One day I want to be a locomotive engineer!

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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Hi evryone! You all are probably tired of a newcomre asking so many questions and writting so many responses. I hope i’m not annoying you. Any- way I am going to ask you a question that is INCREDABLY important to me, here we go.

I am 13 and in jr. high school. I tell evryone in my class that one day I WILL become a locomotive engineer one way or another! And they don’t dought it either! It’s what i’m men’t to do, I just know it! Now i’m sure you have heard this from many people but I’m serious. I understand I will have to hire on as a freight conductor or a switchman, any one is fine, I can’t just start out as a engineer you know!

Also I understand the hours that train crews work. Their irregular! I of course don’t know what it’s like, but I will ajust to it. My great grandpah was a shop-worker at the C&EI shop’s in Danville ILL. My step grandpah worked a GE 44 Tonner at Itell Pulman tn Danville as well. So it’s in my blood. I also try to complete activites on Microsoft Train Simulator to try and gain train handaling experiance for now. Also I read as many book’s as possible on trains and modern railroading.

So the question is their any thing I can do now that might better my chances at getting hired onwith the railroad?[%-)] ps. I want to work for Norfolk Southern perferably. Any answers would be greatly appreicated. This mean’s a lot to me!!![:D]

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Yes, there is something you can do right now to further your career choice…

Finish High School with good grades…

No high school, no Class 1 will hire you for T&E service.

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Keep your nose clean, stay in school, stay in shape (railroading is work). Stay away from recreational chemicals. Always know that you have something to learn, no matter how much you think you know.

Whatever railroad you hire on with will want to teach you how [i]they[/] do it, again, no matter how much you think you know.

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Is it bad that I chuckled at this?

Anyways, what the guys said, don’t jump out of school too soon. Maybe even do a year of general courses in post-secondary to see if there’s something that interests you even more.

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Also, have a plan B. If it turns out you are color blind, for example, it won’t matter how much you want the job, they likely won’t give it to you.

Do you have a potential interest in being a dispatcher, for example? Ask yourself, is it the industry that interests you, or is it the machines? Do you really know that much about either? Take the time to learn, not just dream about “how neat trains are.”

And as one previous gent mentioned, run like hell from drugs and people who use them. I lost all my childhood friends in high school becasue they wanted to cut class, get high, etc. I avoided all that, went to college and have achieved the career ambitions that I too had at age 13. Incidentally, most of them clean swimming pools for a living; rather embarrassing at age 45.

I can tell you it was mighty nice when I was directly asked in many job interviews, and could directly answer “NO!” without the slightest reservation, the question “have you ever used drugs?”

I saw other applicants sweating that question: They’re thinking, “do I lie so I’m not disqualified outright, or will they see I’m lying and disqualify me for that? Maybe I should just admit it and hope they forgive me?” I didn’t have to sweat anything. You don’t want to either.

My Grandfather once told me, “always conduct your life so that you can look your parents, a police officer, or your wife straight in the eye.” That pretty much says it all.

Using drugs is ANYTHING BUT standing out from the crowd or rebelling. It is conformity in its most cowardly sense.

Also, learn to proof read your work.[8)] A clean job application and/or resume’ will stand you out from the crowd.

Best wishes, and remember you are inheriting this country. With young guys like you I think we are in good hands.

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I agree with everyone above: stay in school, stay off drugs.

You also mentioned you were aware of the irregular hours. This may be an issue that warrants some consideration: is family life a priority? You may also want to consider the possiblility of relocation; are you willing to move away from current friends and family to pursue your dream? Just some stuff to think about. [:)]

Below is a link to the Bureau of Labor Statistics information on railroad occupations. It gives you another look at work conditions, current average pay, hours, and projected job growth. I hope it gives you a little more insight!

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos244.htm

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“What nody said” (above).

