Conductor Trainee here I come

[shrek623]

Oh boy, now I've done it. I've gone and got a railroad job. BNSF was so kind to hire me. I get to start on July 12th and this is completely different than my previous job(cable guy) so it should be interesting. Just thought I'd share that and say hello to everybody since this is my first(but certainly not last) post. Wish me luck.[:)]

[daveklepper]

All possible best wishes and don't be afraid to ask questions. Safety First

[edblysard]

Shrek,
Look around the forum, and see if you can hook up with N Stepheson, he just went through the same thing, and marked up last month.
He should be able to help you with most of your questions.
Good luck, and you will know in a week or two if this is what you really want to do.

Ed

[JoeKoh]

Shrek
good luck to you.look up nora too.shell take any pics you can get of norange engines.
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Congratulations and good luck.

Stay safe.

LC

[Anonymous]

Shrek,

Congrats on making it in the front door. I railroad from Danville, IL up to Chicago, and also from Danville down to Evansville, IN. The CSX line I run hugs the state line between IN and IL. The most valuable piece of advice that I can give you is LISTEN!!!! Listen to what everyone has to tell you, even if you think you know, just listen to what they have to say. That's the number one way to alienate your fellow workers out here. I have a buddy from my school at my terminal that has almost successfully alienated every engineer he has worked with because he has the attitude he knows everything already, but he doesn't. One week after he marked up he ran his train through a switch, luckily he noticed something didn't look right, and he avoided derailing his train, but NEVER be to proud to ask. If you have the slightest doubt in what you are doing ask questions. There are no stupid questions out here, even though sometimes your co-workers will make you feel stupid. In the end you take the careful route and you'll earn respect from everyone around you. If you have any questions at all feel free to ask me or any other folks on here. You can also look through previous posts and learn a lot from them as well. Good luck and welcome aboard!! [#welcome]

[Anonymous]

Good luck,
I've ben trying to make the same career change, From cable guy to Conductor trainee,but have not had any luck so far. I've also applied for several positions in the communications dept.

[Anonymous]

god bless you, its guys like you who keep my pension coming every month, afetr 37 years of railroading keep that pension fund built up

[route_rock]

Hey Shrek where are you from ?You might be out by me.Quad Cities here and going to be an ICY switchman:D maybe we will run into you out yonder.Plus do the LISTEN thing but also ASK if you dont understand.Some railroads have a language different from the one you may know,ie Patrol for local ;) anyhow stay safe.

[shrek623]

Thanks for the replys and advice everyone, it can only help along done this road. To wisser I say keep trying if you want it enough it will happen. I was lucky in the sense that I started looking for this because my current job with Comcast was being eliminated. My severance kicks in on July 10 and the timing for the new job could not have been better. Having the severance pay helps nullify the money situation so I can take advantage of this opportunity. Also I am blessed with a great wife and kids, as my wife and I had much discussion on this switch and what it would mean. I had alot of experience with 24/7 situations in my previous job so I don't think it will shock us as much as someone who had been used to 9 to 5 every day. I very anxious to get started but am enjoyed these last couple of weeks off(Company paid!). To route rock I will be working at the eola rd(aurora) yard I know they go to Lacrosse, Galesburg and Iowa somewhere. Beyond that besides my enjoyment of watching trains(my son's a train nut too, he's 5 and waaaayyyyyy more into it than I ever was) this will be all new to me. Be safe and thanks much.

[Anonymous]

I hope you have fun and stay safe, keep us up-dated.

[Jordan6]

Good luck Shrek!!!
Remember that no question is a stupid question. Ask and learn. Maybe I'll see you here at the BNSF TTC in Kansas soon,eh? That's where I'm going to school right now for the railroad conductor course. Its a fantastic program which I believe is worth the time and money (lots of money). Congratulations and stay safe.

[Randy Stahl]

Never turn your back on these machines! Look at the points not the target, set one more handbrake
Randy

[jeaton]

I'll join with kennys on thanking you and the other new guys in keeping the money flowing into RRB. Good luck, stay alert and be safe.

Jay

[locomutt]

Shrek,

Congratulations,and good luck!

