Anyone been to the Academy? Details Please.
Back in the day, it was “who you knew” that could get you hired on. Times have changed, if you really want a career on the rails, I think that the Modoc school is a good starting point. The railroads have been frowning upon “nepotism” for the past several years. If you are really serious about railroading as a career, I would say go to that Modoc school. At least that will get you started. But, be ready for days away from home, and phone calls while you are sleeping, telling you to get ready for a run, and you better be there in an hour!
Are there any other schools out there for engineer training? When researching MODOC, it says conductor training is a pre-requisite. Makes sense learning from the ground up. I am a furloughed pilot from a major carrier and have always thought about pursuing this goal. As I am based on the east coast, are there any schools out this way? Are these schools the only way to go or are there internship programs for conductors and engineers? Having read some of the other posts to people in high school, I would whole heartedly recommend that one gets your high school diploma and at least some sort of follow on education. Makes it a lot easier to get an assistant manager job at Walmart or Home Depot should the need arise. Military is also a good way to go if you feel the need to see the world. Make sure you pack your sun tan lotion! I just left active duty as a KC-130 pilot for the Marines. My e-mail address is herkybc130@hotmail.com.
thanks for defending our freedoms.semper fi
stay safe
Joe
Herkybc130 and others:
Greeting. I was in the Corps too (75-95). Just wondering what salary conductors make. I don’t mind travel, hard work, frequent relocations, and odd hours. Is there anything else that is perceived as negative?
MODOC is far from the only training school for railroades out there. BNSF has its training center at the Johnson County Community College near Kansas City. The JCCC offers conductor classes. CSX has an extensive network of Community Colleges and other institutions it works with. For example the Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY and the Community College of Philadelphia in Philly. NS trains its people after you are hired at its training center in McDonough, GA at their expense.
A word about becoming a locomotive engineer. Under 49 CFR 240 et. seq. each RAILROAD is required to certify its locomotive engineers. You can go to any school you want, but until a RAILROAD certifies you as a locomotive engineer, you aren’t a locomotive engineer. Period. Usually, what this means is you are better off attending a conductor’s class and hiring out or hiring out with a company (NS or BNSF or UP for example) that will put you through their in house conductor program BEFORE you concern yourself with becoming an Engineer. Most large railroads require you to become Engineer qualified as a condition of employment and they can and will force you to LETS eventually.
In case you are wondering what happens if you go through MODOC or some other engineer school without being sent there as part of a railroad’s engineer (LETS) program, you have to start all over again once you hire out and the railroad sends you to its LETS program.
LC
Additional information:
Check out
Follow the link to “Railroad Training Programs”
This lists a number of programs around the country (and world) that are on the web.
LC
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THE RESULTS FOR THE TRAINS/ MODOC SCHOLARSHIP WILL BE ANNOUNCED?
Attn: Modoc Railroad Academy Scholarship Entrants
Winners will be chosen this week. They will be notified by phone.
Good luck![:)]
Will the results of this contest be published online or in TRAINS Magazine any time soon?
Hi
I am strogly thinking of going to modoc Academy, i was woundering if you need any requirements to get in. I would love to work for Union Pacfic as a locomotive engineer and i was woudering if i go to this school i would beable to get started on my dream in the right direction.
http://www.modocrailroadacademy.com/
Check out the FAQ.
National Academy of Railroad Sciences in Overland Park, KS