No alcohol use until you’re old enough, and even then don’t abuse it, either. Maybe I’ve lived like a monk in that respect, but like nody, I’ve never had a problem with that part of any application or interview. Stay away from tobacco, too. Also, when you get that old, don’t get any driving citations or tickets for moving violations. I’ve heard that in the interview and qualification process, some railroads view that as a surrogate for how you’ll handle their equipment. At the very least, it’s a reflection of your skills and judgment.

His advice about polishing up your typing and spelling skills is also good. With the whole world being run by computers these days, you probably already know what havoc can be caused by entering a wrong letter or number, esp. in railroading - something like a wrong car number or milepost or time entry can cause all kinds of problems, like on a track warrant. You’re young enough to still have really good eye-hand motor skills and coordination. So you should learn to touch-type without looking on a standard keyboard, and challenge yourself to get really good at it - say, 60 words per minute - beat everyone else in your class for speed and accuracy ! It’s really just another video game . . . and having that skill will never hurt you. Also, a standard calculator. I’m amazed at the old-style accountants who can key in and rattle off a column of numbers in seconds without ever looking, and they’re all exactly correct.

Some other thoughts: Join the Boy Scouts and work your way up through the ranks. It’s a good way to learn lots of things and skills and prove that you’ve done it, interact with other guys your age, have some adventures - there’s even a Railroading Merit Badge, I believe. It’ll also provide organizational and leader

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Hi all! Thank you for ansering my questions!!! I have so mutch drive now to become a locomotive engineer!!! I’m in the Boy Scouts already, i’m a tenderfoot almost 2nd class, and of course my first merit badge was railroading! I had a class in 6th grade on typing. I have to look but I can type kind of fast. I think… I’m not always the best speller but I will work on that. I of course won’t get into drugs and I will stay in school I get A’s, B’s and C’s so I think that’s good. I never really thought about liking the industry about the machines that move it. I never thougt about it that way. However It’s the fact of being one of the selected few who get to say I’m a railroader that makes me wan’t to be a railroader and engineer. and the fact of movig a 15,000 thousand ton train with the move of a finger!![:D] I won’t get married so if i do get transferred it won’t be hard on the kds or wife. I WASN’T GOING TO GET MARRIED ANY WAYS. I know this is what I am going to do and I send a very special railfan thank you to evryone who responded to me!!! It really means a lot!!! [:)][:D]

Now the challang is getting hired on and balincing being a railfan and a locomotive engineer!

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At your age, i don’t think its up to you to judge that.

And be a normal kid, not a foamer. I’m not joking. Most of the reason people don’t care that i’m into trains is because i’m not a big geeky nerd. I don’t go off spoutng facts about trains, acting like a know-it all. I play football and baseball, and hope to go to college with a scholarship. I hang out with people. (albeit less than I should) I work for a railroad, legally, and will be fully certified as a fireman/conductor this year. I read a ton, pick up any knowledge I can get, and store it away for later. I am friendly, and not an introvert.

I enjoy rail fanning, and taking pictures. This is important to me, but I do not tresspass. I do not wave to the trains crew foamer-like, I give them a head nod and and hand wave, and they always return it. These guys are the ones you will learn everything from.

And take it from me, if anyone goes back and looks at my posts since I joined, it will be an amazing difference. Back then I thought I knew everything, and that everybody lov

11

From about a step pr two ahead, here’s what I advise.

  1. hang around here. Learn somethings.

  2. Find a good school advisor, who canhelp you. You WILL get blasted by “You need college! Wer have to shove COllege down your Throat! No big university, no good job for you! Learn Learn Lear! Get Loans earn Scholarships! Pay Later with your kidneys!” And don’t get me wrong, college is good. Education is good. But a lot of school counselors are set up for doctor, lawyer, pilot, mechanical engineer etc. A good one can work with you to get you in applicable classes without doing the anove

