The conductor

[edblysard]

Our local agreement is set so if no senior conductor accepts the promotion, then the youngest, or the conductor with the least senority, is forced to the promotion.

Some guys like my self find the seat box boring...thats not a slam against any engineer, but on a terminal and switching road, after about a month or so, your running over the same territory day after day, and...

As a conductor, I get to make a lot of decisions, use my skills better, and "run the show" so to speak.

My personality would go nuts behind the throttle.

On the other hand, there are a lot of guys who hate having to deal with all the paperwork, dont like having to make some types of decisions, and really enjoy running a smooth engine.

They can make the conductors job a lot easier too.

So it takes both kinds...if your lucky, you can build a good crew into a good team.

 

Ed

should they fail to qualify as a locomotive engineer most agreements require their employment in Train Service be terminated.

Question about that:

The entire scenario you just outlined was exactly the way the recruiter from NS explained it.

But, under such a scenario, doesn't that make it almost impossible to build any meaningful seniority as a conductor?

Seems to me that if every conductor is going to get the call to become an engineer after a year or so, it would be nigh impossible to get the 5 (+/-) years seniority  (as a conductor) they say it takes to "hold" the conductors job on a local.

I guess the thinking goes  that everyone is supposed to lust towards that engineer's position.

Personally, the regular hours and being home everynight, even as a conductor, would be preferable.

[Anonymous]

 then the youngest, or the conductor with the least senority, is forced to the promotion.

Interesting...  The NS just mentioned that the conductors were required  to test for and pass the required engineer's qualification after so many months.

They never did say you had to take the job...

But I wonder how dim a view NS would have of a guy who, after costing them the expense of the engineers training, declined the postion?

[nbrodar]

Any one working for a signitory of the 1985 UTU National Agreement (UP, BNSF, CSX, NS) must accept promotion to engineer.   Should you decline promotion or fail engineers school, you're employement will be terminated.

Each road has a slightly different system for handleing that promotion.   CSX has one senroity date, your conductor date is your engineer date, provided you take the promotion when offered.  On Conrail, you had a conductor's date and a different engineer's date based on your promotion date.   So you wanted to go to engineers' school as soon as possible, to get the best senority.

Nick

[MStLfan]

Here in Canada, we refer to the dispatcher as an RTC (Rail Traffic Co-Ordinator) and on CN the CLO means Conductor Locomotive Operator.

Thanks!

greetings,

Marc Immeker

[Anonymous]

What are the hours like? Pretty random? Does it feel like you are constantly working or have some free time outside of work?

[route_rock]

 BNSF doesnt force you to become an engineer ( unless of course your in an area dying for engineers) My area you bid onit if you want it. If not so be it you stay on the left side and make all the decisions.

   I dont know now if I want to be an engineer. They cant force me as a conductor to go to another terminal ( high enough up now) If I dont want the road I can go to the yard or another seniority district.But who knows maybe Ill make the jump to the slave side of the cab lol.

[Pistol Pete]

Only an engineer would make a remark like this.

[BigJim]

How about while the train is going down the road?

He is how I know if I am going uphill or downhill. If his head is leaned back, I'm going uphill. If his head is slumped forward, I'm going downhill.

[Limitedclear]

So...which job is the preferable job...engineer or conductor?  Or are they equal status/pay, etc?

Seems to me that the conductor's job has the potential for quite a bit more activity.  If it is a local, they they are outside.  BTW, do most locals only have 2 crewmembers or 3?

I have also listened in when a train goes into emergency and the conductor must walk the train and if necessary change knuckles or hoses. 

What is the absolute worst aspect of being a conductor?

ed

I found a skunk under a derail once. Does that count?

LC

[Limitedclear]

Only an engineer would make a remark like this.

Like which one?

LC

[Limitedclear]

What are the hours like? Pretty random? Does it feel like you are constantly working or have some free time outside of work?

On call 24/7/365 if on the extra board. Otherwise can hold a regular pool or assigned pool or local job. Pools are generall chain gang type while local or assigned pool have assigned start time. Constantly working if you want to make a good half...

LC

[ValleyX]

<BLOCKQUOTE><table class="quoteOuterTable"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/trccs/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>TheAntiGates wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4">[quote user="BaltACD<br>
Personally, the regular hours and being home everynight, even as a conductor, would be preferable.<br></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>


Gates, you could tell them you don't want to be an engineer and then they would tell you that you have one of two choices. You either find a terminal where your seniority doesn't permit you to be an engineer or you could use the one-way door out. That would be NS'es answer.

As for building up meaningful seniority, you are exactly right, you just get to where you can hold good jobs as a conductor and then you're off to engine school. The difference right now is that there have been so many sent that after finishing training, they're going right back to conductor positions but that probably won't last for them for more than a year or two.