As I saw videos of the UP steam crew I got wondering, How did they get they're job there? I've tried looking it up, but it seems a mystery how any of them got in there. How would one pursue a paying job working with steam locomotives? Thanks for helping.
First, you need to have mechanical skills (practical experience, not just 'book learnin' ') For big steam, this means numerous volunteer hours (unpaid) working somewhere that has supervised volunteers doing the grunt work.
Then you have to be willing to work where the job is, which is usually a ways off the beaten track. To see what I mean, google Elko, NV.
You have to be willing to do hard physical labor in not very pleasant conditions, frequently outdoors in weather the local tourist bureau would gloss over or ignore. Also, the pay isn't in the same league with that of a Silicon Valley or Wall Street 'worker' (who gets to do his/her thing in a place that's optimized for comfort.) The, "Romance of the rails," is hard, dirty, dangerous work.
Last, and most telling, most of those places are little bands of friends and relatives who usually hire their sons and nephews for the few paying positions. It would probably be just as easy to become an astronaut...
Chuck (retired flight line mechanic)
My understanding is that the UP steam crew members are all long time employees of the Railroad who worked in regular train service or mechanical assignments prior to joining the Steam program.
So you would have to get a job with UP and work your way up. I'm sure a little luck is involved as well..
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
Seems pretty complicated, but working wit steam locomotives cannot compare to another job in the world. I think the work would be worth it in the end.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.