I'm a female and work as a railroad conductor. My experience is that the men really don't want you there. They have the mentality that they are above the common citizen. When you work a job out on the main line and can't throw the rusty switches that haven't been oiled for over a year they laugh and tell you that it's your job and that you need to muscle up. They seem to find pleasure in seeing you struggle with risk of back injury but scoff at the idea of reporting the switch. The hours are terrible and you have no privacy. The bathrooms on the motor are unclean and no one cleans them even a little bit. When you get to the other side of the road if you dont go directly to your room and stay there then you are labeled a whore. If you don't join in on their male bonding sessions then you are a female dog. It's a no win situation. You have to share a community kitchen with a bunch of sloppy men who don't clean up after themselves. They sit around the main commons and talk about partying, cheap women, money, booze and obscene human functions. They tell you that this is the easiest job that you will ever have but when you ask them why their wives don't work here they always say 'oh, well she can't with the kids and stuff'. My view is that they think they are king and women are to bow down to them. The male engineers remind you to go get and carry the drinking water while no where in the rule book does it read that it is the conductors responsibility to carry the engineers drinking water. It's a rough life for a women, however, I believe if there were more women the railroad wouldnt have such a negative impression with the public. In general, railroaders have a real false sense of pride and typically are no bodies who think they have struck it rich and that everyone need to envy them.
Hhmm, very interesting thread, (except for the goobledegook that was in there.)
Nance-CCABW/LEI
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown
Railkat, your friend sure was dealt with in a heavy handed fashion.. Some employers offer extended leave on compassionate grounds. They do that because in the long term it benefits the employer as well in terms of not having to hire and train a replacement down the road. For some reason in the railroad culture it seems like a bragging right for some to deal more severely than they really need to.. probably because there are more applicants than positions available. Unpaid extended leave would have been a better option here than a straight up firing and out the door...
I am also writing an article on Women footplate crew in the steam era. Aside from Russia, China, Serbia and Croatia I can find little evidence of women working on the footplate of steam locomoitves anywhere in the world. Does anyone know different?
Terry
Railkat1,
I am the one who posted the original question. I did so because I am writing an article about women in railroading and why so few choose to become locomotive engineers, conductors, or brakemen. I would like to use your comments in my article. Furthermore, I would like to know if you would allow me to interview you over the phone regarding your years working as a locomotive engineer and why you chose to leave. I am trying to encourage more women to pursue a job as an engineer, conductor, or brakeman. Which railroad did you work for? If you are interested in participating in the interview, you can contact me at photobyrad@comcast.net.
Thanks,
Radford Bean
Thanks for the info! I contacted Linda today and she is going to help me with my study. If any women that are in train service want to help me, please contact me via this forum or by email- railkat1@aol.
Of course, men are welcome to participate as well. All participants will remain anonymous. Right now, I am trying to let everyone know about this but I will actually be conducting this study in the fall.
Paul, again thanks for the help.
Linda (Grant) Niemann (now a professor of English at a college in Georgia, I believe) went through something similar on the SP, as recounted in her several articles in Trains in the early 2000's (listed below - note that what appear to be 'links' are not 'live') - she's also written or been part of a couple of books.
Some of the local County governments here allow employees to 'gift' or transfer their unused sick and vacation days to co-workers who are in similar dire straits.
- Paul North.
Hi,
I am a former Engineer and now am working on a Masters in college. My thesis focuses on women working for railroads as train crew employees and while googling, found this website and thread.
I think many of you are correct when you point out the challenges women face in this type of work. For myself, I got along with most of my coworkers and enjoyed the camaraderie we shared.
For women, the difficulty holding a railroad job lies with having to juggle family obligations with being on call 24/7. Also, the companies have no policies in place to address excessive absenteeism when a woman has to lay off to take care of a sick kid, spouse, or parent. Union agreements don't address this either, btw.
I know that FMLA is available but sometimes it's not enough to cover serious illnesses in the family.
I can give you an example by sharing what a friend of mine, a conductor, is currently going through. In late 2010 both parents where diagnosed with cancer and in the midst of running them back and forth to a city an hour away for kemo, her husband blew his knee out and was laid up for 8 weeks. On top of all this, she is trying to hold her job and take care of her two little boys. She was fired for excessive absenteeism after exhausting her FMLA and vacation. She's been off since last May and is still fighting to get her job back.
Do you know of any other women that are going through something similar?
Thanks for any info. o
What railroad do you work for?
We have a couple women engineers, conductors, yardmasters, and a bunch of dispatchers. Plus a bunch working in the HR and customer service departments.
