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ericsp, Everyone has brought up just about all the points you need to consider. I just started my RR career and I'm working the extraboard most of the time. Occasionally, I sharp shoot and look for vacancies on the Freight Pool, or Piggy Back Pools that the top seniority people hold. Usually if there is an opening it is on a weekend and I'll jump on the spot hoping to get bumped so I can have 48 hours to mark back up. But, when things get tight and there are no vacancies, I'll have to live with working the extraboard and just taking what is given to me. Right now, I just stay on the extraboard and I am usually working 5-6 days a week pulling in about $2,300 a half. A big help is overtime, and I work in one of the most overtime friendly places, taking trains into and out of the Chicago Terminal District. Now, working on a shortline, which a friend of mine does, he works 6am to about 2pm daily, no weekends and is home every night. He makes a salary of about 42k a year. If I keep working like I do... I'd pull in close to 60k a year. So, it all depends on what is important to you. Everyone's situation is a little different. I have a baby on the way, so I'm sure I'll want more time off once I have an infant at home with a wife in veterinary school. Luckily, we have mother-in-law to help us there. I'm not sure what you mean by Questions you should ask.... I'll just interpret it the two ways i'm thinking. One: Questions you should ask yourself..... Am I ready for a complete lifestyle change? The railroad will control how you live your life and you'll have to adapt everything to it. Am I ready to sit on a train at 3am fighting sleep trying to keep my engineer awake as well as myself? I often have to wake up my dozing engineer to alert him to signal changes and to blow at crossings. Am I ready to sweat my @$$ off as well as turn into a popsicle? Fighting the elements is always a treat. Once I worked ten hours in a non-stop downpour with thunder crashing around me and lightning making my hair stand on end. Do you have a spouse/significant other who is understanding? This is one of the major questions to ask yourself. My wife is so busy herself and works on call as well, so she is very understanding. We often joke about who will take care of our kids, since neither one of us wants to give up work hours. But, there are many wives who get lonely and things happen.... let's just say that most railroaders are on their second or third wife. I don't want to make RR'ing sound terrible, I love my job, but many people think that it's one thing and then end up hating it. If you are intested in hiring out... consult people on this forum and call around and ask. Get used to asking lots of questions if you want to be a railroader, it's the only way you'll learn!!! Good luck in whatever you do. I know I plan to have a regular schedule one day by moving up the ranks. My college degree should come in handy in becoming an official, but I'd rather Dispatch. Only time will tell.
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