Engineer's Salaries???

[Anonymous]

How much do train drivers make per minute or per hour, whatever they get paid by??? (serious answers please, I have a bet going on this!)

[Anonymous]

Most engineers on class ones are paid by the mile and with incidentals average about $250.00 per trip, depending on overtime.

[Anonymous]

Is that to and from their starting point,or just one way? If one way do they get paid to deadhead.

[Anonymous]

One way, double it for a round trip. A basic day is paid for a deadhead (130 miles) Of course pay rates are based on the length of the division, which varies greatly.

[Anonymous]

only if your a pre 86 emplyee..if your not...its only time in the cab or train on csx..

but if you brake the wages down...it works out to about 15 or so bucks an hour and over time..is time and a half.. a basic day is around 150 bucks...but a basic day is 130 miles...so if your run is over 130 miles... you get a little over a buck a mile.. so if a trip is 200 miles...youll make a little over 200 bucks... if your run is under a 130 miles...you make time an a half over time after 8 hours... and the bigest thing that determans an engineers wages is....HOW MUCH HE WORKS....i make about 50g's a year....sometimes more..some times a little less...

this posting is for the dude that asked the question..i just replyed to yours becouse i forgot to go back to the beginning... sorry

[Anonymous]

How about none of your business! We don't ask what you make!!

[wabash1]

well i dont know what a train driver makes but as a engineer on the ns. when i run i make around what was stated except for deadhead as a post 85 employee in the last ble contract we was given full days pay for a deadhead.

[Anonymous]

A lot of Truck drivers make more than Engineers.I think Engineers are under paid for what they move in one train than an Truck driver does with one trailer load.A local Driver can easley make 15 dollars and hour.Over The Road a lot more.

[Anonymous]

if you dont want to see your family and friends...a truck driver and make more... but i dont live on the rail road...i want to have time to spend the money i do make..and not just give my life to some company... besides...i know of a few people that work with me..that came from the trucking industry... they said it realy realy sucks!!!

[Anonymous]

You can work for somebody like Estes and work about 11 hours a day 5 days a week and still make good bucks.

[Anonymous]

Hi Gary, I plan on Having a job with the railroad when I'm 18, and I plan on becoming an engineer, but I know it is more complicated than just filling out a form and learning operations. Isn't there seniority required to be an engineer? And what are the best jobs to take before becoming one? A lot of engineers tell me that they rarely get to sleep in their own beds. How much time do you usualy get off between runs? Anything else? I want to work for the railroad because I woudn't enjoy doing anything else near as much as working on the railroad. I've had a lot of negative comments about becoming an engineer, but I'm sure I would still enjoy it. I've taken simulators, and I'm fimiliar with controls on wide and conventional cab units. Thanks for the help!

-Brian

[Anonymous]

For the year 2001 [my second year on the railroad] I made $48,000 as A conductor on the BNSF for 9 months, [I was furloughed the other 3] The engineers I have talked to have made between $50,000 and $120,000 depending on seniority, the job, amount they lay off, etc. As A side note we don't pay social security. We have railroad retirement which is much higher. Also we have union dues, job insurance, 401k, health insurance and other deductions. I take home less than half what I make !

[Anonymous]

brian...first of all..to become an engineer..you have to be a conductor first... you then get promoted to engineer when the company says its time for you... so the best way to get a job on a class one rail road look at thier web sights and get information on how they hire thier new emplyees... second... being fimiliar with the controls is compleatly differnt then train handleing... just becouse you know what the trottle is..dont mean you know how to run an engin.. but that will be something that you will learn if and when you become an engineer.. 3rd.. let me warn you now.. coming into a rail road job..and being a buff..you will face alot of negative people when it comes to the subjet of buffs.. alot of rail roaders dont like buffs..and you will get made fun of... as far as time between runs... you have a minimum of 8 hours off.. but they can call you in 6 hours to report to work in 8 hours...ex call you at 1200 to report to work at 1400... you can "work" up to 12 hours... but be on a train for alot longer... and still only get 8 hours off between runs... an engnieer can "take rest" that is reqest more time off then just 8 hours..but the most you can get is 12 hours off between runs.. seniority will be established when you hire out..and that date will be the basices for eveything you do on the rail road... it will determan what jobs you can hold..and cant hold... and might even determan if you work close to home..or will have to relocate... good luck with your chance to get on a rail road... it is a differnt life style.. but its still better then sitting in a factory or an office all day!

[Anonymous]

Those employees that make fun of buffs.Did they use to be buffs or just dont understand what buffs like.

[Anonymous]

My take:Buffs,or foamers, are around trains at their leisure and schedule.Also,Foamers ask a lot of questions and are sometimes in the way,potentially implicating a rail employee in a rules violation.Rail employees are perplexed with the behavior of the foamers:why would someone want to be around this scene if they weren't being compensated...their conclusion is that you are not normal.

[Anonymous]

they just dont like buffs...they find the idea of someone likeing trains to be very strange...

