oltmannd Oh, man, is that true! That, and spreading rumors.
Oh, man, is that true! That, and spreading rumors.
Telegraph, telephone, tellarailroader.
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
Bitching is the NATIONAL PASTIME period! Doesn't matter what you are doing or not doing for that matter.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
zugmannPlus bitching is the national past time of the railroad.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
To add to EMD#1's comment, I have never worked for a railroad, but I did maintain and troubleshoot mainframe computers from '65 to '95, and there were times the first few years that the only thiing that kept me going was telling myself that I wouldn't be in this job for long. We worked a regular 8 to 5 day, but were subject to be called out anytime day or night, and there were occasions when I've worked 30 hours straight on a serious problem. We were also sometimes called to travel to other cities to help out. I did notice a definite "hump" effect which EMD's comment reminded me of. Many new-hires quit within a few months to a couple of years. The ones who stuck it out seemed to enjoy it, admittedly with a lot of bitching.
I have often heard or read of the similarities between railroad and military life. I've also seen a few comments in these forums about the amount of bitching among railroaders. From my three years in the army, I can say that's at least one similarity. It's considered one of the benefits.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
If they hate their job then they should quit and find something else. This goes especially to the guys ahead of me in seniority! No matter what you might hear anyone who has been out here for more than three years like it enough to stay for thirty. While it is true some days are better than others I can honestly tell you that I can't think of anything else I'd rather do. Railroading is and will always be in my blood.
Tim
zardoz zugmann There are days it's hard to believe we get paid for this, and other days we think about learning to juggle so we can join the circus. I think that just about sums it up.
zugmann There are days it's hard to believe we get paid for this, and other days we think about learning to juggle so we can join the circus.
There are days it's hard to believe we get paid for this, and other days we think about learning to juggle so we can join the circus.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
tree68 zugmannThere are days it's hard to believe we get paid for this, and other days we think about learning to juggle so we can join the circus. Heck, I do it for nothing, but still feel the same way...
zugmannThere are days it's hard to believe we get paid for this, and other days we think about learning to juggle so we can join the circus.
Some days make you think you've already joined the circus.
Jeff
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...
Very few railroaders hate their jobs all the time. It's just that many of us have presented you with the reality of the situation, vs. what you have pictured in your head (and see in the magazines and on TV). Plus bitching is the national past time of the railroad.
But just like any other job.there are good days and there are bad days. There are days it's hard to believe we get paid for this, and other days we think about learning to juggle so we can join the circus. In all honesty, I believe a majority of it is where you are working out of. There are some terminals that have decent jobs, decent people and bosses. Other places that just plain suck. When I worked on the road, I was in a terminal that could get very "hotel-happy" at times. No matter what - you took rest in a hotel. Even if you just ended up deadheading home in 10 hours. That gets old really quick.
EMD#1 Hi Trainfan25! I was a rail fan when I was your age. I used to chase CSX trains through my hometown of Cartersville, GA back in the 80s. Like you, I wanted to become an engineer too. When I got out of high school I tried to get on but they weren't hiring at the time so I took a job at Six Flags over Georgia running their steam train ride while I attended college. Back then they had two narrow gauge oil burners. What a fun job that was for a 19 year old! In the meantime I kept trying to get hired by either CSX or NS. A couple of years went by and I took a job on a short line as a conductor. A year later I went back to college and took a job for an Intermodal contractor for CSX. Finally, four years later NS hired me as a conductor. Three and a half years later I was promoted to engineer. I'd finally reached my dream job. One of the most important things I learned in life is to find something you would enjoy doing when you decide on a career and keep trying until you succeed. The hardest part about my job is the lifestyle. Since I work the mainline almost every other day I am away from home. Sometimes I sit for hours staring at a red signal in front of me so it can get kind of boring at times. But it is a great feeling running a hotshot intermodal 60 mph while blasting the horn and waving at all the train fans and kids as we charge through towns along the way. I do admit I enjoy waving at all the pretty ladies too...especially when they wave back! I read some of the earlier post and do agree with the ones that mention military service. A lot of the guys I work with fall into that category. When you graduate go to the company's website and submit your resume but if you don't get an interview right away I would encourage you to either join the military or at least enroll in a technical college and study mechanical or electrical engineering. Tim Locomotive Engineer Norfolk Southern Corp
Hi Trainfan25!
