DO RR workers own homes, have wives and/or kids?

[Anonymous]

Aye...hopefully they will give me that chance.

[JoeKoh]

sometimes you need to get your foot in the door.good luck keep us posted.
stay safe
joe

[JoeKoh]

sometimes you need to get your foot in the door.good luck keep us posted.
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

Hey LC, not sure if the offers will be for all locations or just that one.
Yeah, Shop Laborer isnt as good, but it beats unemployment...as we are still awaiting the big layoff here by year end.
Plus, the Shop laborer is in my hometown here, so I will sacrifice 2 years of seniority to get a TS position here where I live....really dont want to move unless I have to.
BTW, I have incredible RESPECT for you TRAINMEN!
After chatting with some of the UP employees there, I can tell you these guys are friendly, helpfull, and work their butts off.
So to you Trainmen everywhere...I salute you!

I understand you can't necessarily get exactly what you want at this moment. If I have learned anything about the railroad it is that things change when you least expect them. Don't give up. Try to cultivate some local RR contacts. One of the reasons I was able to hire out without any RRers in my family was persistence coupled with making numerous contacts in the RR who knew I was serious about hiring out. That is why I got a call from the local Superintendent before the hiring began and was told to get a physical ASAP (at the time CR handled seniority by the date of your physical).

DON'T GIVE UP.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

Hey LC, not sure if the offers will be for all locations or just that one.
Yeah, Shop Laborer isnt as good, but it beats unemployment...as we are still awaiting the big layoff here by year end.
Plus, the Shop laborer is in my hometown here, so I will sacrifice 2 years of seniority to get a TS position here where I live....really dont want to move unless I have to.
BTW, I have incredible RESPECT for you TRAINMEN!
After chatting with some of the UP employees there, I can tell you these guys are friendly, helpfull, and work their butts off.
So to you Trainmen everywhere...I salute you!

I understand you can't necessarily get exactly what you want at this moment. If I have learned anything about the railroad it is that things change when you least expect them. Don't give up. Try to cultivate some local RR contacts. One of the reasons I was able to hire out without any RRers in my family was persistence coupled with making numerous contacts in the RR who knew I was serious about hiring out. That is why I got a call from the local Superintendent before the hiring began and was told to get a physical ASAP (at the time CR handled seniority by the date of your physical).

DON'T GIVE UP.

LC

[Anonymous]

Hey LC, not sure if the offers will be for all locations or just that one.
Yeah, Shop Laborer isnt as good, but it beats unemployment...as we are still awaiting the big layoff here by year end.
Plus, the Shop laborer is in my hometown here, so I will sacrifice 2 years of seniority to get a TS position here where I live....really dont want to move unless I have to.
BTW, I have incredible RESPECT for you TRAINMEN!
After chatting with some of the UP employees there, I can tell you these guys are friendly, helpfull, and work their butts off.
So to you Trainmen everywhere...I salute you!

[Anonymous]

Hey LC, not sure if the offers will be for all locations or just that one.
Yeah, Shop Laborer isnt as good, but it beats unemployment...as we are still awaiting the big layoff here by year end.
Plus, the Shop laborer is in my hometown here, so I will sacrifice 2 years of seniority to get a TS position here where I live....really dont want to move unless I have to.
BTW, I have incredible RESPECT for you TRAINMEN!
After chatting with some of the UP employees there, I can tell you these guys are friendly, helpfull, and work their butts off.
So to you Trainmen everywhere...I salute you!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

Well, good news/bad news...
I passed the reading test 100% with 10 minutes to spare and did great on the physical test.
Thus, I made it thru all 3 cuts.
Interview was fine.
9 folks made the cut from my session, and I am not sure how many made the cut from the previous 3 sessions.
They made 8 offers that night, and when I saw the 8 guys who got the offers, only one was from my session. He was already a UP sheetmetal worker looking for a TS job.
Supposidly, they can make offers for up to 6 months to the rest of us, without attending another session.
Unfortunately, I cannot attend another Train Service sesson now for 6 months, even for applications I already submitted.
Hopefully, one of the 2 Shop Laborer jobs will come thru for me before I get laid off.

That is unfortunate. Will they at least consider you for other locations?

The shop laborer job would be OK, but it seems to me that if you really want train service and ultimately locomotive engineer work you are just postponing your seniority by taking the laborer's job. You laborer seniority will not transfer to another craft (except possibly for vacation and insurance purposes.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

Well, good news/bad news...
I passed the reading test 100% with 10 minutes to spare and did great on the physical test.
Thus, I made it thru all 3 cuts.
Interview was fine.
9 folks made the cut from my session, and I am not sure how many made the cut from the previous 3 sessions.
They made 8 offers that night, and when I saw the 8 guys who got the offers, only one was from my session. He was already a UP sheetmetal worker looking for a TS job.
Supposidly, they can make offers for up to 6 months to the rest of us, without attending another session.
Unfortunately, I cannot attend another Train Service sesson now for 6 months, even for applications I already submitted.
Hopefully, one of the 2 Shop Laborer jobs will come thru for me before I get laid off.

