What is Railroad Life Like Today for New Conductors?

[coborn35]

The Butler

 

Ulrich:

 

Very interesting Paul...what would happen if (for example) you're called to work and your car breaks down enroute? Do they make allowances for that or are you gone after that? ... snip

 

When I inteviewed for a job with the C&NW, I was told, "You will be fired if you miss a call for any reason."

 

Must have been a good liar.

[baberuth73]

I live in Lexington, S.C. and was called to work 3rd trick in Charlotte Yard, about 110 miles from my home. While flying low on Interstate 77 my serpentine belt came off and I had no tools.Luckily, I was only about a mile from an exit, so I was able to get to a pay phone and call the crew caller. He put the next guy on the board on duty while I waited for my brother-in-law to assist me with my car. I DID NOT GET FIRED!!!! Even the railroad understands that s--- happens.

[The Butler]

Ulrich

Very interesting Paul...what would happen if (for example) you're called to work and your car breaks down enroute? Do they make allowances for that or are you gone after that? ... snip

When I inteviewed for a job with the C&NW, I was told, "You will be fired if you miss a call for any reason."

[Ulrich]

Very interesting Paul...what would happen if (for example) you're called to work and your car breaks down enroute? Do they make allowances for that or are you gone after that? Years ago when I was living in Kamloops, BC I was train watching from the CP platform. A coal train was stopped there waiting for a crew change, but the headend brakeman was no where to be found. And the train couldn't move without him. Various workers and managers began milling about in a state of agitation, and in those days (1981) there were no cell phones so no one knew if the braker was on his way or if he was not coming in at all. One manager walked past me and  jokingly said that if I  wanted a brakeman job that I could start right now. They finally called someone else in, but the train was delayed by a couple of hours. I would bet that the brakeman who didn't show had alot of explaining to do if he was able to keep his job at all.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

I went to one of those NS Conductor Trainee/ Career Open House sessions about 2 weeks ago, and concur with the above comments.  In addition, the following points were repeatedly emphasized: 

• The very physical nature of the work - the 3-minute "hang test" from the side of a car, for example, as well as stepping up 2-1/2 ft. and then climbing up on them multiple times during a day, riding on them in all kinds of weather, walking on ballast all day, lifting coupler knuckles, etc.
• You need need to be available for duty 24 x 7 x 365 - "We Do Not Stop" operating.  Even during blizzards, you're then an "essential employee", so you're excluded from the "Don't drive" rules and are expected to show up.
• Don't expect any or many holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. off for the 1st 5 to 15 years.  Both trainmasters at the session said they've been like 6 years without being home for an entire day on the holidays, and "We've heard it all before, and now you've heard it here too, so don't expect any sympathy from us - we expect you to show up".
• You can expect to be called for duty at any time - like 1 AM - work up to 12 hours, get the mandatory rest time, and be called again ASAP.  That results in a 22 to 24 hour duty cycle, which can go on for 6 or 7 days before any mandatory days off apply.
• Your hobbies will be sleeping and eating - the rest of your time will be working, or in transit.
• You can be held at the 'away' terminal for up to 30 hours or so before either being entitled to pay for that, or being worked or 'deadheaded' back home.
• 90-minute call is standard; may be longer for some outlying positions, but for some of those that's where you're based, so the drive is at your expense. 
• After a few years, you may be selected for mandatory Locomotive Engineer Training, and if you pass, you go to the bottom of the Engineer's seniority list and repeat the above (if you fail, you're fired)
• Earnings vary a lot during the year - busy in summer, slow in winter - so you need to budget.
• The emphasis on safety is notable - it starts with the "Safety Briefing" at the beginning of the session, and they make clear that's supposed to continue for the rest of your career.   
• Drugs are strictly prohibited, and alcohol nearly so - the standard is none in your system when on duty.

They spent the 1st 2 to 2-1/2 hours with PowerPoint presentations and the "Conductor Brian" video, as well as advice and war stories from the 3 HR guys, 1 PR guy, and 2 TMs who were there.  That's a lot of personnel, but they interviewed 22 people that day (I wasn't selected to be in that group) to fill about 20 openings, so maybe it was worthwhile for them.  Before the interviews there was also a 'fill out a basic paper application form' session and a timed 75-minute 'assessment' test - like an SAT with reading comprehension, math/ physics, and logic problems, plus a bunch of "agree/ disagree" statements.  Recommend that she go to the NS session anyway if it's not too burdensome - maybe even fill out an on-line application first, because they got expedited treatment - it's free, and she can learn something - such as clarifying/ correcting anything above that I mis-remembered. 

Perhaps current Conductor zugmann will chime in here, whenever he has a free minute off from work . . . .  - or one of our other regulars in the TE&Y positions.

- Paul North. 

[Anonymous]

One of the blogs I read has a regular segment written by a BNSF conductor who I believe has been working on the railroad only a few years - he's still new-ish. Pretty fascinating first-person narrative reading!

http://www.ogdenbrotherstrains.blogspot.com/search/label/Prototype%20Railroading

[Ulrich]

Check out Norfolk Southern's website. Under "job seekers" there's a video that shows "Brian the conductor" talking about his job and what the job demands and benefits are. It is actually a pretty good video...it doesn't sugar coat it although  others here could probably fill in more detail.

[seppburgh2]

What is life like today as a Conductor Trainee?  Norfolk Southern is holding an all day open house for Conductor Trainees in my home town soon and have a daughter interested in applying.  Can the experts here fill in some of the gaps as to what are today’s responsibilities/duties for a Conductor (coupling/uncoupling cars, its your job to fix a broken air-hose or coupler knuckle out on the line, paper work, paper work, paper work)? 

 

While I can discuss the history of railroading jobs going back to the hay-burner days,  can only give her generalities as to today’s duties.  Can someone help me out here with what Conductor's do in the 21th century please? 

 

Thank you.