I think the railroad would be in a lot better shape if we had more women running the show. Needs to be some more thinking and a little less ego at times out here.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Bucyrus Semper Vaporo: She definitely sings better than most everything I hear on the radio today!!!! If you are feeling like modern music is barren, check out Florence and the Machine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo1H7skXjl4&feature=related
Semper Vaporo: She definitely sings better than most everything I hear on the radio today!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo1H7skXjl4&feature=related
I didn't say that "modern music is barren"... I tried to gently imply that it is lacking in tonal quality, rhythm, melody AND intellegence; i.e.: BAD!
As for Florence... Her Machine needs a bit of oil and she is too full of herself.
But this has nothing to do with Women in the traditionally Male held jobs on the Railroad. I don't know RR jobs at all (I was a computer programmer) but I can't believe that there are not women that could handle any work the RR could offer.
It must be noted that of all the people in the world, fully one half of them are below average.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Semper VaporoShe definitely sings better than most everything I hear on the radio today!!!!
If you are feeling like modern music is barren, check out Florence and the Machine:
RRKen Murray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV0MtVWIN8Y That too is all sorts of wrong. Just be glad she was not a railroader!
Murray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV0MtVWIN8Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV0MtVWIN8Y
That too is all sorts of wrong. Just be glad she was not a railroader!
She definitely sings better than most everything I hear on the radio today!!!!
Just don't call your wife Karen unless that's really her name or she'll have to kill you too.
RRKen We can neither confirm nor deny.
We can neither confirm nor deny.
Unless they kill you after confirming or denying.
"Mess with the best, die like the rest" -U.S. Marine Corp
MINRail (Minessota Rail Transportaion Corp.) - "If they got rid of the weeds what would hold the rails down?"
And yes I am 17.
Well, if you told me at least you wouldn't have to kill me. Or maybe not.
RRKen Firelock76: What the hell are you guys talking about? If we told you, a.) there would not be enough space on this page, and b.) you would have to sign a non-disclosure.
Firelock76: What the hell are you guys talking about?
What the hell are you guys talking about?
If we told you, a.) there would not be enough space on this page, and b.) you would have to sign a non-disclosure.
And even after that, we can neither confirm nor deny....
Firelock76 What the hell are you guys talking about?
Murray http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV0MtVWIN8Y
Murray RRKen: Murray: Embittered lurking..... Embittered Lurking in Minnesota, eating Lutefisk pizza! Top that! Embittered Lurking in Minnesota, eating Lutefisk pizza! ......wearing a raincoat in the dark.
RRKen: Murray: Embittered lurking..... Embittered Lurking in Minnesota, eating Lutefisk pizza! Top that!
Murray: Embittered lurking.....
Embittered lurking.....
Embittered Lurking in Minnesota, eating Lutefisk pizza! Top that!
Embittered Lurking in Minnesota, eating Lutefisk pizza!
......wearing a raincoat in the dark.
......with a secret package, humming "Strangers in The Night".
RRKen Murray: Embittered lurking..... Embittered Lurking in Minnesota, eating Lutefisk pizza! Top that!
Murray Embittered lurking.....
In an odd sort of way, this topic reminds me of a discussion I had with some fellow lieutenants when I was in the Marines many, many moons ago. We we talking about why there were so few black Marine officers. There was no effort to keep them out, on the contrary, there was an active effort by the Corps to recruit minority officer candidates but they weren't having much luck. Know what the consensus of opnion was?
"Maybe they've got more sense!"
RRKen Murray: RRKen: Murray: RRKen: Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad. Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"! What if they were embittered? They still would not be appealing! Even if they were off lurking somewhere else??? Lurking in Minnesota????????
Murray: RRKen: Murray: RRKen: Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad. Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"! What if they were embittered? They still would not be appealing! Even if they were off lurking somewhere else???
RRKen: Murray: RRKen: Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad. Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"! What if they were embittered? They still would not be appealing!
Murray: RRKen: Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad. Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"! What if they were embittered?
RRKen: Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad. Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"!
Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad.
Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad.
Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"!
What if they were embittered?
They still would not be appealing!
Even if they were off lurking somewhere else???
Lurking in Minnesota????????
Murray RRKen: Murray: RRKen: Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad. Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"! What if they were embittered? They still would not be appealing! Even if they were off lurking somewhere else???
RRKen Murray: RRKen: Murray: Lots of women named Karen working for the railroad. Yes, but not all of them have a "secret package"! What if they were embittered? They still would not be appealing!
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