That is unfortunate. Will they at least consider you for other locations?

The shop laborer job would be OK, but it seems to me that if you really want train service and ultimately locomotive engineer work you are just postponing your seniority by taking the laborer's job. You laborer seniority will not transfer to another craft (except possibly for vacation and insurance purposes.

LC

[Anonymous]

Well, good news/bad news...
I passed the reading test 100% with 10 minutes to spare and did great on the physical test.
Thus, I made it thru all 3 cuts.
Interview was fine.
9 folks made the cut from my session, and I am not sure how many made the cut from the previous 3 sessions.
They made 8 offers that night, and when I saw the 8 guys who got the offers, only one was from my session. He was already a UP sheetmetal worker looking for a TS job.
Supposidly, they can make offers for up to 6 months to the rest of us, without attending another session.
Unfortunately, I cannot attend another Train Service sesson now for 6 months, even for applications I already submitted.
Hopefully, one of the 2 Shop Laborer jobs will come thru for me before I get laid off.

[Anonymous]

Well, good news/bad news...
I passed the reading test 100% with 10 minutes to spare and did great on the physical test.
Thus, I made it thru all 3 cuts.
Interview was fine.
9 folks made the cut from my session, and I am not sure how many made the cut from the previous 3 sessions.
They made 8 offers that night, and when I saw the 8 guys who got the offers, only one was from my session. He was already a UP sheetmetal worker looking for a TS job.
Supposidly, they can make offers for up to 6 months to the rest of us, without attending another session.
Unfortunately, I cannot attend another Train Service sesson now for 6 months, even for applications I already submitted.
Hopefully, one of the 2 Shop Laborer jobs will come thru for me before I get laid off.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

Hey Mookie, glad you enjoyed the list!
BTW, I just got back from my hiring session.

How did it go?

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

Hey Mookie, glad you enjoyed the list!
BTW, I just got back from my hiring session.

How did it go?

Mookie

[Anonymous]

Hey Mookie, glad you enjoyed the list!
BTW, I just got back from my hiring session.

[Anonymous]

Hey Mookie, glad you enjoyed the list!
BTW, I just got back from my hiring session.

[Anonymous]

OK, here goes.

1. False
2. False, I can make call from home (the one I own)
3. Sometimes true, depends on work assignment and how jobs are turning
4. False. I think I have done it while sleeping once or twice. Oh, and I have kids too...
5. Sometimes true see #3
6. False. The stuff we eat may not always be the healthiest, but we eat. After all, weren't sidewall heaters invented to heat pizza subs??!
7. False. We have 24 hour grocery stores here, so not a problem
8. See #7
9. Sometimes, see #3.
10. Sometimes. See #3. This was very common during the recent mergers when congestion was rampant.
11. False. Although my wife was a conductor for a short while on a tourist pike, but that was after we met (I ran the train on weekends)., Don't count on hitting the clubs much or being able to keep a date though. 24/7 means just that.
12. False. It does take a certain type of woman to be a RR wife though. Independence, loyalty and work ethic are things to look for.
13. Happens some of the time, but there are also always guys looking to zing the company for anything extra this often results in even more problems in figuring out who owes what to who.
14. Sometimes true. But you can usually get what you need to get the job done if you want to.
15. True.
16. False, except here on the NS.
17. Sometimes.
18. Yup.
19. False on the NS. Was more true on Conrail.
20. False. The RR is responsible for providing a safe working environment. If you get an honest answer out of many RRers you will find quite a number who have suffered serious injuries from unsafe conditions and/or equipment all of which is the RRs responsibility.
21. In some ways.
22. Which one?
23. In some cases, yes. In other cases there is a lot of dislike for change. I don't care for RCL, but I also don't think it will go away.
24. Like any dispute both sides have their points.
25. See #24

That's the view from here. How did the hiring session go with the UP?

LC

[Anonymous]

OK, here goes.

