EXTRA BOARD

[wabash1]

To sum it up. eveyone who thinks they are going to have a weekend off job with railraods are fooling themselves. there are guys with 25+ years with railroads that dont get weekends and holidays off. the transportation field will not stop for anyone.i dont care if it is railroad ,trucking , bus driver planes or what not. it is our job to move freight to make sure others have lives. when you relize this then transportation will be easier.

[Anonymous]

Hey skeets, sounds like the RR has scraped the ol horn in your nether regions. I'm fairly new, but my sphyncter feels like that of an old head. I whole heartedly agree with what you said. The Kodak shine sure seems to wear off of the RR when you get to stand outside freezin your *** off switchin' cars only to know that you will be furloughed in a few short weeks. I don't even want to think about the black box. That daisy-picker thing you said is just plain funny!

[Anonymous]

Hey Train, I've read just about all the thread here. (I really like the jab about talking to the boys at the hobby shop...now there's a sarcastic railroader!) But let's say you go ahead with this big railroad career...and you suffer through EVERYTHING described here...and you stick with it (not getting hurt or worse)...and FINALLY, you get enough seniority to hold a regular job...when suddenly BINGO! Your seniority district is merged with others. Now you drop back down the new list. Then a few more years and POW! The union that pretends to represent you has sanctioned the use of technology that allows trainmen with less than 6 months service to run the black box engine on a job you're not allowed to bid on! That's my story...all of those things happened to me; my seniority covers three former districts on my home road, plus two segments of foreign railroads we took over...I have fewer job selections now than ten years ago. Guess where the younger men are in that mulligan stew. If you like trains, see if you can volunteer at some museum operation or see if you can work for some daisy-picker railroad on weekends. Let that satisfy your love of railroading and go out and get a job that allows you to have a life. Believe me, Train, the railroaders in this thread are TELLING IT AS IT IS!

[Anonymous]

BNSF is hiring buttloads as we speak. As I allready said, furlough is almost guarenteed. Whoever still wants to try this as a career, I strongly suggest that you stay away from "primary recall," locations. You will be married to that terminal for 5 years. That means that if you get furloughed from Kansas City and transfer to say Temple TX and KC ends up running short on people, they can and have forced people back. Gets a little expensive when you start breaking appartment leases. Next piece of advice to all who hire: I have seen alot of guys go out and buy vehicles and houses only to get furloughed a few months/weeks later. Don't do this! You should see the look on their faces when they get cut off. This is really what makes this job tough for New Hires. You can't really plan a future such as buying a house, etc. The physical work is easy, but, there is a lot to learn. The hours suck, but if you are single it is not all that bad. The pay is good when you are working, but you gotta save while you can. Days that you are on a bump board are not paid. As a new guy plan to get acquainted well with the bump board. If you sit on the bump board a few times during the half it can really kill your pay. Also, a good portion of the time familiarization trips are paid (there are some variables to this), but don't plan on seeing that money right away. Mine have gotten declined often and need to be put in as a special claim. You may not see this money for a couple of pay periods or more. Being on the hind teat is tough. Since we were talking about hiring in this thread, I wanted to shoot all of you guys considering this job straight.

[wabash1]

Show me where i was complaining. also dont be quick to judge i said as a exsample. for the 1700 but i did draw 942 this last half. also the operators have gaurentee extra board. and they sit on the board 2 weeks at a time not working making a regular paycheck. but i guess if you dont work in the railroad industry its hard to think that you get paid for doing nothing but waiting for the phone to ring. Nobody should bring up the reserve board. and how it pays you to sit at home not even waitng on the phone.

[wabash1]

Well i work for the ns. And they do cut the board when you start drawing the gaurentee. but thats fine with me i still draw mine. i also out of last half was first out for 4 days on the board with no holes showing. how do you get your rest , in short naps. its what you get use to. i have no problem with it. and i do as i want to. i am first out now and not sure when i will get out. and the people who seem to have the most problem with gettingoff are the sharp shooters who do shoot them selves in the foot. and dont get what they want. but remeber one thing you need senority to do that.

[khhogger]

THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS, LOOK IN THE BACK OF TRAINS MAGIZINE. THE JCCC SCHOOL IS BNSF'S SCHOOL AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. IN OVERLAND PARK KS. I KNOW QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO PAID THERE WAY AND GOT HIRED BY BNSF, AS WELL AS OTHER RR'S. I'D KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON BNSF'S WEB SITE, THEY ARE GONNA BE HIRING THE FIRST PART OF 2003. YOU CAN APPLY ON LINE. YOU CAN ALSO DO A ONLINE APP. WITH U.P. AND PROBABLY MOST OF THE OTHER RR'S.

