I’m considering trying out my dream of working for the railroad, and if all goes well, over the years becoming an engineer. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was 2-years-old. I was thinking that before I tie down myself with college, give the railroad a go.
I have three options…I can try to work for either CSX, Norfolk Southern, or Amtrak. I can get to each from my current location in times ranging from 40 minutes, to about an hour and a half.
I haven’t really looked into the benefits and all of the three yet…But I will be doing so soon.
I was curious as to if anyone here would point me towards one or the other of the three (and for what reasons)?
Hi, I can’t say much about those three, but if their crew calling system works anything like the UP’s you may not live close enough. The one that You can get to in 40 minutes may be doable, but the 90 minute commute isn’t likely to work. About two years ago Uncle Pete was hiring here in Portland, OR and like you it is something that I have dreamed of for as long as I can remember. With Uncle Pete’s crew calling system, You have 90 minutes from the time the phone rings to be at the rail yard, ready to go on duty. It was estimated in the hiring session that I was in that you would be on call for 12-15 years before you had enough seniority to bid on a regular schedule.
Well if you are interested in working for a Class I railroad this is the best time to seek employment. If you are willing to spend every holiday away from your family in all kinds of weather and are physically able to lift 80lbs, not be color blind, and be able to pass the industrial reading tests and personality tests then this is the job for you.
Your first step in the process is to check the individual websites for when and where they are hiring. Check with your employment office to see if you may qualify for WIA (Workforce Investment Act) money. The state will pay for all or part of your education at the appropriate college. I went to WWW.AMDG.WS for my training. The cost for this class was $4,500 which needs to be paid in full upfront. Food and lodging cost me an additional $2,500 for the 5 weeks I was in Atlanta.
I recently retired from 23 years of Active Army and could not wait for my VA disability rating to qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation. I used my Montgomery GI Bill and was reimbursed 1,700 after successfully graduating from the college. Now I need to have my H/R rep type a letter stating that I am in OJT status signed by me and my mentor so I can get an additional $800 per month during my OJT.
Depending on your disability rating the VA will pay for your tuition and pay you a stipend while you are in school (VOC REHAB). After school you must have a signed letter from your H/R office with official letter head stating that you are enrolled in an apprentiship for 6 to 12 weeks. This will need to be signed by you and your supervisor. VA will then pay you an additional amount of money while you are OJT.
NOTE* If you are a VET and want to use either benefit you will need to fill out the request form online at www.va.gov then go to the education benefit page and look for “VONAP”. This will allow you to fill out your application for GI Benefits online. Make s
Living an hour and a half doesn’t really mean you can’t do it. NS will allow you to request a 2hr call. We have one engineer that lives 2hrs away so he just estimates when he’ll get called and starts driving…lol. Thats ridiculous but he’s been doing it for 12 years. I’m a conductor for NS myself, and will be going to engine school next year. Been doing it for 5 years. Around here on my territory on the Piedmont Division, average time on the extraboard for a Conductor is a year and a half, then somewhere around 5-7 years after being marked up before you go to engineer school, then after being marked up as an engineer you’ll ride that board about 3 years before standing for a regular job, and then you’ll bounce around being pull and put back on the board for another 4-5 years before you can actually hold a regular job without being put back to the board. You won’t work every weekend and holiday, but about 85% of them depending on how many you have on the board with you and if it’s vacation season or not. Spring, Summer, and Fall are prime vacation season and you’ll work all the time. Winter time you’ll likely starve due to only getting out once or twice a week for a couple months.
Something else also, being very honest with you and everybody else here. Railbuff’s generally DO NOT last long actually working for the railroad. There are some out there that have adapted but they are not as hardcore and into trains as they were before the got hired. Most see us working and say “I wanna do that”. But a few long 12+ hr days in the cold freezing rain, extreme heat, or being away from home 40+hrs left to rot in a hotel somewhere and that does it for them. It’s no longer the dream that thougt it would be. If you do get interveiwed, don’t tell them you like trains or you are a railbuff. You’re not likely to be called back because the railroad doesn’t wants buffs out there working. If you do get hired, keep your hobby and your interest
[2c] Actually the NS’s new VRU call system is setup to accept 2 hr. calls.
I’ve worked for the NS for 16 years (mostly out of Portsmouth,Ohio) and have received a 2 hr call for work since I hired on.I was forced to Columbus,Ohio as Engineer in 1994 and had a 3 hr. call time in the call office.They would grant it 90% of the time,because it was yard service at Watkins Yard.
And if you apply for a job on the NS (if within driving range)you won’t have to pay for that R.R. school,which I think is silly.
It’s a lot of crap to put up with on the road jobs but good money.I got a regular short pool job.I was called Friday at 10:45am.Got off duty at 3:45pm.Layed in the hotel till I was called at 2:45am Sat. morning.And was off duty at home at 12:45pm.I’m rested at 10:45pm tonight (Sat.) and I’m already 2nd out to be called,which can happen at anytime being the jobs ahead of me are vacant (minus Engineer)and the extra Engineers list has no one avaliable.So I’m more or less first out to be called [:(] .
