[:)] I was just wondering ?How many of you who read and post on this forum are current or former (retired),railroad employees What railroad ,what position,and how many years.And what has or was your best and worst experience? I hired on the Norfolk Southern in 1991,and got certified as engineer in 1993 (“used to I couldn’t even spell engineer,today I are one”[(-D]).Best experience was getting my FRA qualifiaction.My worst having a crossing accident.[V].Thanks to all who reply [8D]!
1964-75 Opr/towerman SP
1976-77 Opr Milw (a less than brilliant career move)
1977-79 Brakeman Milw (a brilliant career move)
1979-88 Brakeman BN
1988-current retired (invol. disability)
Current Train Dispatcher for CSX working out of Indianapolis. Currently qualifying on the St. Louis line. Previously a conductor for 1 1/2 yrs. My best experience was getting a phone call letting me know I was going to dispatcher school. My worst experience was catching a weed sprayer train; riding on a really beat up and disgusting Dash-7 full of flies that smelled of death. We had to run backwards for about 20 miles to pick up our train choking on diesel fumes and that putred smell. While putting the train together I also nearly had my face ripped off by a flying reservoir hose that a technician decided to run air into before I had it hooked to the locomotive. We ran 20mph until our hours of service expired and then had to weather another 3 hours in a van back to terminal. What added insult to injury was that the crew behind us earned held away, caught of hot intermodal and beat us home by five hours! But, if that’s the worst I’ve dealt with I consider myself lucky.
Hi I hired out in Jan 2002 worked as conductor and switchman until I gto in the engineer program last Oct got my card signed in March and have been working as a engineer every since.
Rodney
UP and CNW for nearly 35 years, mostly as a car retarder operator but put in my time as a switchman/brakeman/yard foreman, and a couple of gruesome months as a yardmaster.
Many good experiences (can’t top my most recent birthday celebration!); worst experience was being dismissed for a big wreck (was back after 60 days).
SP for 28 years in Station Service, Draw Bridge Leverman, Interlocking Operator, Special Projects and also in joint operations with SPS (now BN).
POTB for two years as Conductor, Yard Clerk, Train Dispatcher, Special Projects, Crane Groundman and other positions.
Now self employed.
Hired out on the UP in Oct. of 1998 in train service. Went into engine service late Sept 2004 year, set up early March 2005.
Jeff
Left the Office of the Attorney General, State of Texas for the PTRA, Port Terminal Railroad Association in 1997, brilliant career move!
I work as a yard conductor/engine foreman morning trick.
Best experience, sitting in a siding at sunrise, watching the deer play around in the fog, drinking coffee with my crew, happy with my world.
Worst experience, fatal grad crossing accident.
Ed
work for csx since may of 1998
csx engineer
1969-71, Brakeman, passenger trainman CNW Wisconsin Division
1971-72, Fireman, Engineer CNW Galena Division
1972- Ticket Clerk, Amtrak CUS (pheh!)
1972-82, Brakeman, Conductor Milwaukee Road Wisconsin Division
1982-83, Chef, Private car “Mount Rainier”
1984-99, Art and advertising Director, Collector, Engineman CSS&SB RR. (in that order)
Best experience, Regular conductor on Amtrak 7 when we still had the old equipment and old uniforms.
Second best. First day qualifying as a South Shore Line engineman.
Worst experience. Being conductor on the second suburban train of the morning out of Fox Lake, and being told by my girlfriend, who was also my brakeman, that she wouldn’t get the train out of the coach yard because I hadn’t done the dishes the night before.
Mitch
Work for Metro North since 1984, first as Electrician, then MofE supervisor.
and from 1989 as Locomotive Engineer.
Conrail - Mech Engr - locomotives 1978-1994
Conrail - Intermodal Svc & Terminal Design 1994-1996
Conrail - Transp. Planning 1996-1998
NS - Transp. Planning 1998- present
total 27 years
best experience(s)
- designing and conducting over the road tests for locomotives and business cars (SD60MAC demos, B40-8 demo, CR21, CR8, CR9)
worst:
- a week of unloading multilevels in Little Ferry one February
or - getting in an auto wreck with dept AVP in passenger seat…
Hired out on the SP in El Paso.
Transferred to Big Spring then to Ft Worth.
I was a hogger now I’m still on active duty with Texas NG after going and sightseeing in Iraq! Good Place for a Glass factory!
private consulting engineer with contracts for projects (mostly right of way and drainage issues) for CN/Central Vermont – 1975 – 1982
Hired out with BNSF as conductor Oct 11, 04. Might try out for the next engineers’ class if i can hold it.
98 - 01 - Conductor with Conrail
01 - Present - Dispatcher on IC,ID,IE,IF,IG,IH and Cleveland Chief
Engineer for the NS . good day is 5hrs run. bad day not quite to retirement yet. but im working on it.
Work History:
Southern Railway-Summer Intern 1965,
Hattiesburg, MS
Rock Island-Market Anaylist 1966-1969,
Chicago
Northwestern - Market Manager Chemicals 1969-1982, Chicago
Southern Pacific - Market Manager 1982-1996 Plastics, San Francisco, Houston, Denver
Union Pacific - Market Manager Petroluem 1996-2003.
Best experience- becoming market manager at Northwestern with a free rein to do what I thought was appropriate for the market.
Worse experience-Seeing customers lose their jobs over UP+SP meltdown.
N&W-1972-Train service
N&W-1979-Transfer to engine service
NS-1982 to the present.
Best experience-Thinking, I’ve got this down.
Worst experience-Thinking, I’ve got this down.
hey valley, dont you just hate it when a conductor gives you clear for 30 shove you go 10 cars and hear that will do… followed by OH SH**… give me the bottle and wheres that tube at…how many days …