[khhogger]

FORGOT TO MENTION, THAT IT'S VERY RARE THAT ON THIS RR YOU GENERALLY DON'T DRAW ANY GUARANTEE BECAUSE YOUR WORKING SO MUCH THAT YOUR MAKING MORE THAN THE GUARANTEE. ALSO IT REALLY SUCKS WHEN YOUR 1ST OUT ON THE EXBRD AND THERE ARE NO VACANCIES. YOU COULD SET AROUND FOR A DAY OR TWO NEVER KNOWING WHEN YOU MIGHT GO TO WORK, UNTIL SOMEBODY LAYS OFF (TAKES A DAY OFF) JUST TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE RESTED FOR WORK IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT. WE NOW HAVE A REST CYCLE OPTION THAT'S THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED, 7 AND 3. IF YOU STAY MARKED UP FOR SEVEN DAYS YOU GET THREE DAYS OFF. YOUR NOT PAID FOR THE DAYS OFF BUT IF WORK STARTS GETTING TO YOU, WHO CARES, LIKE SOMEONE SAID EARLIER, IT PAYS A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN MINIMUM WAGES. HAVING THREE DAYS OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT WITH THE CALLERS TO GET IT OR LIE AND SAY YOUR SICK IS WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN GOLD!!!

[khhogger]

WELL ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU SURE DON'T WORK FOR THE SAME RR I DO. IF THINGS SLOW DOWN THEY CUT THE XBRDS, FREIGHT PICKS UP THEY ADD. BUT THEY KEEP IT MANNED JUST ENOUGH THAT MAYBE EVER ONCE IN A WHILE YOU MIGHT SIT HOME A DAY OR TWO, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S TURN & BURN. HAVING 8 HRS OFF ISN'T EXACTLY LIKE IT MIGHT SOUND. THE 8 HRS STARTS THE MINUTE YOU TIE UP (CLOCK OUT) NOT FROM THE TIME YOU DRIVE HOME VISIT WITH THE FAMILY EAT DINNER WATCH A LITTLE TV AND THEN LAY DOWN TO GET SOME SLEEP. THE END OF YOUR 8 HRS. OFF IS YOUR ON DUTY TIME, WHICH CAN BE UP TO A 2 HR. CALL BEFORE YOUR ON DUTY TIME. IN OTHER WORDS YOU TIE UP AT 12 NOON, AND THEY CAN CALL YOU AT 6 PM FOR AN ON DUTY TIME OF 8 PM, THAT'S YOUR EIGHT HRS. OFF

[Soo2610]

By sarcastic, I was referring to the sit at home and collect $1700 bit. Maybe if you are playing monopoly but not in real life. I have a hunch there would be a lot less complaining going on if that were really true. Good luck, keep the faith and keep on railroading. At least you have had the opportunity to give railroading a try.

[Anonymous]

Len, what do you mean sarchastic? I just told you the facts. And the facts are as I stated! On the extra board you are married to the phone. I however could be full of crap. I just work on the RR and live the life. I may not even know what I am talking about. For the real scoop you probably should go down to the local hobby shop and ask the people who "really know."
Now that was sarchastic.

[Anonymous]

About the school thing. Right now I'm going through the Sacramento City College RR program. Not bad. It may not be a Class 1 training. But I'm getting a thourough *** kicking in the rules department. I think as long as you do good in the rules, at least a shortline might pick you up. They'll give you some training. Then you can go wherever from there. Hell, I'm doing volunteer work at a shortline right now. This is how I'm "getting to know" people in the business. If I tried really hard I think they would hire me right after I finish school. I would hope with my very little experience a RR would hire me before anyone just off the street As someone already said, RR's like to do things their way though. I guess it just depends on the circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Having worked both retail and now for a railroad, an old adage really hits home--"The only thing worse than having a job is looking for one!" Retail is bad for beating its' chest about how great it is--and I was fortunate to have worked for a company who actually had good benefits. However, every year they would take a little more away. Enough said, Happy Holidays to all.

[Soo2610]

Ironken, was being a little bit facetious and sarcastic. Am well aware it doesn't work out that way. Have tried twice to get into railroading and bombed out at the last interview both times. Sad part about it is that retail hours aren't a whole lot better anymore and the pay really sucks. Forget about benefits! A decent plan eats up half your pay check and the company has the nerve to brag about how great it is.