I was a rail fan when I was your age. I used to chase CSX trains through my hometown of Cartersville, GA back in the 80s. Like you, I wanted to become an engineer too. When I got out of high school I tried to get on but they weren't hiring at the time so I took a job at Six Flags over Georgia running their steam train ride while I attended college. Back then they had two narrow gauge oil burners. What a fun job that was for a 19 year old! In the meantime I kept trying to get hired by either CSX or NS. A couple of years went by and I took a job on a short line as a conductor. A year later I went back to college and took a job for an Intermodal contractor for CSX. Finally, four years later NS hired me as a conductor. Three and a half years later I was promoted to engineer. I'd finally reached my dream job.
One of the most important things I learned in life is to find something you would enjoy doing when you decide on a career and keep trying until you succeed. The hardest part about my job is the lifestyle. Since I work the mainline almost every other day I am away from home. Sometimes I sit for hours staring at a red signal in front of me so it can get kind of boring at times. But it is a great feeling running a hotshot intermodal 60 mph while blasting the horn and waving at all the train fans and kids as we charge through towns along the way. I do admit I enjoy waving at all the pretty ladies too...especially when they wave back!
I read some of the earlier post and do agree with the ones that mention military service. A lot of the guys I work with fall into that category. When you graduate go to the company's website and submit your resume but if you don't get an interview right away I would encourage you to either join the military or at least enroll in a technical college and study mechanical or electrical engineering.
Locomotive Engineer
Norfolk Southern Corp
What you said really inspired me. Do you really enjoy being a railroader? A lot of railroaders I have seen say they hate the job and seem to try to direct people away from it.
Thats the route I took, I now make 4 times what I made before, have two houses new cars etc. etc. Have not been to a family birthday in 15 years, missed most of my kids games, concerts, moments. Rarely make thanksgiving christmas superbowl. My wife knew she was doomed to this eventually as I was always trying to get on with a railroad, she's a loyal virtuous woman, 50% of my co-workers are divorced, 30% have had heart attacks. If I had it to again I would be a radiologist and volunteer at a museum or weekend shortline and still have a life.
Trainfan25 Another question, are the railroads going to be hiring more people in the next few years? I have heard that on another forum because of people retiring. Also do people ever get "laid off" on the railroad?
Another question, are the railroads going to be hiring more people in the next few years? I have heard that on another forum because of people retiring. Also do people ever get "laid off" on the railroad?
So I went to a regional. Made it through the interview/screening process and had a job offer before I finished driving home that day. Were it not for my eyesight (long story) I'd like to think I'd still be working there. I know that about half of the guys offered jobs when I did are gone.
Any job is largely what you make of it. There are bad managers, burnouts and all manner of people in every field. I just got a promotion where I am and I can tell you - the last 5 months have been the best 5 months of my 14 years here. As was said earlier - get some experience, try some things and let yourself learn. You might be surprised.
Dan
I got into the Richmond yardmaster's tower because my uncle is an employee, so I suppose you could.
Blue Alert! We're at Blue Alert! Aw crap, it's a nondescript GEVO... Cancel Blue Alert!
Barring any major changes, like one person crews, railroads will probably be hiring. Both due to growth and retirements. Some places do have a lot of people eligible now or soon, to retire. Others not so much. The locations that are hiring may not be evenly divided over a railroad. You could have them hiring in one spot while they are furloughing people in another.
On the railroad you don't get "laid off," you get "cut off" or furloughed. Depending where you are and the terms being used, being laid off (AKA marked off) is a status. For instance if you are sick, you lay off sick. Then our boards will show you in "LS" status for laid off sick. Also when someone on the railroad says they are fired, it usually means a little (or a lot if you've been really bad or bad too many times) time off. Most of us carry job insurance just in case. Completely fired is permanent dismissal and even then depending on the why, there can be an appeals process. That can take years sometimes.