Don’t quote me on this, but I believe that you need to be 21 years of age to work for the railroad. You may want to consider joining the military and get some training in Communication or Transportation. I did Infantry for the past 23 years and it was challenging and demanding (Physically, Mentally, Spiritually). If you join the military go non combat arms. The experience you gain during your time in will be rewarding enough.
Yes it is a difficult time to go this route, however you will qualify for Veterans benefits (GI BILL EDUCATION) and the employer will look at you more favorably. DO NOT DO MORE THAN 2 YEARS. Get your experience and join the railroad. The benefits (RETIREMENT, PAY,) does not compare to that as a railroader. I get 1600 a month for retirement and pay into a plan that allows my wife to get half of that when I pass on 800.00. When you retire from the railroad 20 to 30 years down the road your wife will get 50% of whatever your full retirement check is eg…YOU $4000.00 SPOUSE $2000 TOTAL = $6000.00 . If you and your spouse pass on your estate goes to any surviving children as long as you state it in your will.
DO NOT LET ANYONE KEEP YOU FROM REALIZING YOUR DREAMS OR GOALS. SURROUND YOURSELF AROUND GOOD PEOPLE. MISERY LOVES COMPANY.
CSX’S BIG 3 : ATTITUDE, SAFETY, ATTENDANCE[#welcome]
You must be 18, with a high school diploma or GED, and be able to pass an industrial reading test, physical, drug screening, and be able to lift 80 lbs.
If you want to advance beyond train service, you need military experiance, a college degree or both.
Forget about the RR schools. NS and most CSX locations are direct hire. Choose the company with the most locations near you. More locations, equals more job opportunities, equals more money.
It is a hard life. I’ve missed plenty of holidays, family gatherings, etc. I’ve also buried one co-worker, and had two so badlly injured they are unable to work (and lucky to be alive). I’ve been shot at, rocked, and acutely uncomfortable more times then I can count.
On the other hand, I’ve made a great deal of money. For the most part, I couldn’t ask for a better group of co-workers, we truely are a family. In what other career, except the military, will you remember people worked with 30 years after the fact. And go to a railroader’s funeral…it seems like everyone he ever worked with shows up.
If you want to serve in the military, hire with the railroad FIRST. Then take military leave. That way your military service counts toward your Railroad Retirement.
I have my apps in at all the rail carriers as I intend to retire from 22 years of Army duty this year. I meet all the requirements for hiring for all open jobs on any of the railroads. So why have none of the railroads called me yet? I can start tomorrow if they call me today. I am even willing to relocate to East Nowhere, South Dakota but would prefer to stay in VA.
I personally don’t see where there is a big hiring push by any of the US railroads. Least of all for veterans with college degrees and management experience (maintenance and automated logistics/transportation).
If you have any interest in going to college (and you should as the 4-yr degree is the equivalent of a high school diploma these days) go there first. Once you start working and buying things, it will be harder to tear yourself away from work to go to school.
I’ve heard a lot of people who want to take a “year off” before going to college. The fact is most of them will never go to college. Think long and hard - and keep your options open. RR life is not as romantic as the magazines make it sound.
tangerine-jack , go to www.amdg.ws fill out the application and call the number at that website. AMDG just did a big direct hire session for CSX in that region a few weeks ago. Call them for more info. You are also eligible for GI Bill recoupment of part of the school and can also qualify for VA VOCREHAB if you have a disability 10% or higher. Talk to a VFW service rep for more info not VA.
Thanks, I’ll do that! I don’t know what my disability will be yet, that is still in medical review, but it will probably just hover at 10% if I’m lucky. All I got is a rebuilt knee and partial hearing loss from my younger days as a redleg, probably not worth much but I’ll take what I can get.
Really, I’ve had almost 15 new hires cycle through my terminal since the first of the year.
There are generally, 10 to 15 locations hiring at any given time, with 5 to 10 positions at each location.
The thing is most of the hiring is in the major terminals…ie Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Cumberland, New York, etc. The other thing is, (at least my company) prefer to hire people within 30 miles of the on-duty point, and discourage relocation. So if you’re not within 30 miles of a hiring location, you’re pretty much out of luck.
I’m surprised the NS has not called you, there are a lot of openings in VA, Roanoke, Norfolk, both management and union, have you made the effort to attend a hiring session? They are usually listed on the website under employment opportunities. The NS does like hiring military folks and will pay you for conductor or management training. I have been with NS 2 1/2 years and overall have enjoyed it and made a decent living conducting. I was able to hold a regular job after being marked up 4 months, not bad.
Why would the railroads discourage relocating for a job? Let’s say someone is coming out of the military and Uncle Sam moves them for free. It’s a painless transition for the military member and transparent to the railroad. What would be their objection?
Railroads (at least my company) discourages relocation, because the company will not pay you to relocate. If you want to relocate, you’ll have to do it before you submitt your application.