. I know I'll be nervous on my first train up because I'll actually have to do it all myself, but you can usually rely on your engineer for help, so be good to your engineer!!!

[csxengineer98]

a good way to get on an engineers good side...
buy him a coffiee...or what ever his choice of caffien is...
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Thanks CSX, also, stay awake! I've trained with some conductors that sleep the entire trip, I've noticed that is one of the best ways to tick off an engineer, I don't know about you, but I like to know what is going around me, and if trouble happens there will be two sets of eyes instead of one.

[Rodney Beck]

That is a major plus is staying awake besides how else are you going to learn the territory both in the dark and the day time. In my opinion learning in the dark is the best. Remember study, study, and study somemore. Rodney beck conductor BNSF

[Anonymous]

Yes always stay awake and Don't fall alseep in class but Doggy has in Scinence class while she's given boring lectures.

DOGGY
GO CUBS

[Rodney Beck]

Also do not be afrade to ask for help from the hogger they will understand and work with you and besides they will have a little more respect for the young conductor for asking for help. Rodney Beck conductor BNSF

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by n_stephenson

Thanks CSX, also, stay awake! I've trained with some conductors that sleep the entire trip, I've noticed that is one of the best ways to tick off an engineer, I don't know about you, but I like to know what is going around me, and if trouble happens there will be two sets of eyes instead of one.

that is one thing that pisses me off...when a conductor comes out to work with me..and makes a bed as soon as he gets on the locomotive... its one thing if we have had a long day..and we are both tired... if nothing is going on... like no highballs to get... or no problems come up... if the conductor is figting to stay wake...ill tell him to take a nape..i got it under controll...being the engineer... i have things to keep me awake...just running the train is enough in most cases to keep me up untill we get over the road... but i have had a few days where i got called out dead on my ***...and ran most of the trip standing up ....running with the window open with it only 10 degrees outside..and splashing cold water on my face...... but i try to come out rested..its hard sometimes.. but i do my best... and i expect the conductor to do the same.. we are a team on that train for that tour of duty..... and when you make a bed as soon as you go on duty...we engineers will talk about you to other engineers... engineers know who is good and who are the dead wood when it comes to conductors....just as the conductors know who the good and bad engineers are by talking to thier co workers...
one thing you will find out also... all your co workers will know eveything about you and your style..even if you never worked with someone befor..they have a good idea what your all about befor you show up to the yard office...rail roaders are like a bunch of women...we talk about eveyone and eveything... if you screw up...eveyone will know about it befor you mark off duty that day... and if you dont want a secret spred over the system...DONT OPEN YOUR MOUTH... rail roaders love gosup too... so if your going to bad mouth someone.... make sure you find out who his friends are...becouse it will get back to him....some food for thought...
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

That's the strangest thing I've ever heard.

I never would have guessed that conductors would be allowed to fall asleep while on shift.

I suppose I can see how it would get tough if all you are doing is sitting there dead tired, nice rocking of the train to put you to sleep.

Still, I never would have thought it.

[csxengineer98]

the railroads realy frown on it..but it happens...

[ValleyX]

I say buy the job insurance and you want to buy BRCF or LECMPA, don't buy anything from the UTU, in fact, don't even join the UTU! Wabash1 makes a good pint about how to stay out of trouble, if things are going bad, you just might want to use that big red handle on the engineer and it may keep you out of trouble and it may be that you didn't know when to use it and it was a matter of waiting too long.

I've seen guys I never thought would have any problems get into trouble, it was like one day their entire world went south and things happened. The best laid plans don't always work out. I went for years without job insurance but bought it when I started getting more personal responsiblities and saw that a job loss or suspension could conceivably cost me more than what I could save.

We had a crew that was out of service for about three months because of a signal malfunction. It's true that they eventually got back and it's true that the company paid them for time lost but they didn't know how it was going to come out at the time, they had done everything correctly but still were out of service for an entire summer.

Other than that, learn the rulebook, don't let someone talk you into making shortcuts, don't learn the shortcuts so that they become the way you do things instead of the proper way, don't be a know-it-all, and above postings are correct, all engineers may have had essentially the same training, although the older ones may not have, but not all engineers are equal. You might find a few that you wouldn't trust to mow your lawn, after you get to know them.

[Anonymous]

One thing i also learned when i was a conductor, and now realize it being an engineer is be consistent with your car counts. Dont go from short cars to long cars all in the same movement. I had one conductor, he was so bad at car counts, i think we knocked all the rust off every car we made a hitch on.

[Anonymous]

yeah, speaking of car counts, I've seen some interesting ones. My latest trainer gave some of the shortest car counts I've ever seen. What he called 2 cars was actually about half of one car!!! I thought for sure we were in for a bang, but the engineer must have known better. I asked the engineer, and he confirmed that he had indeed grown acustomed to the conductors strange car counts. The hardest part of car counts I have is when you're looking down a track and you really have no idea how many cars there are. So I've been told to say 30 cars just as an estimate and take it from there.