1. False
2. False, I can make call from home (the one I own)
3. Sometimes true, depends on work assignment and how jobs are turning
4. False. I think I have done it while sleeping once or twice. Oh, and I have kids too...
5. Sometimes true see #3
6. False. The stuff we eat may not always be the healthiest, but we eat. After all, weren't sidewall heaters invented to heat pizza subs??!
7. False. We have 24 hour grocery stores here, so not a problem
8. See #7
9. Sometimes, see #3.
10. Sometimes. See #3. This was very common during the recent mergers when congestion was rampant.
11. False. Although my wife was a conductor for a short while on a tourist pike, but that was after we met (I ran the train on weekends)., Don't count on hitting the clubs much or being able to keep a date though. 24/7 means just that.
12. False. It does take a certain type of woman to be a RR wife though. Independence, loyalty and work ethic are things to look for.
13. Happens some of the time, but there are also always guys looking to zing the company for anything extra this often results in even more problems in figuring out who owes what to who.
14. Sometimes true. But you can usually get what you need to get the job done if you want to.
15. True.
16. False, except here on the NS.
17. Sometimes.
18. Yup.
19. False on the NS. Was more true on Conrail.
20. False. The RR is responsible for providing a safe working environment. If you get an honest answer out of many RRers you will find quite a number who have suffered serious injuries from unsafe conditions and/or equipment all of which is the RRs responsibility.
21. In some ways.
22. Which one?
23. In some cases, yes. In other cases there is a lot of dislike for change. I don't care for RCL, but I also don't think it will go away.
24. Like any dispute both sides have their points.
25. See #24

That's the view from here. How did the hiring session go with the UP?

LC

[CShaveRR]

I'm married for almost as long as I've been a railroader...have owned a house, raised a family, and have a life off the railroad (seems like it consists of a computer and keyboard lately, though!).

However, I can say for a fact that in my little niche of employees (there aren't more than about 30 people on the whole UP that can do what I do), I'm in the minority as far as being married to the same woman for all of my adult life. Out of five hump conductors here, four have gone through divorces...and one of those is young enough to be my kid!
But people do have lives on the outside...I hear about cruises, golfing, skiing, flying, workin' on the Hog (Harley), and stuff like that. There aren't too many of us that don't have houses, and grumble about the problems connected therewith while at work.

I'm one of the liucky ones who can go to work, stay there eight hours (sometimes 12, if they can't find any of the other rare people), and go home (I may also be rare in that I don't stop at the bar after work). I have strange days off, in the middle of the week, but we're used to that. We occasionally get calls from the caller in the wee hours of the morning, but those are most often ignored. I think my entire family should be grateful that they weren't subjected to life on the Extra Board...I had enough seniority to get off that before I was married. What would I change about all of this? Nothing...absolutely nothing!

[CShaveRR]

I'm married for almost as long as I've been a railroader...have owned a house, raised a family, and have a life off the railroad (seems like it consists of a computer and keyboard lately, though!).

However, I can say for a fact that in my little niche of employees (there aren't more than about 30 people on the whole UP that can do what I do), I'm in the minority as far as being married to the same woman for all of my adult life. Out of five hump conductors here, four have gone through divorces...and one of those is young enough to be my kid!
But people do have lives on the outside...I hear about cruises, golfing, skiing, flying, workin' on the Hog (Harley), and stuff like that. There aren't too many of us that don't have houses, and grumble about the problems connected therewith while at work.

I'm one of the liucky ones who can go to work, stay there eight hours (sometimes 12, if they can't find any of the other rare people), and go home (I may also be rare in that I don't stop at the bar after work). I have strange days off, in the middle of the week, but we're used to that. We occasionally get calls from the caller in the wee hours of the morning, but those are most often ignored. I think my entire family should be grateful that they weren't subjected to life on the Extra Board...I had enough seniority to get off that before I was married. What would I change about all of this? Nothing...absolutely nothing!

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

I am getting the following impressions from emails sent to me and postings on various forums; that folks who work for any of the big 4 railroads - BNSF, CSX, NS, and UP, lead the following type of life:

1) RR workers DONOT own or have homes.
2) Instead, these folks are gypsies who live in 1970's van campers, which is the only way they can make their 1.5 - 2 hour call.
3) They are never awake during off hours because they are sleeping...
4) Based on #3 they cannot have children, because you cannot have sex while you are fast asleep.
5) When they are not sleeping, they are working, and when not working they are sleeping.
6) They do not eat because of #5.
7) They cannot shop for groceries because of #5.
8) They cannot shop at all and must get someone else to do it because of #5.
9) They work 30 days a month with no days off.
10) They work 12 hour shifts, then wait 2 hours for a cab, take 2 hours to get home, sleep for 2 hours, get awaken with 2 hour call, and then use up the last 2 off hours to travel to their crew change point.
11) Never get married because unless they meet a woman who lives on a train, in a yard, or in a shop, they have no time to date or hit clubs, etc.
12) If they do somehow get married, they all get divourced because of #1-11.
13) Your paychecks are usually incorrect, late, or never received.
14) The railroad doesnt pay for anything and if there is something they are supposed to pay for, no one knows how to go about getting them to reinburse or pay for it.
15) Locos have no AC or it doesnt work.
16) Locos dont have toilets, they have a hole cut into sheet metal with a bucket welded in place beneath it...this bucket is never emptied.
17) The crew cabs smell of human excrement because of #16.
18) Once hired, the RR will do everything they can to fire you.
19) Despite #18, 75% of RR employees are over age 50 and have been with the RR's for 15-30 years.
20) Most employees working in the yard are killed and injured on the job and its always the employees fault..however all of these injured employees sue the RR because lawyers say its the RR's fault, even if the employee simply slips on ice or is abducted by a UFO.
21) The military is more flexible than the RR.
22) The RR Union is useless.
23) Remote control is taking away jobs, while killing, maiming and destroying RR property.
24) The RR says that despite #23, the equipment is working fine, and it is all employee error.
25) Employees claim the opposite to #24.

