looking for info and some first hand info on what the job is like, looking at taking a training course through my local college after xmas, but want to have a clear picture of what the job entails. also, what would i be looking at for a starting wage? (i realize in canada this will probably be different then the US)
First - [#welcome]
Take a look at this 5 minute video - link courtesy of Ulrich on another thread here:
"[snip] …under the careers section on CN’s website they have a clip of what the conductor’s job entails…and in the clip they show a couple of crew members jumping off a moving train… . . [snip]
http://www.cn.ca/en/conductor-video.htm "
This kind of question comes up fairly often here, as well as questions about specific aspects of the job or the business. So, search here for posts by nbrodar, edblysard, zugmann, jeffhergert, CNWfan51, wabash1, CShaveRR, beaulieu, zardoz, and others (no offense or slight intended if anyone else’s name was not included, which was just because I didn’t remember or think of it ri
I got named first, I feel so special! [swg]
Anyway…this is from a US Class I prospective.
Stay away from the “Railroad Academies”. The Class 1s will send you to their own training facility anyway, or flat out refuse to hire you (the other pros should know which one that is [;)]) If you want to work for a Class II or III, the school might help you.
Starting pay. Since we sold the newbies down the river again in the latest contract, you’ll start at 75% pay, which depending on type of service is around $150 to $160 for 8 hours.
And now my standard spiel
It’s a tough life. I’ve missed countless Birthdays, Thanksgivings, and Chirstmases. I’ve had rocks thrown at me, and been shot at. I’ve walked trains, in the dead of night, blazing sun, pouring rain, and driving snow. I’ve seen three co-worked injured so badly, they can’t return to work. A dozen others had time-loss injuries, but have returned to work. And worst of all, I’ve buried two co-work killed on the job.
I’ve also made a lot of money. For the most part, I work with a great bunch of guys, who when the chips are down, will give you the shirt off their back. We really are a family. And there’s nothing like the feeling of seeing the little kids waving as you go by.
Be wary of your reputation. Railroaders gossip worse then old women. Not everyone will know your face, but everyone, and I mean everyone will know your reputation.
You don’t have to kiss the Yardmasters, Trainmasters, and Dispatchers tooshies. But being on good terms with them can prevent a lot of headaches.
Know your rules and union agreement. And know what the jobs do. If you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Better to look stupid by for asked the question, then to do something really stupid, because you didn’t know and didn’
Nick’s “standard spiel” is right on the money, and I couldn’t have put it better myself. And to add to what he wrote, here’s something else to consider.
If you’re thinking about making a career of being a switchman, trainman, or locomotive engineer, remember you’re establishing seniority at one or more terminals and seniority at those places means for the rest of your working life. So choose carefully. Think about where you’d really like to live and try to find work in that area. Also, look for variety. Seniority situations that offer plenty of opportunities to switch freight cars, work locals and industry jobs, as well as working through-freights mean you won’t get bored.
Oh, and don’t be misled. Yes, you’ll start off at 75%, but within five years you’ll be at 100%.
Enough said in the 2 above post, phone call @0200 ring ring, hello you are ordered on train for 0400 on duty and you are still 3/4 a sleep.
Rodney
my personal oppion…DONT DO IT!!! but that is just me…
csx engineer
Now that’s just not nice. It’s a wonderful job! [xx(] I love my job, and look forward to going everyday. [:-^] OK maybe not…it just takes a special breed of person. [alien]
Nick
Although it may be a slgith bit different in the US, NS also had a video for conductors wannabes on their site. I don’t know if they still have it anymore, but it’s a good video worth watching. I know they test you for being able to lift 80 pound couplers and hang on a car for 10 mins or so.
I would suggest that this link would be the place to start:
http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Job_Seekers/
It has a number of active links and prompts for selection. Be aware that when pull up ‘nscorp.com’ . I experienced several site that were redirects to job provider sites, that I would guess will try to collect something.
[When entering in personal information on the net make sure you do so over a secured site or it is a very trusted site]
Remember they (railroads) do a pretty thorough medical exam (to preclude claims for pre-existing problems). Not sure about vision requrement at this time, at one time you had to be 20/20 at hire- that may have changed now (?).
Good Luck!
For switchmen, trainmen, and locomotive engineer positions, know something else too: colorblindness is a show stopper.
very interesting reading all of this. My grandpa was a Frisco conductor “back in the day” and I mean way back-early 1900’s. He had to start out as a brakeman, after working on a section gang, and later became a freight conductor and then a passenger conductor to support his growing family. These were the days of a 5 men crew, things have changed so radically and it was interesting for me to see how it works today.
This is an interesting point. Had a N&W manager of some kind tell me that some of their engineers were color blind… He said N&W kept the 3 position lights until all the color blind engineers retired on each of the crew districts then that distric was converted to the 2 position color system. That being so if one of the colors burned out the color enabled could know the signal. I have never had anyway to confirm this as I was rather young when told and may have been put on. Anyone have any information??
See also the “Railroad Reading” article by Ed Blysard in this month’s - October 2010 - issue of Trains for how the firing process and 1st day ‘on-the-job’ went for him.
- Paul North.
So I just found in the Oct 2010 Issue on pg. 10 there is an ad from Modoc RR Academy bragging how they saved a class 1 $350,000… And there was an above post saying that if you want to work for a class 1 stay away from the academies. Comments?
The standards I was tested with were:
-75 lb “knuckle” lifted to specified height 6 times,
-75 lb “knuckle” carried 75 feet,
-Walk with a 35 lb “EOTD/FRED” 600 feet carrying it in one hand,
-Generate enough force (50 lbs & 100 lbs respectively) to tie hand brakes and throw switches 3 times each,
-Step to a height of 28 inches 5 times,
-Hang from a ladder using 3 point contact for 5 minutes,
-Balance tests (walking and standing)
As was said above, make sure your spouse/family can handle you being gone for extended periods of time. Make sure you can handle being away from your family for extended periods of time. Like hunting, fishing, watching football, etc? Don’t plan on it like you used to.