I'm going to work for CSX !!

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Not just yet though, first I have to complete 5 weeks of class room training in Atlanta after that there is 2 weeks of hands on in a training yard and finally I go to Birmingham Al. to work in my assighned job as a conductor.

I got word a while back, maybe 3 months ago that they were hiring and I new I had to get in on this if I could. Luck would have that GM/Saturn (my current employer) was wanting to get rid of about 30,000 people. So I decided to join everyone leaving. It was a pure stroke of luck or good timing. So in a couple of months I will be working with 1:1 scale. Between now and graduation day I have a lot of saftey rules and all RR signals to learn.Wish me luck. Hope I like it!

2

Great opportunity and best of luck[8D]

3

Good luck! If you don’t mind me asking, what does it pay if you have any idea. I would like to do something like that in the future.

4

This first year starts out at about 35k and then increases considerably. The bennefits are great but the working conditions may leave something to be desired. It’s of course all outside work in all kinds of weather with a ton of responsibility. But once I’m rollin down the track I can take it easy and leave the driving to the engineer, I should be elligible for that position in 4 to 5 years.

5

im jelous. i dont even have a job! do you know what the minimmum age is for a switchman? enjoy your job.(how can you not?)
GEARHEAD426

6

Good on you, I wish you the best of luck in your job [:D]
I’m going for a “locomotive operater” position next year (after x-mas) and if i don’t get that, I will just get a job with them (probably station attendant) , and then internally apply for positions (which is what they mostly do).

James

7

Alright. Sounds like second best job in the world just behind mine. Learn well, and good luck with the weather.

8

Dont forget being on call 24/7.

9

Congratulations on the new gig, Joey! Are you going to be able to continue working part-time at the hobby shop? A word of caution if you’ve not already heard this: the guys who shop here that also work for Union Pacific report that model railroaders or train enthusiasts are not always welcomed if you try to railfan at work too much. Kinda frowned upon from what I hear…don’t know how CSX would look upon that. Railroading seems to be a hard life at times but also financially rewarding after awhile. Good luck with the new job!

10

Never spent much time as a railfan. I’m sure to be very busy with the job for a long time. Maybe later after I get setteled in. Thanks for the heads up.

11

Congratulations on the new job Joey. Hope everything works out well for you. BTW, my son in law is a engineer for CSX.

Stan.

12

In six to seven weeks - right after Labor Day - I’m going back to work for the IRS - I’ve done a lot of work for them over the years.

I came down with medical problems about 27 months ago and had to go on Social Security about eighteen months earlier than I had been planning. My (general) budget has been somewhat strained; my (train) budget has been practically nonexistant; I did splurge and made it to Seattle and Cincinnati, however. Need to resolve some credit card bills, get an 88 Toyota 4-Runner overhauled, and get some money in the bank; those are first priorities but I should be able to take a small train allowance once I start drawing a paycheck again. Hopefully, when I permanently retire just in time to attend the Anaheim convenion in '08, I will be able to free up a healthy train allowance even to the point of splurging just a little bit to make up for the austerity of these past few years.

As you go into this new endeavor there, joeyegarner, I wish you the very best of happiness and success - and just remember, when you start drawing those 60k+ paychecks, don’t spend it all in one place - unless, of course, that “one place” is your local hobby shop!!!

13

Good luck,man.

14

Well if you do not like it, remember that you can always JOIN THE ARMY and head out for 8-10 weeks of Basic Training, then to AIT, after that well probably to Irag. In that case maybe you better stick to the conductor job as dangerous as it can be I am sure it is safer than iraq. :slight_smile:

15

Congratulations! Every railfan has wanted to work for the railroad. Most never get the chance.

Now, according to my ex-Espee nephew, you’ll learn the real meaning of, “Romance of the Rails” —

Hard, dirty, dangerous work.

(Just like an Air Force flight line, now that I think about it.)

Chuck

16

Cool. You are lucky. Best of luck with the new job. Tim

17

Sorry I’m a little old for the Army now, I got out after 10 years active duty back in 1991 right after the first Gulf war, ya that makes me a little older than people think. My span with GM has been a total of 11 years(95-06).You can wear a lot of hats in a lifetime. But I’m still a young man at the age of 42. I guess you could say I’ve been lucky to have such good breaks in life. Well, I’ve worked hard and done alot of things I didn’t want to do alot of times. But a good work record and faith in the good Lord can go a long way.

18

Congradulations on the new position and we all hope you do well.

By the way, after you are working and if you can carry a camera to work, please post a picture or two from the cab view.

Thanks

19

Joey,

Good luck. Here’s some advice a wise railroader told me when I hired:

A. Quit

B. Don’t live on your overtime

C. Don’t put your life on hold for the railroad.

D. You will hit and kill someone.

Now, I hope you know what you signed up for. The romance of working for the railroad is vastly over-rated. Let me know, if you still like the job after walking two miles of train, at 3AM in the driving rain, and it’s 40 degrees. When you are working 12 hours on and 8 hours off. After you’ve been shoot at, or stoned. The first time you are brought up on charges, sit through the company trial, and spend 30 days on the street.

I don’t want scare you off. I’ve been a railroader for 8 years. I’ve missed countless birthdays, Chistmases, Thankgivings, etc, because I’ve been working. I’ve been shoot at, had rocks thrown at me, and once has a refrigerator dropped on my engine. I’ve worked 12 hours on, 8 hours off, so long, I’ve forgotten what day it was. I’ve walked trains in the snow, and rain, when it’s 100 degrees and 0 degrees.

I’ve never been injured, but I’ve had some close calls. One that was really too close, and it was a mircle I wasn’t hurt. One of my co-workers was killed, three more were seriously injured and were unable to return, and ten others sustained minor injuries. And luckily, I’ve never killed anyone or even hit anyone, but that day WILL come.

But there’s also, that fine autumn day, watching the foliage zip by, and waving at the kids. Or having a good time at the terminal BBQ. Or it could be the Santa train, at Christmas. Or that most railroaders will lean over backwards to give their follow railroaders a hand.

If you are willing to accept the lifestyle, it is a good job. I have good benifits, now that I have some whiskers, a decent schedu

20

Full speed ahead, Joey,

Learn as much as you can. Be as careful and as safe as you can. And never forget to ask for help from the Lord, because, that is what He is there for. M****ay you have a long, rewarding and safe career.

William,

Birmingham, Alabama