Railfan to Railroader

[Anonymous]

All during my high school years in the 60s, I wanted to be a brakeman and conductor. So after storming out of art school in the spring of '69, I hired out on the CNW's Wisconsin Division as a brakeman. Of course the goal was to get on the "scoots" because you could meet girls. Well...that was back in the old days. When you would stand in the rain waiting for to board the way car on the fly. Old heads could board at 20mph, but I was short and fat. After the conductor got the train stopped, and I picked up the remnants of my grip, I started to wonder about my railroad career. It took me 2 tries but I lasted through 3 railroads over the span of 30 years. Freight is brutal. Trainmasters can seem unreasonable. I never saw the image of David Morgan winking at me in the clouds. I found a great deal of satisfaction in commuter service, as the hours were predictable. I enjoyed through-passenger service as you can get good stories from your adventures. In the '60s and '70s the railroad world was still in the steam age only it was operated with diesels. I feel that railroading has become more demanding on one's time, and that things are a whole lot more complicated. It's not a fun place at all. You can't be worried about what the motive power consist is. Don't bring your camera to take a picture of a passing fan trip train. To sum it up...If you can play a perfect game of Simon Sez, for 12 hours straight, after starting at 2.30am, in a far off land, for 38 days in a row, you're in!

Mitch

[Randy Stahl]

You got nothing to lose by trying. sounds like you got the willingness to learn and good attitude that counts for something.
Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

Well, I applyed with UP. I am not sure I will take the job if it is offered.

I noticed that SJVR has an opening for a machinist. I have a question, probably up Randy Stahl's alley. I have a degree in mechanical engineering and have worked on vehicles, however, I do not have any other experience with maintenance or fabricating parts. Do you think I have any chance of getting this job? I am guessing no.

Eric-

Having worked out there for a bit and knowing many folks on the short line side of the business, let me just say this: short lines tend to look for people with Class 1 experience in their primary job. So your degree and lack of experience as a machinist would probably put you one step better than a high school grad with no experience at all. That said, if you want to be a machinist send in your resume'. One key rule about RR jobs, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

LC

[ericsp]

Well, I applyed with UP. I am not sure I will take the job if it is offered.

I noticed that SJVR has an opening for a machinist. I have a question, probably up Randy Stahl's alley. I have a degree in mechanical engineering and have worked on vehicles, however, I do not have any other experience with maintenance or fabricating parts. Do you think I have any chance of getting this job? I am guessing no.

[Mookie]

I feel better, then!

Mook

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

oh yea...i didnt say all rail roaders dont like fans...i just said alot of them dont... most that dont ....dont like the idea of people watching them at work..and taking pics of them while they are working.... i have heard this said many times by other crewman.... get a life... hows about if i come take pics of you all day while your working...
but to each thier own...when it comes to pic takers... i open the window and make myself visable... if someone wants to take a pic of me doing the job that they only dreamed of doing..i say hey...what the hell.... worship me..lol....
csx engineer

Are they just as intolerant of people just sitting quietly and watching the trains go by? No camera, no waving, no standing outside the car?

Mookie

well..no...they just treat them like they arent even thier... alot of the dislike is the ones that take the pics... not even so much someone just standing thier waveing...
csx engineer

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

oh yea...i didnt say all rail roaders dont like fans...i just said alot of them dont... most that dont ....dont like the idea of people watching them at work..and taking pics of them while they are working.... i have heard this said many times by other crewman.... get a life... hows about if i come take pics of you all day while your working...
but to each thier own...when it comes to pic takers... i open the window and make myself visable... if someone wants to take a pic of me doing the job that they only dreamed of doing..i say hey...what the hell.... worship me..lol....
csx engineer

Are they just as intolerant of people just sitting quietly and watching the trains go by? No camera, no waving, no standing outside the car?

Mookie

[csxengineer98]

oh yea...i didnt say all rail roaders dont like fans...i just said alot of them dont... most that dont ....dont like the idea of people watching them at work..and taking pics of them while they are working.... i have heard this said many times by other crewman.... get a life... hows about if i come take pics of you all day while your working...
but to each thier own...when it comes to pic takers... i open the window and make myself visable... if someone wants to take a pic of me doing the job that they only dreamed of doing..i say hey...what the hell.... worship me..lol....
csx engineer

[csxengineer98]

bad news dose go through the grape vine at a speed that would make lighning jelouse....
we had a trainee that hired out not to long ago..that had a bad additude...and had no real intrestin in learning the job... thank god he quit...but befor he did... we crews would sit around the yard office and tell stories of how he was..and what he dose... and eveyone says what was his name agin..so i know to beware if i have to work with him...or mark off so i dont have to work with him.... crews talk about eveyone...and eveything.... we crews know what kind of worker you are befor we ever work with you for the first time... rail roaders are like a bunch of women when it comes to gossup... so if you dont want something spread all over the system..or if your lucky..just your division.... dont talk about it to a rail roader.... it dont matter what it is... work related... personal stuff... if you dont want people to know..dont talk about it....
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Oh, and by the way.... I totally agree with CSX engineer, I've seen it happen several times already when a new hire acts like he knows stuff and the rest of the terminal will just wa***hier hands of the guys. No word spreads faster than on the railroad and bad news is faster still. I found out a guy in my class ran through a switch in Chicago before he even got back!!!

