I am seeking information on what a conductor does. My grandson wants to be a train man and I want to tell him everything. How he becomes one, what he does all day, all his duties from sun up to sun down. Thankyou.
There has been a lot of postings on this subject. Do a search and I sure you will come up with all kinds of information.
Well, part of the forum charm is the discussing and re-re-discussing certain items - especially for new posters so they will stay and become old posters.
Let’s start with how old your grandson is? If he is under 10, he probably won’t understand. If he is in his teens, he still won’t understand, but is more apt to realize it isn’t a simple job. Any age, I would stress that he stay in school and go to college. Then he can be an asset to whatever job he decides to undertake.
And he can always enjoy trackside visits with you or others - without being an actual “train man”. I do…
A conductor is the ground man he does the switching the walking the changing of air hose, knuckles, climbing the cars to tie hand brakes , flags crossing , spots cars does the paper work all of this if hes a good conductor, he will learn the territory he is on and one day be the engineer on this area, but its not from sun up to sundown… most likely it will be from sun down to sun up.
All of what Wabash said and then… You must inspect other trains (passing you or in the siding) You MUST like to be outdoors in all weather.
I love it. And I know the territories I run on, fuzzy on some of the ones I havent been on lately but thats common.You learn them if you want to,but if you dont youll never be a good rail.
If he wants to be a trainman hook him up with copies of not only Trains but any other railroad magazine out there. Ask a lot of questions,and hopefully we can answer them. Good Luck!
Look for volunteer opportunities, if appropriate. Take him to operating museums and let him talk to the crews. I enjoy what I do (which is/will be just about everything described above), but I also like the fact that I can walk away from it if I so desire.
Hi Mookie,
I didn’t see the reply button, I saw the e-mail and clicked it 
I am still learning how to figure out stuff in here. Thanks again for all your help and its a pleasure to meet you.
Now that sounds like a great idea. He would love that! Volunteering is one thing we do, I want to teach him so much and hands on is the best way. Very handsome picture there! I am happy you love what you do, its the only way. Do any of you men have time to use a lap top? or is it too dangerous to bother with while you are driving the train?
Hi there!
I know I have already e-mailed all of you, I didn’t see the reply button up there, so I wanted to make sure I answer all of you properly. So you call one another rails? I bet you all have great nick names. The only name I remember as a kid is engineer Bill 
Yes, we will ask alot of questions…thanks so much!
This is very imformative as well. All of you men do so much work. How do you keep it all straight, you must have a book or a planner with you right? Like a check list. When you guys blow your horn? do you have to sound it off so many times? or just how you want? or is there a right way? Thanks!
I did just what you said and it worked. I found alot of stuff, but now I forgot where I was! I am still figuring out things, I will find it again. Thanks
RR rules generally prohibit the use of electronic devices not related to the official business of the RR while in the locomotive (and elsewhere, for the most part). Cell phones, music devices, etc. That’s not to say that the crew members won’t get them out during a break, but while actually working, they’re taboo. I wouldn’t dream of chatting on my cell while I’m directing the hitch of two cars.
Besides, when you’re working with stuff that measures in tens and hundreds of tons, you don’t need to be distracted.
As an aside, there are women in all facets of railroading - Engineers, conductors, brakemen, dispatchers, etc and so on.
Some railroads have laptops in the cab. Used for reporting car movements, main track authorities, etc. The car movements get entered, and everybody concerned knows where the car is at any moment. Helps with billing, car hire, etc. Systems like this are becoming more widespread. Someday I’ll be using one.
Wow, you can’t use even cell phone or text. [%-)] Look at our schools they even hand out laptops to the students. I see 12yrs old with cell phones.
Judging from the inattentiveness of people using cell phones and especially texting, that’s probably not such a bad policy.
And if he’s an older person, he will probably forget it straight away.[:(!]
Let’s see.
1.sleep
2.daydream
3.talk on the cell
4.text message
5.sleep some more
6.go use the restroom
7.read
8.eat
9.complain like he’s got 40 years senority
10.try to keep from going back to sleep
11.play a game on his phone or gameboy
12.smoke or chew tobacco
13.call signals (on occasions)
14.get his junk together to get off the train
- Oh,I forgot.I used to be a conductor [:D].He,he,he.I was wondering how many of you conductors out there was getting hot under the ole collar.
No the conductors take care of a lot of duties.
They get the train orders.
Fill them out.
Go over the paper work.
Get the lineup from the yardmaster.
Put the train together,by handling switches,handbrakes,airhoses,make cuts in the train.
Sometimes doing the brake test,eotd test.
Tie the crew up.
&nb
Give me an application. I want that job![8D]
[quote user=“mackb4”]
Let’s see.
1.sleep
2.daydream
3.talk on the cell
4.text message
5.sleep some more
6.go use the restroom
7.read
8.eat
9.complain like he’s got 40 years senority
10.try to keep from going back to sleep
11.play a game on his phone or gameboy
12.smoke or chew tobacco
13.call signals (on occasions)
14.get his junk together to get off the train
- Oh,I forgot.I used to be a conductor [:D].He,he,he.I was wondering how many of you conductors out there was getting hot under the ole collar.
No the conductors take care of a lot of duties.
They get the train orders.
Fill them out.
Go over the paper work.
Get the lineup from the yardmaster.
Put the train together,by handling switches,handbrakes,airhoses,make cuts in the train.
Sometimes doing the brake test,eotd test.
Tie the crew up.
Hop up on our RS-3. I’ll show you how to shift gears…
(It has manual transition) [swg]