Yes, people do get furloughed. We still don't have everyone on our seniority district back full time. I don't think anyone is on the cut off board, but we still have some who are working a type of reserve/training board where they work two days a week which allows them to maintain their insurance. Now, with the manpower they already have still not fully employed you wouldn't expect them to do any hiring. Well they did. A couple of advertised openings were cancelled, but they did hire a few. I think it was on the eastern end of our seniority district. The only reason I can think of as to why is that instead of setting up the "reserve" people and forcing them a couple hundred miles from their homes to work probably the lowest paid jobs they hired new employees closer to the area. The thing to remember is that you might find someone who is cut off at one place may be willing to relocate, even if temporarily. All of a sudden those new-hires may not have any place to work.
That's a consideration anyone reading this who is thinking about hiring out should remember. Try to find out why they are hiring. There have been a lot of people who left decent jobs, only to be cut off after finishing training. If you can talk to someone who works in that area, ask them how busy they are. Do they need people for actual or anticipated reasons. Remember all those people eligible for retirement? They don't always retire when they can. Many can't wait to retire while others keep working longer for a variety of reasons.
The more non-railroad options you have, the better you can weather the storms that sometimes happen.
Thanks everyone. I'll think more about college now. If I do go I'll probably try to study law at my local community college so if the railroad doesn't work out I can become a police officer. I might also try doing as someone said a couple of pages back and try to contact my local trainmaster and talk to him or her.
Regional community colleges are usually fairly reasonable, price-wise. There is also financial aid available - check with your guidance counselors.
Those same counselors can also tell you about any grants or scholarships that may be available. A $500 scholarship may not sound like much, but it can cover your books for a semester or two.
Local CC's also often mean you can live at home. Aside from any contribution your folks may ask you to make, it takes away the cost of housing from the equation.
Going back to the assessments mentioned in an earlier post - if you have taken one, or will be, look carefully at the results. You may discover an aptitude in something you also like to do, but haven't considered as a career.
Above all else, get that education. Even if the RR gig does work out, you won't regret the knowledge, and going back to my earlier example - if the RR gig doesn't work out for some reason, no matter what it is, you'll have the basis for another career.
Further, one can never forecast how the world is going to go. You might get that railroad job, then end up laid off for an extended period. If you have other skills, you can still earn a living while you wait for the railroad to (hopefully) take you back.
If you can't deal with school now, trust me, you won't be able to deal with working, no matter what career you pursue.
If you don't want to go to school because you don't like school, then fine.
If you don't want to go to school because you don't think you are smart enough (although that's hard to believe), then fine.
But PLEASE don't stop yourself from going because you are afraid of having a little student loan debt. There are many ways to minimize debt. You don't have to go to a $100,000 a year private school. Plenty of community and state colleges offer more affordable education.
Trainfan25 Out of all of the things you said the military is more likely for me. I don't think I can afford college or the student loan/financial loan debt. I guess if the railroad doesn't work out for me I'll try the military.
Out of all of the things you said the military is more likely for me. I don't think I can afford college or the student loan/financial loan debt. I guess if the railroad doesn't work out for me I'll try the military.
An engineer who is a couple years senior to me learned to run engines in the Army. (I think the regular, but it could've been in the Reserve or National Guard) Afterwards he went to work for a short line near where he lived before coming to the UP.
Please consider some sort of education whether it be college, trade school, or the military because the odds of being hired straight out of high school are very much against you. If you are even called to be interviewed you will be competing against a large large number of people and many if not most of them will have a work and/or educational history for the railroad to check on. Believe me, the carrier will do a background check on potential hirees and they will want a record that they can look at AND verify.
You need to have something to fall back on in the very likely case that you don't get hired. Trainfan25, I'm not trying to discourage you. I just want you to be prepared because there are way more job seekers than there are hirees. It's basic math. You have to have a plan B because if you put all your eggs in one basket and things don't work out with the RR you're going to be very disappointed with your options.
I know it's still three years out, but good luck to you!
cptrainman zugmann Hell, I'm almost 30 and still haven't decided if this RR thing is what I want to do the rest of my life. I'm 46 now and when i started, one of the old hogs told me I was a lifer. There's too much invested into it now to start over again. The 4 weeks vacation, soon to be 5, and all the pension time. I'm in it to the end.
zugmann Hell, I'm almost 30 and still haven't decided if this RR thing is what I want to do the rest of my life.