[Anonymous]

In the navy we also called them AWOL bags I work the switchman extra board the guys in fron are right ther is a differance between a road grip and a yard my road grip is almost always packed and ready to go minus the things i need for work in the yard i.e. radio, spare radio battery, lantern and rule book. Some pack a complete change of clothes for overnight some keep just the basic change of underwear and socks and lets not forget food for the trip.

[Jackflash]

Grip is a overnight bag , small suitcase, ect
when I was in the army we called them AWOL bags
people working road trains probably would carry
a large one or maybe even two, people working
a yard engine may not even have one with them
(depending on the weather) if they do it wont
be as full as the guys that are going to be gone
out of town,,,jackflash

[Anonymous]

Whats a Grip? Is that a lunch-box in railroad talk?
TIM A

[Anonymous]

Hey train, I disagree about the school thing, at least out west. The BNSF hires out of JCCC in Kansas City, KS. I didn't go there, I had past experience. BNSF is hiring like mad men right now. Sad truth about workink for BNSF is that you may not even turn a wheel once you grad. from class. There is a good possibility of furlough. If you are still interested go to bnsf.com and look under careers. I would personally stay away from "primary recall," locations. You will be married to that station for 5 years.

To Len, you said that you wi***hat you could sit at home and collect $1700 guarentee. The odds of you collecting on guarentee very much is not likely (BNSF) if that starts to happen the carrier will cut the boards. I have worked an extra board since August and collected guarentee once. The down side to this sit at home deal is no Brews, plans, and no life to speak of. I have a 2hr. call. I have to be able to skin out and be at work in 2 hrs. I even carry my grip in my truck on dates, so if I get called me and my honey split and I go directly to work.

[edblysard]

Hi train, I can second what j says about not wasting time at a school, most roads will want to teach you their way of doing things, and you can learn the basics in about three days. I know, lots of people will comment on that, but I can teach anybody to switch in a day or two, but teaching them to think about what they are doing takes about two or three years. Any way, what you have to do, if your lucky and have a friend who railroads, is have him talk to whoever hires for that road, and when they are interviewing, someone will call you.
How it worked for me was just like that, I was "kin" to this guy, he put in a good word for me with the guy doing the hiring, I get a call at 5:00 am to be at Union Station at 8:00am to fill out an application and interview.I go, am handed an application, along with 20 other people, while we are filling them out, the door to a side office opens, and a guy calls out someone name, in they go, out in five, and next name called. I dont even think the guy hireing even looked at my application, he asked me why I wanted to railroad, explained I wouldn't have a family life, asked where I wanted to be in five years, and told me to go to another office to sign up for my physical. All in about 5 or 10 minutes. So if you dont have family working at a railroad, find someone and do just what j said, suck up a little, get your name in the hat, and keep trying.
Oh, and forget about steel toed boots, all that does is give you a steel cup to carry your toes home in, it wouldn't make a bit of diffrence what kind of boot your wearing if you get you toes run over.
Ed

[Anonymous]

NS will send you to its own school in Georgia. gdc

[wabash1]

Ok Len that is just example. this last half i did make 942 sitting at home. the other days i worked. the gaurentee is there so guys stay married to the phone waiting. someone ask about the call time. if it is a yard job or a road switcher with set hours the company MUST give you a 1 1/2 hour call time (standard on our contract) plus drive time. if the job is covered by our extra board and its 100 miles away a 2 hr drive time plus the 1 1/2 call time.

So if the job is on duty at 5am. At 1:30am i get a call to work at 3:00am i go on the clock for hours of service law. i am in my car driving when i get there i stay on the clock. i get paid milage and time for the deadhead personal vehicle. i can only work til 3pm. i am obligated to do and work under what the bullitin of that job is. after the 12 hrs is up and if it was only a 1 day thing i go back to home terminal continouis time ( which is overtime by now) until i get home. if the job is more than 1 day i am put up in a motel paid by the company. they will let you know how long it should be.

now lets say the same thing but i dont want to drive they will transport me there in a cab i still get my pay started at 3am and stay on duty till 3pm. and here is where you can make more money. i order my cab at 3pm then wait 1 1/2 hours for the cab to show up then the 2 hrs back to home terminal all at overtime rate. i sleep while someone drives and get paid then i get 10hrs rest when i get home.

