How does one get a RR job?
I've taken a career assessment test and surprise surprise , one of the top 10 careers that I am suitable for ( and apparently should be fairly good at ), is RR work - unfortunately I can't find any info about how to get started.
It may be tough now due to the economy...but a good start would be to look at each railroad's website and go from there.
Look at railroad contractors as well , the railroads are farming more and more of their work to contractors .
Good luck
Stop over at this thread. Granted, it's focused on becoming an engineer, but much of the advice holds true.
Plus what everyone else has already said.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
It reminds me of when I wrote to CSX in the mid 80s asking about job prospects. They wrote back and were very cordial, but said "At this time we can offer no encouragement". I never bothered again but things are different now and there might be better ways of doing it, a lot of people here already do work for the railroads. I no longer wish to, but its still the greatest hobby going IMHO.
So how does one go about finding out who the contractors are?
Greg H. So how does one go about finding out who the contractors are?
Well, for a start remember that "Google is your friend". Doing a search on railroad contractors will bring up thousands of hits, enough to spend a few days working through. You can always modify your search by adding modifiers (track, signals, etc) or geographic ones like states.
There is TTX , Progress rail , Road And rail , Rescar ,Watco to name a few .
Check copies of Railway Age, etc. Google them on line...Simmons-Boardman still the publisher?...or ask freindly, local railroader for copies of industry mags. Also there is a "help wanted" section in TRAINS classified pages with an apparent agency or school usually listed. How old are you? Headiang for college? Look for schools with transportation or railroad management and technical courses. Frustrated? Check local tourist line or musuem and volunteer if only for the experience.
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Greg,
There are no "stupid questions". Just stupid people who don't ask questions.
TonyM.
what type of service are you looking at? T&E? MOW? Signals and Communications? Mechanical? Marketing? ext ext ext... there are a lot of fields in a rail transportation company.. the stuff that the big carriers are contracting out are MOW and/or expantion type projects from i understand.. smaller roads and short lines might contract out alot more day to day and repair type things such as locomotive repair for example.. a good resourse would be a industry publication such as railway age or progressive railroading that has contractors and vendors ads and contact info in them... as for the big 2 jobs that everyone wants (Trainman and engineer) have to either go to the companys choo choo U training program or get hired on at a testing and application section type thing.. the carriers will most of the time list the type of jobs they are hiring for and how to go about applying for them..check out there websights for the listings..
csx engineer
First of all, there IS NO SUCH THING as a "stupid" question (unless it expects you to wave, threatens to support legislation for whistle free crossing zones, or petitions for a bypass)
try these guys:
This page gives you links to a good list of on-line railroad job sites. http://www.railjobs.com/links.html
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
Sorry to have been non-responsive, been busy dealing with migraines and various appointments
I'll try and answer everyone I can in this post.
carknocker1 There is TTX , Progress rail , Road And rail , Rescar ,Watco to name a few .
Thanks, I'll check them out.
henry6 Check copies of Railway Age, etc. Google them on line...Simmons-Boardman still the publisher?...or ask freindly, local railroader for copies of industry mags. Also there is a "help wanted" section in TRAINS classified pages with an apparent agency or school usually listed. How old are you? Headiang for college? Look for schools with transportation or railroad management and technical courses. Frustrated? Check local tourist line or musuem and volunteer if only for the experience.
All of 40, out of the military and looking for something other than beat-my-head-against-the-wall-jobs, I've had so far. Some of them looked very promising, but then company politics, usualy ended up biting me where I sit, because I refused to take sides.
SW 1200 Greg, There are no "stupid questions". Just stupid people who don't ask questions. TonyM.