Hell, I'm almost 30 and still haven't decided if this RR thing is what I want to do the rest of my life.
I'm 46 now and when i started, one of the old hogs told me I was a lifer. There's too much invested into it now to start over again. The 4 weeks vacation, soon to be 5, and all the pension time. I'm in it to the end.
Good point CP Trainman...why give up what you've worked hard to earn.
Rocket science, lol. I always tell my crew members that railroading is NOT rocket science. At first being an engineer was difficult. There is a lot multitasking going on and there are a lot of considerations when trying to operate a train smoothly. I remember i was always thinking about what i was doing and planning my next move. By the end of a shift I would be exhausted. Now I am always thinking, but I have noticed that I am thinking of the same things over and over again. It has become routine.
The most important thing I teach new engineers is to plan your next move. How are you going to get from a to b and more importantly, how are you going to get stopped. What are your restrictions? Do you have room for error? I like it when we shove a cut of cars into a clear track with lots of room. I can open her up and let her go, it doesn't matter if I go a car length or two too far. On the other hand, if we are shoving to a derail or a switch against us, I am going pretty slow with enough automatic to get me stopped within about 10 feet.
"Reduce your risk" is my common saying. Keep out of trouble.
I have a question for all of the engineers here. Is running a locomotive like rocket science? Is it something that you get used to doing after a while or is it really hard? Is it fun for lack of better words?
Trainfan25 cptrainman Wow. So you want to be hog? Lots of good advice given so far but one consideration about lifestyle has not been mentioned yet (i think, i did not read all the posts here). There are one of two choices here. Choose to work the road or choose to work the yard. The road will give you a better pay check but the yard will give you better lifestyle. At first you wont have much choice, but after about 5 years you will get some choice. I choose the yard. I have a fixed time that I go to work 5 days a week and i know which 2 days i will be off every week. The days off are not always the weekend, but they are two days off. Go to college. If you ever want to be in management, then that is your ticket in. I'm not really interested in management..
cptrainman Wow. So you want to be hog? Lots of good advice given so far but one consideration about lifestyle has not been mentioned yet (i think, i did not read all the posts here). There are one of two choices here. Choose to work the road or choose to work the yard. The road will give you a better pay check but the yard will give you better lifestyle. At first you wont have much choice, but after about 5 years you will get some choice. I choose the yard. I have a fixed time that I go to work 5 days a week and i know which 2 days i will be off every week. The days off are not always the weekend, but they are two days off. Go to college. If you ever want to be in management, then that is your ticket in.
Wow. So you want to be hog? Lots of good advice given so far but one consideration about lifestyle has not been mentioned yet (i think, i did not read all the posts here).
There are one of two choices here. Choose to work the road or choose to work the yard. The road will give you a better pay check but the yard will give you better lifestyle. At first you wont have much choice, but after about 5 years you will get some choice. I choose the yard. I have a fixed time that I go to work 5 days a week and i know which 2 days i will be off every week. The days off are not always the weekend, but they are two days off.
Go to college. If you ever want to be in management, then that is your ticket in.
I'm not really interested in management..
Me neither. However, being a trainmaster is much more hands-on than it used to be. Especially with EHH coming over to CP, the trainmasters are not behind the desk too much anymore.
When I was fifteen, I thought that the best thing ever was to be a railroad conductor, particularly in passenger service. Three years later, after I had finished high school, two of my brothers (both college graduates) told me that I was going to go to college--which I did, with help from one of them. I ended up in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, and enjoyed most of my time there--and have not lost my desire to know more about railroading nor my desire to travel by train.
It may be that you will achieve your current desire--and, again, you will find a different direction in your life, Whichever, I hope that you will enjoy learning about railroading and when you reach my age (76), you will be able to give younger people knowledge of how it was 50-60 years ago. Who knows--you may even, when traveling by train, meet a woman who shares your love of railroading (my wife and I met on the City of Portland in April of 1971).
Johnny
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