For the guy who says he is thinking of going to conductor school paying 3700 to do it. I can tell you the ns wont hire you. they want it done their way. The best thing i can tell you to do is find someone that you can make friends with that work for the railroad. do a little butt kissing get them coffee in the mornings where they are working make friends when there is a opening they can put your name in the hat. it is a foot in the door. and if accepted by the carrier the process goes lot faster then

[cabforward]

**my thanks to all who contributed to the extra board discussion.. i learned a lot about this aspect of r.r.

i attended a hiring session for ns.. the gist was: e.b. is anytime, anyplace approx. 200 miles from the home point.. 90 min. to report to the r.r., ready for work, period. not answering a call or turning it down, FIRED! no second chance and the worker is blacklisted to other r.rs.

i attended an orientation for a r.r. industrial tech. school at univ. n. florida, jacks.. the 6-week course requires perfect attendance, or OUT! no excuses, and a 1-year wait to re-apply; the tuition is due up front (approx. $3700, plus switch lantern, steel-toed boots, etc.).. if i had it, i wouldn't need to change jobs.. graduation is on friday, and those who interview successfully report to work on mon.

being discouraged from working for a class 1 r.r., i then hoped to become a candidate for a "private" system (a terminal r.r., or a "plant" operation).. i believed a smaller outfit would require less aggressive scheduling of crews, less travel and a closer rapport with co-workers.. unfortunately, the tanking economy and "friends helping friends" has closed off any chance to work that way.. there are several large companies doing their own switching and there are several seaport terminals in my town.. but the companies promote from within and the port auth. is not hiring..

even if i could relocate, who would hire an applicant who moved to a new place just to work at a job that paid less than $10/hr.? the only way i could get on a train is to buy a ticket..
if reincarnation is real, i would choose to be placed with a r.r. family.. it's easier working from the inside..

[Anonymous]

Two hours is the standard here.

[Jackflash]

Depending on the contract you are working under
a call usually is one and a half hours, two hours
two and a half hours or you can request, three
hour call, two hour call is probably the most
common, by the way, when I started in the industry
a guaranteed extra board was unheard of, if you
didnt work, you didnt get a pay check, I dont
think the carriers could get away with that this
day and time, they couldnt get employees to
work, union or non-union. jackflash

[Anonymous]

If you are working the extra board, when they call you in for work do you have to show up right away or do they at least give you time to pack a lunch?

[Anonymous]

I guess I really didn't make myself terribly clear about the Extra Board. Anyone can work the extra board but the crews here would like some semblance of normalcy, and being here in the South, our traffic is rather steady. One good thing about the extra board is, if you get assigned on a Monday while someone for that job is on vacation, you can work that job for the entire week. Almost a normal life, even for only a week. Happy Holidays to all!!!

[Soo2610]

Sure wish I could get paid 1727 dollars to sit at home and read and respond to the Trains forum page!

[Anonymous]

"J",
Got a good one for you. On NS, there's a pay code called "VT" This code covers T&E employees who hired under the former Virginian Railway agreement. This agreement stayed active until about 1977, although the Virginian was merged into the N&W in December 1959. The code calls for any crew called from a former Virginian terminal and destined to a Virginian terminal, who is relieved on the line of road because of hours of service, will remain at the overtime rate until the relieving crew reaches the destination yard board. In the coal fields, there are planned hogs so that it can take the relieving crew nearly the additional 12 hours to get back. The first crew is home sleeping, watching tv or whatever at OT rate and the rest doesn't begin until the ot is terminated. As of two years ago, there were still 17 people under that code. By the way, great explanation of the extra board and marking on and off. gdc

[wabash1]

The extra board is a pool of guys or gals that the sole perpose is to cover vacancies for the people who mark off to protect their jobs. the term mark off is to take a day or two off. to mark up means to make yourself avalible for work. the extra board contrary to the postings here are for anyone no matter what your senority. I have senority to hold a regular job, i choose to work the extra board in the winter. i am on a gaurentee board if frieght slows down the guys with regular jobs lose money if they dont work which is always the case. mean while i still get my pay for being avalible. i can make more than a guy holding a regular job.

as far as hire more people the company will make the rank and file work overtime, this is done and is cheaper than hiring becouse they dont haft to pay benifits to the new guys which can be more than the overtime amounts paid to regular employees. insurance is a big cost to the company.

i get paid for 14 day halfs. and if i dont work but 3 days the company owes me 11 days pay. or in simple terms 1,727.00 to sit at home. plus the 3 days i worked. i can claim any job that is open and work it also i dont haft to draw a gaurentee. i hope this answers your question