I need advice

[Anonymous]

I was just hired today by the Illonois central railroad as a conductor. I was wondering if any conductors,engineers,or any railroad employees could give me some advice what life might be like. I have a good idea but maybe some wisdom from others will help. Thanks for your time.

[wabash1]

well its to late now..... but if you must know long hours. the best way to do it is never plan anything with family or friends and then it wont be as hard when your not there. you will miss birthdays christmas and other holidays. and anything else that is important to the family. you will be married to the phone. after 14 yrs of truck driving and now engineer on the railroad this is a vacation for me. the life you will have is planned when you get home. not on the road couse something will always happen to couse you to miss it. transportation dont care about you... if you like it its easy if you are young and not ready for the change its not going to be fun. good luck.

[Anonymous]

Yes this will definitly affect your family life. My dad has been a conductor for the Union Pacific and before that The cnw for over 20 years now. It will take a huge strain on your family. When you get home the most important thing to do will be to catch up on all the sleep you will miss. Then when your fully rested you will be called back to work. Like wabash said Dont plan or promise nothing, It will just be easier. When i was growing up i hardly ever saw my dad he was always at the other end of the road. And when he got home he was either sleeping or working on Union stuff. Anyway All the best to you and good luck

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the info. I didnt figure that it would be the most fun job,but i have always wanted to do this. I just hope that it all works out. Thanks again-Jeff

[Anonymous]

I just retired from the Union Pacific after 34 years with them and the Northwestern and prior to that service on the Great Northern.

I hired out in 1958 out oof school and wanted to work on the railroad and stayed with it. It has it ups ond downs but I don't know anything about working for the IC but, the UP sucked. I was glad to get out of their because of the way things are now, Mainly you are a number and be ready to work when we want you and don't make any plans for a private life.

If it is what you want and figure on lousy hours and work schedules it can be a good job.

Good Luck

Ringer

[Anonymous]

Ringer, Wich part of the system did you work on the UP and Northwestern? Just curious. I too also want to work for the railroad, But i still wonder about all the hours and stuff associated with it. Im still planning on what i want to do with the rest of my life.

[Steve4031]

Just out of curiousity,
What is the starting salary. Keep us posted on whether or not you like it.

[Anonymous]

Well the starting pay for a conductor on the IC is 137.20 a day. But I am not quite sure about when we get a raise because I am still in training and it's supposed to go up after 90 days.

[Steve4031]

That's interesting,

As a teacher in the Chicago School system I make about 1300 every two weeks. That is with a master's degree too. However, if you every get to Amtrak, you will have a better situation than me. If I have a disruptive student sent to the office, he returns 10 minutes later with no consequence. If you put a disruptive passenger off a passenger train, 10 minutes later you are 10 miles down the line. I like that!
Steve

[Anonymous]

How do you like being a conductor so far? Are they training you on yard/local trains now or are they training you on road freights?

[Anonymous]

Well I haven't started training yet but I do Have my physical today. Next Monday I start my classroom training. That lasts two weeks then I begin my student trips which amounts to 13 road trips,15 road switching,and one week of yard switching. But if you must know I am getting pretty nervous. But I beleive that it will be alright. I just don't want to mess nothing up! For those of you who want to become a railroad employee it is kind of hard to achieve. But it has been my life long dream to become an engineer and I have never lost sight of my dream. Now I have my chance, so I don't want to mess it up. Thanks for all the replys. I will keep up dating this to let all of you know what is going on.

[Anonymous]

Could you tell me the steps or process you went thru before you where hired by the IC? What qualification's does the railroad look for before they even think about hiring someone for train service? I really just want to become a conductor/switchman more then an enginer but if the RR wants me to i will take the test.
Again Thanks for your help and thanks for the updates.

[Anonymous]

I worked out of St. Paul, Mn. On the road the runs were from the twin cities tto Mason City, Iowa. St. James,Mn., Altoona, Wisc. and Duluth Mn. as well as yard service. The pay was good for us former Nortwestern employees as we were at a higher rate of pay than oither Class 1 Railroads. I was in yard service when I retired and the rate for 1 man crew rate was $190.00 per basic day not counting arbit. The railroad was good to me. I was also a yardmaster for 17 years and that was a good time except now the yardmaster is not the boss he was years ago.
Too many trainmasters etc. now. GOOD LUCK

RINGER

[Anonymous]

Kiss any social life you may have good-bye....learn to live on a spur of the moment basis...get used to regular layoffs and not knowing where you will be working from day to day...you WILL be bounced around from location to location, job to job. You do NOT work shift work on the railroad..you work whenever they want you too, You will NOT have a schedule...if you are a railfan pursuing a rail career you will find the job extremely fun...this wears off after about a week then you will hate the place like all the rest of us in the business!!

[Anonymous]

I replied to your inquiry about the railroad lifestyle earlier...its harsh, but if yu really want to do it hang in there, once you get a bit of seniority it gets a bit better!!!besides, you won't make the kind of money that the rairoad is paying with nothing more than a high school education in many other places

[Anonymous]

For you out there wanting to know qualifications for employment on the railroad here is what I take of it. I went to college 2 years and graduated with an degree in agriculture.(wrong major I guess). But all jokes aside they want at least one year of college or tech school,military experience or in my luck-people in higher places than me. I am only 20 so that helps being that the IC tends to hire young people these days (from what I hear). But if you want to get on the IC they are hiring up and down the line. Since this retirment passed people are retiring left and right. So if you are interested I would be finding out where they are hiring at. The best place is at railjobs.com . If any of you want specific info just ask because I have about everything that will answer your questions on my employee booklet. Thanks for the advice and questions.Feel free to ask anything you want(I will answer to the best of my newly found knowledge).

[Anonymous]

Well for you wanting updates here it goes. I finished my first week of training and it went pretty good. We had saftey tests and learned to change knuckles,air hoses,ride moving equipment,etc. Tonight I ride my first freight train from east St. Louis to Fulton,Kentucky. If anyone is interested in getting a job for the CN/IC call their 1-800 # for info. Rumor is that they are hiring 35 people in the next few months. I dont have the number but there is a website (maybe canadian national)where you can get it. Well I have to go for now. I will keep updating this as long as I can.

[Anonymous]

I've been working for CSX for seven years now. I wish you the best of luck, pay attention to what you are doing always be safe, ask lots of quetions,don't be a know it all the, old heads hate those most of all. If you don't know something don't be afraid to ask any of your management if the other guys don't know what the answer is. I also hope that you aren't married. If you are this job will test your relationship to the very end of its limits. I know, I have a great wife and three kids who miss me every time I go on a trip. I've missed a lot since I've been on the railroad from holidays rite down to anniversaries. There's one more thing, alot of your runs will probably be at night, above all stay awake. There is nothing an engineer hates more than a conductor who can't stay awake. So get your rest at home not on the engine. Again best of luck and stay safe.