So what is the truth? I believe 95% of what I hear is exaggerated.
There is an old saying:
"Dont believe everything you see and only half of what you hear".

I think I wil find out on my own.
[:o)]

I do like your list! Going to print it off an refer to it when having a bad day!

Mookie

In fact, My Dad has his 86th bd this month - going to print it off and give him a copy to read. Should make his day! He was a railroader for about 42 years.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ney1815

I am getting the following impressions from emails sent to me and postings on various forums; that folks who work for any of the big 4 railroads - BNSF, CSX, NS, and UP, lead the following type of life:

1) RR workers DONOT own or have homes.
2) Instead, these folks are gypsies who live in 1970's van campers, which is the only way they can make their 1.5 - 2 hour call.
3) They are never awake during off hours because they are sleeping...
4) Based on #3 they cannot have children, because you cannot have sex while you are fast asleep.
5) When they are not sleeping, they are working, and when not working they are sleeping.
6) They do not eat because of #5.
7) They cannot shop for groceries because of #5.
8) They cannot shop at all and must get someone else to do it because of #5.
9) They work 30 days a month with no days off.
10) They work 12 hour shifts, then wait 2 hours for a cab, take 2 hours to get home, sleep for 2 hours, get awaken with 2 hour call, and then use up the last 2 off hours to travel to their crew change point.
11) Never get married because unless they meet a woman who lives on a train, in a yard, or in a shop, they have no time to date or hit clubs, etc.
12) If they do somehow get married, they all get divourced because of #1-11.
13) Your paychecks are usually incorrect, late, or never received.
14) The railroad doesnt pay for anything and if there is something they are supposed to pay for, no one knows how to go about getting them to reinburse or pay for it.
15) Locos have no AC or it doesnt work.
16) Locos dont have toilets, they have a hole cut into sheet metal with a bucket welded in place beneath it...this bucket is never emptied.
17) The crew cabs smell of human excrement because of #16.
18) Once hired, the RR will do everything they can to fire you.
19) Despite #18, 75% of RR employees are over age 50 and have been with the RR's for 15-30 years.
20) Most employees working in the yard are killed and injured on the job and its always the employees fault..however all of these injured employees sue the RR because lawyers say its the RR's fault, even if the employee simply slips on ice or is abducted by a UFO.
21) The military is more flexible than the RR.
22) The RR Union is useless.
23) Remote control is taking away jobs, while killing, maiming and destroying RR property.
24) The RR says that despite #23, the equipment is working fine, and it is all employee error.
25) Employees claim the opposite to #24.

So what is the truth? I believe 95% of what I hear is exaggerated.
There is an old saying:
"Dont believe everything you see and only half of what you hear".

I think I wil find out on my own.
[:o)]

I do like your list! Going to print it off an refer to it when having a bad day!

Mookie

In fact, My Dad has his 86th bd this month - going to print it off and give him a copy to read. Should make his day! He was a railroader for about 42 years.

[wabash1]

1) false
2) true
3-8) false
9) true
10) false
11-14) false
15-25) true

[wabash1]

1) false
2) true
3-8) false
9) true
10) false
11-14) false
15-25) true

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

I'd ask where i was conceived but i'd probobly be slapped in the face or somehting..

some things are best left unasked!

[:D]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

I'd ask where i was conceived but i'd probobly be slapped in the face or somehting..

some things are best left unasked!

[:D]

[Anonymous]

I'd ask where i was conceived but i'd probobly be slapped in the face or somehting..

[Anonymous]

I'd ask where i was conceived but i'd probobly be slapped in the face or somehting..

[Mookie]

I have been told I was conceived after a 16 hour day, shoveling coal, after driving home in a snowstorm and climbing 3 flights of stairs! So yeah, they do have kids!

And I was married to the military - it was a pud job by comparison!

La Mook

[Mookie]

I have been told I was conceived after a 16 hour day, shoveling coal, after driving home in a snowstorm and climbing 3 flights of stairs! So yeah, they do have kids!

And I was married to the military - it was a pud job by comparison!

La Mook

[Anonymous]

Let's see how i can Chip in...

uhm #18 isn't necesarily true, AT least they havn't sired me yet... they jsut give me all the shotty hours and hope i quit!

#9 isn't true... nor is 2, 3 well actually most of them

My God sakes Man! number 4 better not be true!