[Anonymous]

yep..that about summs up thier view point..but also..most of the buffs that where hired around where im at...well they are not normal...

[Anonymous]

How things change.RR employees white black native americans they would all talk to buffs

[Anonymous]

Yes, how things change. Time was, a railbuff was viewed as basically harmless, and performing a service to some by recording rail activities for posterity, for example Otto Perry. Now, a lot of you people feel some sort of ownership or even arrogance. I stand by my earlier post that what I earn is none of your business. I couldn't imagine asking someone what they earn..it's rude, and frankly, I don't care and I respect their privacy.What kind of people (read questionably normal?) would bet on someone's salary?? Again, you people feel you have a RIGHT to know this! And frankly, I'm a little appalled that some of you guys are buying into this.

[Anonymous]

dude...first of all anyone if they know where to look can find out how much an engineer makes...its not a big secret!!!! hell' i knew about what an engineer makes when i was in highschool.. when i was reserching the job.. second of all... if you dont want to tell what you make..thats your biz.. more power to you..but dont sit here and tell me what to do... someone that is interested in working for a rail road..but wants to know if it is economicly in thier best intrest...then yes i will tell someone what i make... dude..the rail road web sights well tell you what the jobs pay..but that is just a base figer... if someone wants to know some of the ins and outs of how to get payed..and how the pay system works..then im going to tell them..its not like we as rail road emplyees are under some kind of secret agreement not to talk..like we are cia... you need to go lay down and take a prozack and stop ranting and raving about nothing... appall this(fliping you my finger!)

[Anonymous]

its not so much talking to buffs when they see one out and about..its more when a buff comes from off the street and starts working for a rail road...but still brings a big buff asspect to work with them..that is where the harasment comes from... but just like any job..you have a few misserable people that make life hard for anyone.. civilan or rail roader alike...

[Anonymous]

Dude.....fini***he 8th grade and learn some basic grammar and spelling!

[Anonymous]

man...is that the only comeback you have... face it....you where shut down...
and so what if i cant spell...big deal... i think i got my point accross to you.!!!!!!!!!1

[andrewjonathon]

I have to agree with all of the points you made to Terry. If someone is resourceful, they can find out general salary information for almost any job in the world. I used to be a teacher and our contracts were open for anyone in the general public to look. I don't think too many people cared enough to make the effort but so what if they did.

[wabash1]

terry i agree can you imagine when there was train orders and having him copy one.

[Anonymous]

While betting on salieries (sp?) is not something I would care to do, it is a free country. And he just asked a question to get a ball park idea what kind of future he may have as a railroader. It's not like he downloaded your 1040 from the IRS. As for me, consider becoming a real Engineer and design bridges or locomotives or something. Structural engineers start at $35k and more than double before you are forty (this is in the Southeast where wages are lower than the national average). You will have to work your hind end off for four to six years in school while the BAs are drinking and throwing up every night but if you have the head for the work it is very interesting. Good Luck - Ed

[Anonymous]

Terry i undrestand.Iam a buff and railroader.

[Anonymous]

I personally agree with Ed. Terry, I frankly don't see what your problem is - the guy just wanted to know aprroximately how much engineers make, and he DOES have a right to know that. He didn't ask how much you make down to dollars and cents - just a ballpark figure, and I don't see how that is rude.
I also think that private sector jobs where your position is based exclsuively on seniority have something very wrong with them. I believe that your rank and salary should be based on how much you know, and how well you can do your job - and NOT on what your age is. This is one of the reasons that I have decided against trying to be an airline pilot - even though I love flying. While 767 and 747 captains make tons of money ($200,000+), you have to wait until you're 50 to be one.
Well, you might say it's the question of experiecne. But, I say, that one person can make correct decisions with 5 years experience, and naother can screw up with 20 years of experience, so you know....
Also, the mandatory union membership is not attractive. While I am not anti-union by any means. some aspect of their bureaucracy reminds me of communist bureaucracy in the Soviet Union.....

[Anonymous]

Here is my feelings and thoughts, coming from a rookie railfan, as well as an aspiring radio personality:

-There are some jobs I classify as "Dream Jobs" or "Ultimate Jobs". These are the occupations that are a little unusual, and specialized, that people grow up wanting to be (Doctors, lawyers, radio personalities, rail workers, et al). These careers are so specialized that it's hard to get an idea of what it would be like to do it unless you ask someone who's been around for a while. In these cases, asking a question like "What is the average salary/job environment/benefits?" is perfectly fine.

-I find it amazing, and shocking, that there are engineers who feel that being a railfan makes you somehow less qualified. I'm guessing that railroaders got into railroading because, at one time, they liked the railroads. True, some railfans can be annoying, but most of the ones I've read about are unobtrusive.

-Fianlly, my personal belief is that when you get into a line of work that you grew up wanting to be in, it does not mean you have to give up being a fan. That is true in any "Dream Job".

[Anonymous]

Radiodude thank you.You are right.When i went to school everybody would tell what they wanted to be.And you dont have to give up being a fan when you get your dreams whatever your job.