I am a retired Amtrak Conductor out of Albany/Rensselaer, NY. I hired on the Penn Central in Selkirk, NY in May 1973, went to Conrail on April 1, 1976 and then to Amtrak in April 1986 (when Amtrak wanted own off-corridor opeartating crews) and retired as Conductor off the Adirondack (Alb-Mtr-Alb) on 12/31/10.
I come from a long line of NYC men: my great grandfather (engineer on the Mohawk Div)/2 grandfathers (locomotive disp and stationary fireman (Albany station)/my father (car knocker Albany station)/uncle (diesel shop forman Selkirk) and brother (PC/CR/CSX) recently retired (Selkirk Yard).