[Anonymous]

Not all of us RR's hate railfans. Most of the guys I work with let out a disgusted sigh when they someone standing near the rails with a camera in hand, but I will always wave because I was once the person on the ground waving with a camera in my hand. The only time I would get testy is if stupidity was invloved such as teens climbing on our moving train or drivers going around gates. This job sure beats all the other jobs I've ever had into the ground. I like going to work, I'd generally prefer times other than 3am, but still..... I mean to make the money I make now, and the benefits!!! I only dreamt of this stuff before!! Making $2,300 a half as an extraboard conductor. If I ever got my way, I'd love to hold a yard or local because there's more to do!! Doing paperwork and spotting cars, switching, now that's railroading. And of course being home every night is definitely a bonus. That'll only take about 25-30 yrs before I can hold one of those jobs, but ..... "Cats in the cradle and a silver spoon...."

[Anonymous]

I do say this to the Railroader: I know how much railfans are so annoing to all the railroads of today,that's why I do my best to avoid you folks as much as possible,I just like to lay low! You people work your a$$ off all the time to serve this country and to deliver the freight on a timely line. I do give a well thanks to ALL railroaders who move our freight.You do a hell of a good job. And when I see a train coming down the line coming at me Ill step aside and let you pass by to do your job.Keep up the good work.
And when I go railfanning on the weekends or what ever I will stay clear.
BNSFrailfan from Blair,ne.

[Rodney Beck]

N Stephenson

Amen to what you wrote above I hierd out on BNSF over 2 years ago and it is a complete life style change with the phone ringing at 0030 for a 0230 on duty time and you and the engineer are both fighting to stay awake. Just to let new hires know you will roast in the summer and freeze in the winter in the midwest but I would not have it anyother way I used to work in a steel mill and hated everyday do no get me wrong there are days that I hate the rr like being about 2 miles from the terminal and getting held out until the very last moment. Rodney conductor BNSF

[Anonymous]

As a new 15 yr old brakeman on a tourist line, its fun for me, but i know thats because its on the weekends only... Getting up at 3:00 am on a tuesday to move a train about, it seems like a nice way to make something you enjoy into something you loath... Last sunday I just had my first Rainstorm trip, and it was the most tense experince on the line so far, (I know, i sound like a wimp, but im new and it's awkward). Riding that steam engine with it all wet and slippery, it made me begin to fear for my limbs. It was interesting, however.
Best of Luck
Djaw

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623

LC,

No, it doesn't matter when tests are complete, they take everyone hired on the same day in the whole countrywide system and hold a seniority draw. They draw twice, once for drawing position and then the second for seniority number. My draw will be at the end of week 7. So everyone hired on 7/12(like me) nationwide will be drawing against me. But I will be above everyone hired after 7/12.

Shrek

They only hold a seniority draw for your seniority district. Not the whole country. At least that's the way it is in the TCD.

[shrek623]

LC,

No, it doesn't matter when tests are complete, they take everyone hired on the same day in the whole countrywide system and hold a seniority draw. They draw twice, once for drawing position and then the second for seniority number. My draw will be at the end of week 7. So everyone hired on 7/12(like me) nationwide will be drawing against me. But I will be above everyone hired after 7/12.

Shrek

[Anonymous]

Shrek-

Interesting. Sounds a lot like the way CR did it and NS does it as well. The tests are a little different, but the rest sounds similar. No torque test though. They call you and ask if you are still interested, and , if so set a date for a physical. On Conrail your physical date determined your seniority date so you wanted to schedule that ASAP. I had a friend who was in my class and he was one day ahead of me on the physical and has been ahead of me on the roster ever since. Anything similar on BNSF?

LC

[shrek623]

I'll tell what happened with BNSF. Like LC said, you have to be there ON TIME, as I saw them turn someone away who came in at 8:05.(So happens they were so desperate they called him to the next session and he is now in my class). They will tell you how rough it will be for you and your family and 24/7 and make aboout 40 your first year. They then take a break to let people digest that info and then they give you two written tests. One is mathematical which isn't too bad and the other is physcological. They will then give you a hair drug test and if you have no issues with your application fill-out then they might interview you that day. Fill out your app IN FULL. If you are wrong on anything they say you will not get hired (That means EXACT dates and years, don't be wrong. I was off by one year on one old job and I didn't think I was going to get hired. They will check everything.). About one to two weeks later you should(if accepted) get an email of initial job offering. Then you fill out medical questionarre and do drug(Federal), eye, and hearing test. You also do a physical strength test where you are strapped into a machine hooked to a computer and it measures the torque your arms and legs produce. After that you wait and hope!!(About 5 weeks from start to finish for me)

Hope that helps

Shrek

[Anonymous]

It occurs to me that perhaps you might want to learn about how the hiring sessions are handled. I can't speak to how UP and BNSF handle their hiring so perhaps some of the railroaders who've been that route can give you an idea of the pre-hiring process there. One thing I can tell you for sure. Be ON TIME. On the NS hiring sessions start at 0800 NO LATER. If you show up at 0801 the doors are locked.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

If you try it and like it you will stay and dispite any minor setbacks, things will steadily improve for you. If you don't like it you will leave, and nothing really will be lost, because your hobby will be more meaningful. And if you don't try, you will never know! So I suggest you try! If you can find Doug Riddell's book FROM THE CAB, it is a very useful suplement to comments on this web.

