I think they require you to be at the Job and working less than 1.5 hours after the phone rings.
If the phone rings before you complete your rest I think that you would need to inform that person.
And you will be married to the railroad for every day of the year. Your life will probably change once you start your journey.
If you run into a problem on the job that creates a danger for yourself or anyone else, solve it or get out. Railroading is not for everyone.
Also examine your Union options, retirement options and insurance. I think if you select railroad retirement you cannot get social security. It's one or the other.
I had an oppertunity to hire on some time ago but was deemed not suitable but the experience showed that they are careful about who they hire for the railroad.
I'll try this one.
A lot depends on where you're located. For example, I think most of the new hires around Chicago get their classroom training at Proviso, then work with other crews, possibly in their local area. It's been a while since I hired out, and we only got a week of class before being thrown out to the wolves.
Extra Board: When they call you (you're right--it's 24/7/365), you take the call and go where they tell you to work. After you've completed your tour of duty, you tie up, and are placed at the bottom of the extra board again. As others who tied up ahead of you are called, you move up on the board--when you're "first out", you'll be the next one they call. Be sure you have the legal amount of rest (they'll go into that in your classes).
If you can understand what I just wrote, your reading comprehension test shouldn't be a problem.
Good luck! Last I heard, UP was hiring only about one out of twenty who tried for the jobs.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
I was just informed that I was invited to a hiring session with Union Pacific for Train Service. I had a few questions that I was hoping to have answered before I went to the interviewing session. First off if you are hired on where do you do your 14 weeks of training? I know with some other railroads you go to their headquarters and do your training, while with others you train at the location you were hired on. Second can sombody please explain how the extra board works since that is where you start. I understand your on call 24-7-365. And lastly what is the reading comprehension exam all about? Is this somthing I can study for?
Thank You
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