Let's put it this way - I feel very stupid for not asking this question 10-15 yrs ago.
csxengineer98 what type of service are you looking at? T&E? MOW? Signals and Communications? Mechanical? Marketing? ext ext ext... there are a lot of fields in a rail transportation company.. the stuff that the big carriers are contracting out are MOW and/or expantion type projects from i understand.. smaller roads and short lines might contract out alot more day to day and repair type things such as locomotive repair for example.. a good resourse would be a industry publication such as railway age or progressive railroading that has contractors and vendors ads and contact info in them... as for the big 2 jobs that everyone wants (Trainman and engineer) have to either go to the companys choo choo U training program or get hired on at a testing and application section type thing.. the carriers will most of the time list the type of jobs they are hiring for and how to go about applying for them..check out there websights for the listings.. csx engineer
I'm not to worried about being an engineer - in fact I'm sure that's a headach that I don't want..
I have done a variety of metal working, ranging from simple sheet metal work and grinding ( in fact I got to be very good at grind work - not to many people can use a 9 inch grinder on soft aluminium without gouging the heck out of it ) up to and including small scale foundry work.
I would just as soon stay away from marketing, I understand equipment better than I do most people - I prefer to work in smaller groups - in fact given an assignment and the equipment to do so, I don't have any problem working alone if need be.
I must admit to a bit of perfectionism - I'm the kind of person that would rather get something done right the first time, than be rushed and do it sloppy.
jeaton This page gives you links to a good list of on-line railroad job sites. http://www.railjobs.com/links.html
No such thing as stupid questions? If you're on the side of the road changing out a flat tire someone is sure to pull up and ask if you have a flat. That, my friends, is a stupid question. I know an attorney has published a book of idiotic questions that attorneys have asked witnesses during trial. I am constantly amazed by people who insist that there is no such thing as a stupid question...
Greg -
A couple types of jobs on the RR that might fit with your experience:
M-O-W - grinding build-up welds on switches, turnout and crossing frogs, and occasionally battered rail ends. Far better to do that than replace the things. Getting track time is an issue, so there's usually a pretty good demand for people. Generally outside, all kinds of weather, all kinds of locations. Sometimes things like that are done in shops.
Similarly, grinding the thermite field-welds of rails, mostly between CWR sections but also at turnout installations, grade crossing replacements, and the like. Same conditions and circumstances.
Car repair would be similar - grinding smooth welds. For passenger equipment repair and refurbishing - which has to be sparse, though, even considering commuter and transit agencies and the like - a good job on those smooth-skin cars would be essential. What about the aluminum unit train coal hoppers or gondolas, mostly owned by utilities as private fleets ? We'd hope that not too many get beat up, but I'm sure it happens - somebody has to fix them ! Plus, every so often / so many miles they undergo a major tear-down & overhaul & rebuild. Who does that ?
Good luck !
- Paul North.
PigFarmer1 No such thing as stupid questions? If you're on the side of the road changing out a flat tire someone is sure to pull up and ask if you have a flat. That, my friends, is a stupid question. I know an attorney has published a book of idiotic questions that attorneys have asked witnesses during trial. I am constantly amazed by people who insist that there is no such thing as a stupid question...
Questions aren't stupid...however the people asking them may be. Only certain living entities (like humans) have the capacity to be smart or stupid...inanimate objects or abstractions do not.
SW 1200Greg, There are no "stupid questions". Just stupid people who don't ask questions. TonyM.
No, no, there ARE stupid questions, believe you me.
"What time does your 12:30 train leave at?"
"When does your boat go to the mall" ( we are a railroad)
"Are you the narrator?" (microphone was in my hand as I was talking into it)
"Why cant you just run the P42 long hood forward" (261 guy, they aren't the brightest.
ETC
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
Agreed coborn,
I work in a supermarket, I wear the uniform of said store, I will be standing there stocking shelves... "Excuse me, do you work here?"
Of course we aren't allowed to talk back...just flash a big grin and say Yes! I do, and how may I help you?
Paul_D_North_Jr Greg - A couple types of jobs on the RR that might fit with your experience: M-O-W - grinding build-up welds on switches, turnout and crossing frogs, and occasionally battered rail ends. Far better to do that than replace the things. Getting track time is an issue, so there's usually a pretty good demand for people. Generally outside, all kinds of weather, all kinds of locations. Sometimes things like that are done in shops. Similarly, grinding the thermite field-welds of rails, mostly between CWR sections but also at turnout installations, grade crossing replacements, and the like. Same conditions and circumstances. Car repair would be similar - grinding smooth welds. For passenger equipment repair and refurbishing - which has to be sparse, though, even considering commuter and transit agencies and the like - a good job on those smooth-skin cars would be essential. What about the aluminum unit train coal hoppers or gondolas, mostly owned by utilities as private fleets ? We'd hope that not too many get beat up, but I'm sure it happens - somebody has to fix them ! Plus, every so often / so many miles they undergo a major tear-down & overhaul & rebuild. Who does that ? Good luck ! - Paul North.
Paul,
Thanks for the ideas! -
They help me able to focus my searches and target my resume and application.
One question, M-O-W?
I'm afraid that my morning shot of caffeine hasn't fully kicked in yet, and I'm not understanding what it is.
M-O-W = Maintenance-of-Way, the track (and Right-of-Way and sometimes the Bridges & Building - "B&B" in this context) construction and repair people; also sometime referred to as MofW, also Maintenance-in-the-Way by our colleagues on the operating side, who we nevertheless know are only taking advantage of our good-humored nature, and are just teasing us because they value our contribution to the common cause so much !
Too bad that Colorado Railcar recently went out of business - they might have been able to use someone with your body work skills. How about the Denver mass-transit system - RTD, I think it's called ? Busses and light rail vehicles, I know.
Back to the main line rails: The B&B gangs (see above) may have occasion to do welding repair on structures. Those usually have to be ground smooth to avoid stress concentrations at the bumps and pits. If heights aren't a turn-off for you, that might be another opportunity. Also, if you're any good at fiddling with machines and engines, see about getting into the machinists for either a loco maintenance and repair facility, or the M-O-W track machinery repair shop. Those things in the big track gangs take a tremendous amount of field support, everything from routine maintenance (oil changes) to breakdown repairs and trouble-shooting diagnosis, etc.
Think expansively - and extensively ! Again, good luck to you.
Paul_D_North_Jr If heights aren't a turn-off for you, that might be another opportunity.
If heights aren't a turn-off for you, that might be another opportunity.
They are not a problem as long as I have a safety harness, a safety rail, and solid footing - funny thing, I enjoy flying, but the closer I get to the edge of a building or other place high in the air, the more nervous I become, and if the wind is blowing forget it, I will not voluntarily go within 5 ft of the edge - even more if it blowing hard. I don't fear falling, it's the sudden stop at the end that gives me the shakes.
Paul_D_North_Jr Also, if you're any good at fiddling with machines and engines, see about getting into the machinists for either a loco maintenance and repair facility, or the M-O-W track machinery repair shop. Those things in the big track gangs take a tremendous amount of field support, everything from routine maintenance (oil changes) to breakdown repairs and trouble-shooting diagnosis, etc.
Also, if you're any good at fiddling with machines and engines, see about getting into the machinists for either a loco maintenance and repair facility, or the M-O-W track machinery repair shop. Those things in the big track gangs take a tremendous amount of field support, everything from routine maintenance (oil changes) to breakdown repairs and trouble-shooting diagnosis, etc.
I don't mind dinking with machines - but I lack confidence to do so without plenty of back up.
Thanks again for the ideas.
I check these two every so often. Most railroads have similar online postings now:
http://www.unionpacific.jobs/
http://www.bnsf.com/careers/
Closest I came to a RR job was interviewing for a Bridge Tender job. Sounded like a good job but I couldn't take it because of the pay - the pay range was about the same as my current job, but I'm at the top of my position's pay scale and to start out at the bottom of the UP pay range would have meant about a 25% pay cut. If I were still single I might have done it anyway, even if it was just for a year or two so I could get a look from the inside.
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