Everyone knew him as that kid that liked trains. As a child, he had every Thomas the Tank Engine video and die-cast and wooden toy. He could spout out railroad information like it was inscribed into his mind.
He got his first HO scale train set at 5, his first Lionel set at 6; these starting a life-long collection that will continue to grow. From playing with HO and O gauge trains, to converting to N scale in hopes of building an actual layout, his passion for this hobby guided his free time, and eventually his work when he got his first job at a small train store at the age of 14.
Time passed, and high school became his priority. He worked through high school at that train store, only briefly straying from it for roughly a year due to a temporary move out of county. His high school work focused on computer design and animation; his goal, to create a railroad simulator as his first project. But his senior year came and his interests shifted. The models and toys he had been playing with were again altering his thoughts and that childhood dream returned to the forefront of his plans. What once seemed like an irrational choice now became his dominate, as he finished his online application, attached his resume, and cliked "Submit."
He was given a date to attend courses down in McDonough, Georgia at the company training facility. On-site training followed, as well as more class room time. From middle September to middle February, training continued almost everyday, however allowing sufficient time off to evolve his relationship with his girlfriend that began shortly before he left for Georgia.
Five months of training resulted in qualification, and now he is out in the field, still learning. He still enjoys what he is doing, and despite his original fears, is still deeply involved with his loving and understanding girlfriend. His shifts are irregular and have been as long as 15 hours in one day. He was told by some that he wouldn't last, that he wouldn't succeed in his career choice, and yet it comes easy to him and has received nothing but praise from his coworkers for doing many a job-well-done. He is the youngest at his terminal and takes pride in what he does.
It has been a month since being qualified and on-call. He is slowly adapting to his new lifestyle and is not afraid of what the future may bring, as he knows that he has a career path that will assist him through it.
That boy is me. My career is with Norfolk Southern. For the past month, I have been a qualified conductor. Within the next year, I may be a qualified Remote Control Operator as well. In a few years, I will be attending engineer school when NS decides to send me.
Howdy y'all. Just wanting to let you know that I'm still alive and doing well for myself! It's been awhile since I've been around. Between work and my girlfriend, I haven't had much time for modeling or anything. And now I will be paying for a new car so that I can set aside my current car for an on-going project. Work is time consuming, but I can't beat the pay and benefits. And I've got another 41 years to look forward to working on the railroad before I can retire...
So y'all, I guess that makes my modeling scale 1:1 since I don't have much time for my N gauge anymore. :tup::tup:
~ NS Conductor Bowman ~
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
Good no GREAT! for you Scott. Most people are not wise enough to follow their hearts or even to know them. It looks like you've done both. I also knew what I wanted to do at a very young age and I did it too. I could have made three times the money and died young. No thanks. I took the advice of my mentor and do what I enjoy. I have never regretted it and bet that you won't either.
Enjoy what you're doing and keep doing it well. Those 41 years that seem so long will pass in a couple of blinks of an eye.
Watch out for that girlfriend though. We're not sure what yet, but something about girlfriends can lead to wives and children. The best part about that is the grandchildren who you will be able to introduce to those 1:1 trains up close and personal. They're gonna love you!
Best,
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
From a guy almost on the same path (I don't plan on getting a job at a hobby store or w/ the NS), I am happy for you. What will you do to your old car?
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
That's a great success story!
Congratulations, Scott.
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
If he gets rid of it, I want it. (gives me the option to make my existing car or this crazy)
I'm considering doing this, but for the CSX (it's closer), but what's your pay though?
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Scott--
You GO, guy! I couldn't be happier for you. How could you go wrong--a love of yours turned into a hobby and then working into an entire career? And I'll just bet that soon, that 1:1's going to filter back down into some more N-scale.
Cheers!
Tom
PS: Didn't anyone tell you that girl-friends are EVIL AND MUST BE DESTROYED?
Good. Nobody told me, either!
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I wouldn't call my girlfriend evil...That's if she becomes a wife. But I'm serious lucky to have someone that will put up with my work and being thrown around here and there from day to day with different jobs and the extra board. As she puts it, I'm worth it all. I must've done something right!
Packers #1 and Packer: The Marquis is gonna be put aside for extensive work from daily driver to show car.
loathar: Dislike other than hours and schedule (or lack there of)?...Upper management. Most people have no experience on the ground and don't know how things really work. I've been on the railroad all of six months, and know more about the operations than they do. A lot of them are also out to find every little thing you do wrong to make them look like they are on top of things in the terminal.
saronaterry: What I like best? PLAYING WITH BIG TRAINS! Knowing I'm (right now) the youngest at the terminal and feeling everything coming almost natural to me. Sometimes I take a step back and get a big kick outta looking at what I'm doing for what they're paying me. It's still sometimes mind boggling to me.
Packer: The pay's pretty good. Lots of overtime. Right now I make about $17.80 for yard jobs, and about $16.50 for road jobs, or something like that. Figure you work almost everyday, and most shifts get at least an hour overtime at time-and-a-half. First year conductors can pull in $40,000 their first year easy.
Larak: I've thought about whenever I have kids, and they're asked what their daddy does. "Daddy drives TRAINS!" I just think that'll be something other kids wish their fathers did...I could be wrong, but hey, I like to think that way.
twhite: Yeah, I feel the model bug biting again...
TrainFreak409 wrote: loathar: Dislike other than hours and schedule (or lack there of)?...Upper management. Most people have no experience on the ground and don't know how things really work. I've been on the railroad all of six months, and know more about the operations than they do. A lot of them are also out to find every little thing you do wrong to make them look like they are on top of things in the terminal.
Sooo...It's just like any other company...
Scott,
Congratulations on finding that the dream and the reality are at least on hand-shaking terms with each other.
Looking WA--AY forward, your story reminds me of a quote attributed to a Norfolk and Western engineer at his retirement many years ago:
"All I ever wanted to do was run an engine."
May your dream continue.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Hate to tell you this but it's not important for upper management to know which way a locomotive or car is going, where it's headed or how it gets there; it is very important that they know those things about the railroad. Yes, every manager is out to find every little thing you do wrong; that's part of their job. A good manager is doing it not just to make himself look good but to make sure you look good. That's also part of a manager's job, believe or not. And don't forget that a manager has to look like they are on top of things in the terminal because they are responsible for the terminal. They can be disciplined or even fired for your mistakes, especially if they did nothing to correct them. From an upper-level management view, it's a lot easier to fire the manager of a problem operation than to fire all the workers. They figure if the manager had been doing his job, it wouldn't be a problem operation. And they're right.
End of soapbox. I wish you lots of good and rewarding years in your dream job. When I was a boy, I had an electric train and dreamed of being a locomotive engineer. Somehow I got lost on the way and ended up in management.
Outstanding!!
Scott;
I don't know what it is like now?But when I went to work for the S.P.in 1963 every thing was kool. But the worst was winter lay offs.the extria board was Ok.seniority was what counted.Good luck and in joy.
Jim (x-fireman Southren pacific )
Great story, Scott! I haven't seen you post here in quite a while, so I knew there were new higher priorities for you, but I didn't expect anything like this. Congrats and good luck.
P.S. How big are the flywheels in that thing?
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted