Hey train, I disagree about the school thing, at least out west. The BNSF hires out of JCCC in Kansas City, KS. I didn’t go there, I had past experience. BNSF is hiring like mad men right now. Sad truth about workink for BNSF is that you may not even turn a wheel once you grad. from class. There is a good possibility of furlough. If you are still interested go to bnsf.com and look under careers. I would personally stay away from “primary recall,” locations. You will be married to that station for 5 years.
To Len, you said that you wi***hat you could sit at home and collect $1700 guarentee. The odds of you collecting on guarentee very much is not likely (BNSF) if that starts to happen the carrier will cut the boards. I have worked an extra board since August and collected guarentee once. The down side to this sit at home deal is no Brews, plans, and no life to speak of. I have a 2hr. call. I have to be able to skin out and be at work in 2 hrs. I even carry my grip in my truck on dates, so if I get called me and my honey split and I go directly to work.
Grip is a overnight bag , small suitcase, ect
when I was in the army we called them AWOL bags
people working road trains probably would carry
a large one or maybe even two, people working
a yard engine may not even have one with them
(depending on the weather) if they do it wont
be as full as the guys that are going to be gone
out of town,jackflash
In the navy we also called them AWOL bags I work the switchman extra board the guys in fron are right ther is a differance between a road grip and a yard my road grip is almost always packed and ready to go minus the things i need for work in the yard i.e. radio, spare radio battery, lantern and rule book. Some pack a complete change of clothes for overnight some keep just the basic change of underwear and socks and lets not forget food for the trip.
Having worked both retail and now for a railroad, an old adage really hits home–“The only thing worse than having a job is looking for one!” Retail is bad for beating its’ chest about how great it is–and I was fortunate to have worked for a company who actually had good benefits. However, every year they would take a little more away. Enough said, Happy Holidays to all.
About the school thing. Right now I’m going through the Sacramento City College RR program. Not bad. It may not be a Class 1 training. But I’m getting a thourough *** kicking in the rules department. I think as long as you do good in the rules, at least a shortline might pick you up. They’ll give you some training. Then you can go wherever from there. Hell, I’m doing volunteer work at a shortline right now. This is how I’m “getting to know” people in the business. If I tried really hard I think they would hire me right after I finish school. I would hope with my very little experience a RR would hire me before anyone just off the street As someone already said, RR’s like to do things their way though. I guess it just depends on the circumstances.
Len, what do you mean sarchastic? I just told you the facts. And the facts are as I stated! On the extra board you are married to the phone. I however could be full of crap. I just work on the RR and live the life. I may not even know what I am talking about. For the real scoop you probably should go down to the local hobby shop and ask the people who “really know.”
Now that was sarchastic.
By sarcastic, I was referring to the sit at home and collect $1700 bit. Maybe if you are playing monopoly but not in real life. I have a hunch there would be a lot less complaining going on if that were really true. Good luck, keep the faith and keep on railroading. At least you have had the opportunity to give railroading a try.
WELL ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU SURE DON’T WORK FOR THE SAME RR I DO. IF THINGS SLOW DOWN THEY CUT THE XBRDS, FREIGHT PICKS UP THEY ADD. BUT THEY KEEP IT MANNED JUST ENOUGH THAT MAYBE EVER ONCE IN A WHILE YOU MIGHT SIT HOME A DAY OR TWO, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT’S TURN & BURN. HAVING 8 HRS OFF ISN’T EXACTLY LIKE IT MIGHT SOUND. THE 8 HRS STARTS THE MINUTE YOU TIE UP (CLOCK OUT) NOT FROM THE TIME YOU DRIVE HOME VISIT WITH THE FAMILY EAT DINNER WATCH A LITTLE TV AND THEN LAY DOWN TO GET SOME SLEEP. THE END OF YOUR 8 HRS. OFF IS YOUR ON DUTY TIME, WHICH CAN BE UP TO A 2 HR. CALL BEFORE YOUR ON DUTY TIME. IN OTHER WORDS YOU TIE UP AT 12 NOON, AND THEY CAN CALL YOU AT 6 PM FOR AN ON DUTY TIME OF 8 PM, THAT’S YOUR EIGHT HRS. OFF
FORGOT TO MENTION, THAT IT’S VERY RARE THAT ON THIS RR YOU GENERALLY DON’T DRAW ANY GUARANTEE BECAUSE YOUR WORKING SO MUCH THAT YOUR MAKING MORE THAN THE GUARANTEE. ALSO IT REALLY SUCKS WHEN YOUR 1ST OUT ON THE EXBRD AND THERE ARE NO VACANCIES. YOU COULD SET AROUND FOR A DAY OR TWO NEVER KNOWING WHEN YOU MIGHT GO TO WORK, UNTIL SOMEBODY LAYS OFF (TAKES A DAY OFF) JUST TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE RESTED FOR WORK IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT. WE NOW HAVE A REST CYCLE OPTION THAT’S THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED, 7 AND 3. IF YOU STAY MARKED UP FOR SEVEN DAYS YOU GET THREE DAYS OFF. YOUR NOT PAID FOR THE DAYS OFF BUT IF WORK STARTS GETTING TO YOU, WHO CARES, LIKE SOMEONE SAID EARLIER, IT PAYS A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN MINIMUM WAGES. HAVING THREE DAYS OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT WITH THE CALLERS TO GET IT OR LIE AND SAY YOUR SICK IS WORTH IT’S WEIGHT IN GOLD!!!
THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS, LOOK IN THE BACK OF TRAINS MAGIZINE. THE JCCC SCHOOL IS BNSF’S SCHOOL AT THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. IN OVERLAND PARK KS. I KNOW QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WHO PAID THERE WAY AND GOT HIRED BY BNSF, AS WELL AS OTHER RR’S. I’D KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON BNSF’S WEB SITE, THEY ARE GONNA BE HIRING THE FIRST PART OF 2003. YOU CAN APPLY ON LINE. YOU CAN ALSO DO A ONLINE APP. WITH U.P. AND PROBABLY MOST OF THE OTHER RR’S.
Well i work for the ns. And they do cut the board when you start drawing the gaurentee. but thats fine with me i still draw mine. i also out of last half was first out for 4 days on the board with no holes showing. how do you get your rest , in short naps. its what you get use to. i have no problem with it. and i do as i want to. i am first out now and not sure when i will get out. and the people who seem to have the most problem with gettingoff are the sharp shooters who do shoot them selves in the foot. and dont get what they want. but remeber one thing you need senority to do that.
Show me where i was complaining. also dont be quick to judge i said as a exsample. for the 1700 but i did draw 942 this last half. also the operators have gaurentee extra board. and they sit on the board 2 weeks at a time not working making a regular paycheck. but i guess if you dont work in the railroad industry its hard to think that you get paid for doing nothing but waiting for the phone to ring. Nobody should bring up the reserve board. and how it pays you to sit at home not even waitng on the phone.
BNSF is hiring buttloads as we speak. As I allready said, furlough is almost guarenteed. Whoever still wants to try this as a career, I strongly suggest that you stay away from “primary recall,” locations. You will be married to that terminal for 5 years. That means that if you get furloughed from Kansas City and transfer to say Temple TX and KC ends up running short on people, they can and have forced people back. Gets a little expensive when you start breaking appartment leases. Next piece of advice to all who hire: I have seen alot of guys go out and buy vehicles and houses only to get furloughed a few months/weeks later. Don’t do this! You should see the look on their faces when they get cut off. This is really what makes this job tough for New Hires. You can’t really plan a future such as buying a house, etc. The physical work is easy, but, there is a lot to learn. The hours suck, but if you are single it is not all that bad. The pay is good when you are working, but you gotta save while you can. Days that you are on a bump board are not paid. As a new guy plan to get acquainted well with the bump board. If you sit on the bump board a few times during the half it can really kill your pay. Also, a good portion of the time familiarization trips are paid (there are some variables to this), but don’t plan on seeing that money right away. Mine have gotten declined often and need to be put in as a special claim. You may not see this money for a couple of pay periods or more. Being on the hind teat is tough. Since we were talking about hiring in this thread, I wanted to shoot all of you guys considering this job straight.
To sum it up. eveyone who thinks they are going to have a weekend off job with railraods are fooling themselves. there are guys with 25+ years with railroads that dont get weekends and holidays off. the transportation field will not stop for anyone.i dont care if it is railroad ,trucking , bus driver planes or what not. it is our job to move freight to make sure others have lives. when you relize this then transportation will be easier.