From The Cab is a great book. A lot of truth in it. I have had some of the same experiences. It is amazing how much similarity there is despite the gulf of time and distance...

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

I once had an UP engineer ranting to me about how filthy the cabs were in the locomotives. He was saying that they do not empty the toilets nearly as often as they should and they would overflow. He said this is common, at least out of Roseville, CA. Has anyone heard anything like that?

Very common. Worse in the summer. Some smell so bad I and others have refused locomotives for this reason.

LC

[daveklepper]

If you try it and like it you will stay and dispite any minor setbacks, things will steadily improve for you. If you don't like it you will leave, and nothing really will be lost, because your hobby will be more meaningful. And if you don't try, you will never know! So I suggest you try! If you can find Doug Riddell's book FROM THE CAB, it is a very useful suplement to comments on this web.

[mvlandsw]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

I once had an UP engineer ranting to me about how filthy the cabs were in the locomotives. He was saying that they do not empty the toilets nearly as often as they should and they would overflow. He said this is common, at least out of Roseville, CA. Has anyone heard anything like that?

Very common.

[ericsp]

I once had an UP engineer ranting to me about how filthy the cabs were in the locomotives. He was saying that they do not empty the toilets nearly as often as they should and they would overflow. He said this is common, at least out of Roseville, CA. Has anyone heard anything like that?

[Anonymous]

LOL..nice email address [:D]

[Anonymous]

That's quite an address...

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98


my address is ..........and no comments from the peanut gallery but my email address..lol
SEXTRAVAGANZA1@.......

Hehehehehehehehehe!
Hahahahahahahahaha!
[:D]

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by OldArmy94

I have a friend who was a railfan turned railroader. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured on the job and is now permanently disabled. He DID receive an extremely large compensation package but that will never replace a lost limb. I don't know if he'd do it all over again..I doubt it, truthfully. Just BE CAREFUL!! It's very dangerous work. I have known of too many people that ended up getting hurt to pursue it as a career option so I'll just stay a railfan.

yes it can be a very dangerous job....that is why you have to stay focused 100% of the time while on duty... that is why i said in a previouse posting....you have to leave the rail fan part of you in your car in the parking lot when you report for duty...... in many yards thier are trains moveing all over the place...and taking your mind off of your job for 1 second becouse you saw some intersting car or engin can cause a derailment..or worse yet... a major injury or death......the is a job..not a joy ride on a train... when you get hired on...they pay you to work....not to rail fan....
also alot of rail roaders dont like rail fans for any number of reasons... mostly becoues when they hire out..they act like they know eveything already....one way to get a bad name for yourself right off the bat is to walk onto the proporty and put on the additude that you know it all like a someone that has been doing it for 30 years...alot of old heads will wa***hier hands of you and not teach you a thing becouse of this kind of attitude..... they think like..."well he knows it all..he dont need my help"....... and the people that have been working for years have alot of knowage to share...if you keep an open mind and ask alot of questions...rail roaders are not made in a classroom..or born..it takes years of experiance to become a good engineer or conductor... we are made in the field working the job...
and i said it befor..and i say it to all the condutor trainees that show up on the jobs i work...
IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO..OR DONT UNDERSTAND SOMETHING....DO NOT DO IT...STOP AND ASK FOR HELP...BE IT A DISPATCHER..THE ENGINEER..YARD MASTER.... ANOTHER CREWMAN... OR EVEN A BOSS....they will not fire you for asking for help...they will fire you in a heart beat if you take it apon yourself to do something that you dont understand...and you screw up... the first thing they will ask you is....did you understand the instructions ...and if not..why didnt you ask for help!!! remember that when your on your own...its just you and the engineer...they fire in sets of 2s on the rail road.... if you screw up...most of the time the engineer goes down with you..and vicea versa... and with that fact in mind..im not going to let a conductor get me in troble if i can help it...if that means that i have to get down on the ground and walk the route with the conductor to help him get the switches lined up proper..so be it... its joint responsibity..and when your on the train..its a team...
but if you have questions...feel free to email me
my address is ..........and no comments from the peanut gallery but my email address..lol
[e-mail]
the rail road is a job... it is work...it dose suck alot of times..but it beats the hell out of sitting in an office..or a factory all day... evey train is differnt..you work with someone differnt just about evey trip... no run is ever the same even thow it might be the same rail road you run on day in and day out...
csx engineer out

[OldArmy94]

I have a friend who was a railfan turned railroader. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured on the job and is now permanently disabled. He DID receive an extremely large compensation package but that will never replace a lost limb. I don't know if he'd do it all over again..I doubt it, truthfully. Just BE CAREFUL!! It's very dangerous work. I have known of too many people that ended up getting hurt to pursue it as a career option so I'll just stay a railfan.