First day advice

[Anonymous]

I will be starting with the UP in Boone, Iowa on Oct. 1. Any advice Derek and others.

[wabash1]

it doesnt matter what railroad you go to the fact is the guys teaching you are responsible for you. be ready to learn even if they say the same things you have heard before. its important.... its there jobs and dont be a know -it-all. be yourself and learn . thats all you can do. be willing to work but dont force the issue do as they say do. and dont exspect to get rich in the first few years it wont happen.

[Saxman]

Eric,

My advice would to be prompt and on time. If class starts at 0800, be there at 0730. Also be prepared. Have your own pens, pencils and paper even though the railroad may supply them when you arrive at class.

I also would stress what J said, be yourself. Each railroad has there way of doing business. What you may already know may not be the way that railroad wants things done. Again do not be a know it all. As a Road Foreman of Engines and an instructor of new hires, nothing drives me nuts fater than the know it all. If you do not understand somthing, ask questions but do not question. There is a differance.

My last piece of adive is: LEAVE THE CELL PHONE OFF! There is nothing so important in your outside life during your class time that warrants the interruption of a cell phone call. You may just find yourself dismissed. Set the thing for voice mail and check it on your breaks or lunch. Trust me on this one.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Eric,
The best of luck to you!
I've seen the UP yard at Boone. It's a cool place, especially for someone like me who is surrounded by CSX. (East coast here).
Again, the best to you.
Take it as it comes.
Hope you use some of your expetise to volunteer at The Boone and Scenic Valley RR!
:)
John

[Anonymous]

Thank you guys.

[favuprailroadfan]

I don't work for the railroad, but I have been around them all my life, and I understand how life can be for railroaders. Some times its easy and sometimes its not. My dream is to work for the railroad, out of either Herington or Pratt Kansas. I want to be an engineer but I know I have to start out as conductor. I am also in interested in going to Johnson County College in Kansas City. But I don't have the funds, or time to do it. I have a family to take care of, so my dream has taken a backseat to everything else. Derek is an engineer out of Herington, I have met him and talked to him about getting a job with UP out of Herington. He said in about six months, some of them maybe retiring and he said to come up and fill an app. out. May be my dream can still come true, because I only live 45 miles from there. So anything can happen. I just wish you good luck in your career in railroading, and have fun with it.
Keep in touch, and keep us posted on how its going.

Laters, Dru

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dru you bet I will.

[jsanchez]

Hello,

I'd advice not mentioning or making it obvious your a railfan, until you know who is or isn't. I noticed there are definitely two camps in the railroad industry. Hopefully you'll get to work with some, and maybe evn have a boss who is one, it does make the job more rewarding.

Best of luck,
James

[Anonymous]

like some of the guys said, don't be a know it all, but also don't be afraid to suggest things or ask questions. what I mean by know it all is don't say stuff like you know it if you really don't, but don't be afraid to say something if you really do. relax, have some fun, but most of all be careful, those things are very unforgiving and can sneak up on you (i know, especially flat cars rolling on their own at night!) Also, you're gonna hear a lot of negatives, especially about the UP, I know I say 'em too, but try and enjoy your job. Don't worry too awful much about the tests they give you either, they don't want you to fail anybody. Some of the guys might give you a hard time too, because you're new, just take it with a grain of salt, but listen especially to those guys, 'cause usually they are the ones who know the most, and they don't much care for new guys, 'cause they have to keep an eye on 'ya and you'll slow 'em down if they are going for a quit, and so on, but they usually are the ones who know how to get things done, maybe with some shortcuts, but safely.
Well that's enough for know, you'll catch on in you're own way, just relax and have some fun. Like one of the other guys said, don't let on that you're a "foamer" right on or a lot of the guys will tease you and give you a hard time.
congrats on the new job.
Derek

[Anonymous]

Not really any first day advice to give, but I can testify to the "don't let 'em know you're a foamer" part.
I could have been working for U.P. for the last two years as a Asst. Signalperson if it wasn't for my big mouth. If I only knew then what I do now.....
Two years ago I applied, tested, & interviewed for the position out of Hutchinson,KS. Evrything went great until during the interview the asked what my hobbies & what I liked to do in my off time were. Well friends, let me tell you that it was at that exact moment (unbeknownst to me of course) I blew it!!! I started spouting off about how I like to watch trains, photograph trains, model trains BLAH,BLAH,BLAH!!!
Nedless to say, I DIDN'T make the cut. Of course it wasn't till sometime later that I learn that railroads don't really care for FOAMERS.
Oh well, if the oppertunity ever arises again I'll know to keep a TIGHT lid on my railfan habbits.
Now, with that said, I'd like to wish you the best of luck with your new job Eric. Have fun & be safe.
Matt

[Saxman]

Why is it in the rail industry if you have or show an interest you are a "foamer"? Are not most pilots interested in flying? Some may even have their own plane. (What a disgrace) Heavens, they may even fly it to an air show! With other "air foamers".

Just a thought.

Terry

[thirdrail1]

Sounds like you would be surprised to know how many railroad employees ARE railfans and model railroaders. I know of several Presidents and Chairmen who were both. John Barriger was and made everyone aware of it. Others only let other executives in the industry with similar interests know of their hobby interest. On the other hand, there are others in the industry that detest railfans, mostly because so many behave irresponsibly. Safety is the most important goal in railroading, and enthusiasm can make one forget safety. You must have come on as too enthusiastic.

[jsanchez]

I think it is a shame, I'd rather have folks working for me who loved the job and industry. Some of the shortline/regionals prefer to hire railfans, but with class ones its the opposite.

James