Pros and Cons of working for a Shortline?

[ns_gp60]

I was reading the previous post about Hiring with railroads. I've wanted to be an engineer or condoutor my entire life, or for the most part of it. Then I read the previous thread, and it was kind of a wake up call, "Railroading isn't all its craked up to be". Ok I can believe that, but then as my hope faded, I read something about working for shorlines, and I thought to myself that maybe it would be better. My main focus is on just that, but I want to elaberate on that, what are the pros- and cons of working for a Shortline railorad? Does anybody work for one? Do you like, or would rather work for a shortline railroad, why? Is it easier to be able to have a wife and kids (as I hope to do someday) and cary out a better social life, when working on a shortline? Help me, "csxengineer" has already made a slight impact on my railroad career desision.

[Anonymous]

No union. No job protection. No cash.. that is how most shortlines are.

[Anonymous]

and not to sound negative. I love my job. Railroading is for some people.. and not for others.. I like the life style. And enjoy every day i go to work (well almost every)

[Anonymous]

This doesn't apply to short lines. You might want to read this book, even if it is for entertainment value alone.

http://www.southplattepress.com/current/bnadventures.html

I had some disillusion about life as a railroader and although I ultimately pursued a different career I was always curious about what life might be llike had I tried to hire on as an engineer, brakeman or conductor. My brother had purchased this book and loaned it to me. It was good reading but ultimately made me feel more fortunate about my chosen career. It's not a completely negative look at railroading but is certainly a candid look at some of the lifestyle that goes with the job. A lot of what is in the book fits with things I've heard from former railroaders so I'm sure some of it still holds true.

Depending upon your location and circumstances, maybe a job for a private company that involves doing some switching along with other work would satisfy your desire for some RR work.

For example....I work in a power plant and our material handling crew (coal crew) operates our switch engine (gp-38) and a variety of heavy equipment as well as unloading and maintaining the coal system. It pays well, has good benefits, and is a secure job. A couple of times a week they pull the empties off site and into town for UP to pickup so the plant tracks are clear for our next unit train. I'm sure we're not the only place in the US with a situation like this.

Good luck with whatever choice you make, and remember every job has it's good and bad points.

[Anonymous]

I worked for both a class I RR and a shortline.......and the shortline by far gave me the most family time. The money is not nearly as good, but I had a SET schedule and had a life. It was worth taking the pay cut. ( I made about 15.00 hr on the shortline, the class I was somewhere in the mid 20s per hour.) Yeah we didnt have union protection, but we were all like family, including the management, so we really didnt need it. I work for a commuter RR now......no weekends and dayshift only....gotta love it![;)]
Shaun

[Randy Stahl]

I wouldn't go back to a class one for all the time slips in the world.

[coborn35]

Didnt you enjoy WC? Or was it CN you hated..?

[Randy Stahl]

CN was the third class one I worked for , WC was a good home for 13 years

[coborn35]

Oh, I understand.

[Trainmaster.Curt]

It can work out for the non-unionized as in the case of Central Manitoba Railway, which has an employee ownership program. And you have a more familiar customer base. Plus they still run GP9's over wooden trestles, if that ain't an incentive. I applied there, but got no word back yet. I would love to work for a shortline, cause i need a balance of work and leisure time. Can't be away 24-7. http://www.cemrr.com[|)]

[cyeargin]

This thread got me interested in taking a peek at what the local subsidiaries of the Gennesee & Wyoming had to offer in this area in the way of jobs, and I noticed for example in the "Conductor/Brakeman" posting it describes the duties the employee is expected to perform, but makes no mention of training or previous experience. Do shortlines like G&W train you after they hire you, do they expect you to have attended one of the community college conductor courses, or do they mostly get folks who have previous experience on Class 1's?

[Anonymous]

W/a shortline you are working around older hand me down equip and trackage that most likely isn't safe and reliable. In addition most shortlines are non union, there is no bid & bump system--jobs are appointed by a company officer. The carrier can do what they want w/you.For example you bring a road train into a yard tie it down then are told to switch all over the yd. There is no pay claim for this. On a class 1 a road crew would claim a 100 mile yd day for for the crew doing yd eng work. Its little things like this that make shortline work suck in my opinion.

[Randy Stahl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sammythebull

W/a shortline you are working around older hand me down equip and trackage that most likely isn't safe and reliable. In addition most shortlines are non union, there is no bid & bump system--jobs are appointed by a company officer. The carrier can do what they want w/you.For example you bring a road train into a yard tie it down then are told to switch all over the yd. There is no pay claim for this. On a class 1 a road crew would claim a 100 mile yd day for for the crew doing yd eng work. Its little things like this that make shortline work suck in my opinion.

let's see.... equipment aqnd track not safe, if I remember correctly , the shortlines have the same FRA that the class ones have. Hmmm , hand me down equipment , seems that the class ones have MORE reliability issues with their nice new engines , and speaking of safety , isn't the class ones that grab the headlines in the six O' clock news, while the shortlines are quietly going about thier buisness ? Oh yes , and if a shortline REALLY treated non union employees the way you say , I think that the crews would become union very quickly , don't you ?
You have the typical disease that is destroying the industry as a whole , you want lots of money buyt you don't want to work for it . You have put your self in a class above the hardworking railroaders that have taken over class one lines because the original owners couldn't make it go . People like you and with your attitude are responsible for the shortline railroad movement. You have indicted shortline railroaders as being incompetant and unsafe you sir best stick with the class one railroads , you have job protection offered by your union , clearly you cannot do without that protection !

[Anonymous]

Randy, cool it down dude, take it easy don't have a stroke. I work for pay and want to get as much as i can and what i am entitled to. I am not going to make anywhere close on a shortline than what a class 1 would pay. Currently i make about $290.00 daily. On my last 816, i had three claims paid which was icing on the cake. These would not have been claims on a shorty. All i am saying if folks want to shortline, thats fine but its not for me. I just wi***hese outfits paid their help more, thats my biggest gripe. And as for making the news, our shorty in southern KS has made headlines many more times than BNSF or UP.