And I agree with Jordan,there's no such thing as a stupid question,
except the one you didn't ask.

[Anonymous]

Hey randy, good advice! It's simple and so right.

[shrek623]

thanks for all the welcomes and advice. Everyone have a great holiday!!!

[Anonymous]

Be extra careful. I had a good friend who went from Cable guy to the RR. A short two years after hiring out I had the sad duty of attending his funeral after he was killed in the line of duty on the railroad. He knew the rules inside and out and tried to live by them. Unfortunately, it was a lack of experience that ultimately led to his demise. Be careful to watch and learn and I know you will fare better.

LC

[shrek623]

LC sorry to hear about your friend. I will definitely heed yours and everyone elses advice and hope beyond hope I have a better outcome. I don't think I have a "know it all attitude"(my wife would probably disagree[:D]) so I guarantee I will be asking questions if I'm not sure. Thanks again

Shrek

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623

LC sorry to hear about your friend. I will definitely heed yours and everyone elses advice and hope beyond hope I have a better outcome. I don't think I have a "know it all attitude"(my wife would probably disagree[:D]) so I guarantee I will be asking questions if I'm not sure. Thanks again

Shrek

I wish I could pass on to you and all of the other new hires everything I have learned. Unfortunately, you need to learn it from experience. The key thing is to understand that the rules are there for your safety. Experience helps you understand HOW those rules help you. There are also conditions that you will learn to deal with. Just remember to think about what the risks are before you jump in. Here's a few that you need to watch:

1. Always watch the slack in your train, especially when you are on the ground.

2. Don't step in to tie your hoses or for any other reason without having assurance that every other member of your crew knows what you are doing.

3. Know what handbrakes are tied. Always.

4. Remember, a railroad yard is shaped like a bowl. If you have two cars butt knuckles and roll apart they will come back together when you least expect it. Watch out.

5. Don't ride cars across icy crossings in winter. Ice build up can lift a loaded car off the ground. That can cause the car to fall on top of you.

6. LPG and other sorts of tanks slosh when loaded. This will cause dangerous slack to run a LOT longer than normal consists.

7. Always keep an eye on any hazmat in your train. Know where it is and make sure the placement complies.

8. Spend $$$ on good boots. It will pay in the long run.

9. Make sure you get all of the equipment the comapny is required to give you and if it wears out request replacements promptly.

There are a thousand others. Watch, look and listen to the old guys. You'll do fine.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623

LC sorry to hear about your friend. I will definitely heed yours and everyone elses advice and hope beyond hope I have a better outcome. I don't think I have a "know it all attitude"(my wife would probably disagree[:D]) so I guarantee I will be asking questions if I'm not sure. Thanks again

Shrek

I wish I could pass on to you and all of the other new hires everything I have learned. Unfortunately, you need to learn it from experience. The key thing is to understand that the rules are there for your safety. Experience helps you understand HOW those rules help you. There are also conditions that you will learn to deal with. Just remember to think about what the risks are before you jump in. Here's a few that you need to watch:

1. Always watch the slack in your train, especially when you are on the ground.

2. Don't step in to tie your hoses or for any other reason without having assurance that every other member of your crew knows what you are doing.

3. Know what handbrakes are tied. Always.

4. Remember, a railroad yard is shaped like a bowl. If you have two cars butt knuckles and roll apart they will come back together when you least expect it. Watch out.

5. Don't ride cars across icy crossings in winter. Ice build up can lift a loaded car off the ground. That can cause the car to fall on top of you.

6. LPG and other sorts of tanks slosh when loaded. This will cause dangerous slack to run a LOT longer than normal consists.

7. Always keep an eye on any hazmat in your train. Know where it is and make sure the placement complies.

8. Spend $$$ on good boots. It will pay in the long run.

9. Make sure you get all of the equipment the comapny is required to give you and if it wears out request replacements promptly.

There are a thousand others. Watch, look and listen to the old guys. You'll do fine.

LC

Watch for those automatic switches too, you never know when the RTC is going to switch them, never stand inbetween the switch points.

[Anonymous]

Mac-

Good point. Always check our switch points when throwing a switch too. In winter be aware of where all switch heaters are located. Nothing like that switch heater kicking on at the wrong moment to give you a nice barbeque of some part of yourself. Above all, take your time and THINK through each move carefully.

LC

[Anonymous]

LC,

Thanks for your advice. There is a bulletin about riding equipment through icy crossings and I'm sure it is there for a reason because most of the safety rules have been written in blood, unfortunately. I have not worked in snowy, icy conditions yet, and I'm hoping that I'll remember this whent the time comes.
As a common practice when I ask for 3 step protection (a.k.a. "set and centered"), I often say "3 step protection aknowledged on Q592" or whatever train I'm assigned to, hoping to eliminate any confusion. And when coupling cars together I often try to stand several tracks away when possible. The most hair-raising experience is when I'm in a large departure yard and I have to be in-between cars with only a few feet to spare between myself and cars on the tracks on either side of me while I'm trying to make a coupling. Then I bring back the double extremely slow because if something were to come off the rails..... Most of the time, being a new conductor anyways, most engineers are extremely careful with me anyways and they usually have the air set pretty tight, so when I say "that'll do" the movement usually stops rather quickly. Well, I better stop rambling, but always enjoy getting advice just as much as giving it. [bday] USA!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by n_stephenson

LC,

Thanks for your advice. There is a bulletin about riding equipment through icy crossings and I'm sure it is there for a reason because most of the safety rules have been written in blood, unfortunately. I have not worked in snowy, icy conditions yet, and I'm hoping that I'll remember this whent the time comes.
As a common practice when I ask for 3 step protection (a.k.a. "set and centered"), I often say "3 step protection aknowledged on Q592" or whatever train I'm assigned to, hoping to eliminate any confusion. And when coupling cars together I often try to stand several tracks away when possible. The most hair-raising experience is when I'm in a large departure yard and I have to be in-between cars with only a few feet to spare between myself and cars on the tracks on either side of me while I'm trying to make a coupling. Then I bring back the double extremely slow because if something were to come off the rails..... Most of the time, being a new conductor anyways, most engineers are extremely careful with me anyways and they usually have the air set pretty tight, so when I say "that'll do" the movement usually stops rather quickly. Well, I better stop rambling, but always enjoy getting advice just as much as giving it. [bday] USA!!!!!!!

A few things I'd like to add as one of the guys in the cab.

First, don't be afraid to ask for 3 step any time you need it or want it. I'd much rather give it to you one time too many than the alternative. Second, remember, don't ask me to move if you asked me for 3 step, without releasing it. (common rookie mistake)

Third, if you have any particular way of asking me to stop, let me know that before the first move. As a trainman I was taught several and I respond pretty well to :

1. "Far Enough"
2. "on the Stop"
3. "That'll do"
4"...when you get'em stopped"
5. STOP (don't use this unless you want me on the brakes hard NOW)

Also, let me know when I'm close by using cars or feet. If I'm coming in too fast "Easy" helps me to realize that.

Communicate with your engineman and things will be a lot easier on both...

LC

[Randy Stahl]

Write down the names of your wife and kids, keep it in your pocket. It's easy to forget stuff like that when you hardly ever see them. Your really married to the railroad now!!!
Randy Stahl

[daveklepper]

Very best wishes and keep us informed as to how you progress. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

Write down the names of your wife and kids, keep it in your pocket. It's easy to forget stuff like that when you hardly ever see them. Your really married to the railroad now!!!
Randy Stahl

Another excellent bit of advice...

But, Randy, I though you mechanical folk got to sleep in your own bed most nights?!? Isn't that one of the advantages of the mechanical department over transportation???

LC

[Puckdropper]

QUOTE: But, Randy, I though you mechanical folk got to sleep in your own bed most nights?!? Isn't that one of the advantages of the mechanical department over transportation???

Not when you fall asleep in the 3rd unit. lol j/k ;-)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Puckdropper

QUOTE: But, Randy, I though you mechanical folk got to sleep in your own bed most nights?!? Isn't that one of the advantages of the mechanical department over transportation???

Not when you fall asleep in the 3rd unit. lol j/k ;-)

This is true!

LC

[Anonymous]

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