  3. Find train museums Find a good museum involved with the public. Around me, the Indiana Transportation runs in place of a commuter from their station to the Indiana Fairgrounds, and I volunteered as a car attendent. SO I got to get as close to the real thing as I can without insurance panicking at minor next to 100,000 pounds of equipment. It was 80 hrs over 2 weeks of sheer hell. Early rising, late to bed. On your feet all day, same turkey sandwhich provided everyday, heavy lifting up steep ramps. I can’t wait to go back. Museums have things to teach. Get to know them, and listen to all of the musuem volunteers you can. They are there because they care. But f you can find one that does more than just museum running, actually work with the public like this, you’ll get a whole different taste. These are people who are riding the train to go somewhere (usually, some just ride to ride). And did I menation I learned volumes there? I had the chance to work with someone who was going for their conductor license. She was a real treat. She could run the train with the dedication that an untrained eye would call stern. And at the same time, she could delight the kids.

  4. Liten to what the above people said. Some of them are train people. <

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I remeber saying that very thing I aint getting married and then came a little red headed girl then this drop dead black haired girl then a blonde and then a few more blondes another red head then a shot gun and now reality is ive made several millions of dollars over the years with the railroad but as most guys will tell you there will be a woman to help you spend those millions your going to make railroading. with that out of the way the next thing is dont drink and drive. a DUI will cost you the chance of ever being a engineer, or in most cases any job with the railroad. finish school and at any interview dont ever say you know that or i can save you money as ive seen that or i can already do that. it will make your application go to the bottom of the waste basket. best thing is be eager to learn and tell them you know nothing. they want clean slates on the ns to train the way they want it.

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Hi all.

I figure this is a fine place to jump in with my first post.

I was qualified as an engineer with CP in Nov. 2006. So I think I may help with a couple of suggestions. Most important is finishing your high school. As stated by the other posters, if you don’t have a high school diploma, class 1s will not hire you. If you want to be a manager, you will need a degree in business or engineering. You can still run a locomotive and be a manager as managers are often trained as engineers in the event of a strike by operations personel. In a nutshell, a manger has a better lifestyle and better work life balance than most operations personel.

Speaking of strikes, I am surprised that nobody has mentioned union membership so far. To be hired by a class 1 you must be willing to join the union. Joining the union establishes a seniority date and it is this date that will determine your preference of work and when you will be considered for locomotive engineer training. When you are in your final semester at high school, your grades are good and you still desire to be a locomotive engineer, go and submit your application to your class 1 of choice. Even if you are only 17 at the time do it. Once your application is submitted, your seniority date is established. At least this is the way on CP.

By the way, it was 8 years of working on the ground before I was offered engineer training and even now, nearly 3 years after the fact, I still don’t have enough seniority to work as an engineer full time.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have gotten my degree, as it would have opened more doors.

14

I too wanted to work for the railroad at age 13…and when I turned 18 I applied and the hiring officer stated…“but you wear GLASSES”… and at that time that cut me out of ever working for the railroad in an operational capacity. The lessons I learned from this…1) make sure you know what the hiring criteria are…you may not be able to qualifiy 2) have a plan B so that you don’t waste valuable time looking for an alternative career…

At your age you should be aiming for the stars…like getting the best education possible…going for scholarships etc…If becoming an engineer is still a dream of yours at 18 or 20 then go for it…

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My name is Rodney I have been a qualified locomotive engineer for 4 years now take all of the advice of my railroad brothers. Hear is some more advice todays locomotives are controled by a computer you do not have to be a wiz at it if something goes wrong in the middle of no where you must think out side the box as trouble shooting can get nerve racking.

Rodney

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I have worked for a Class 1 railroad and during this time I observed that the better railroaders were the ones who had served in the military. They were more disciplined, adapted well to being away from home, worked well with different types of personalities (believe me when I say you meet all types even in the brotherhood of railroaders), and were, generally, in better physical condition than the fellows who had no military experience. This is only my opinion. Military service is not a job requirement with any Class 1 that I know of.

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[quote user=“Flashwave”]

From about a step pr two ahead, here’s what I advise.

  1. hang around here. Learn somethings.

  2. Find a good school advisor, who canhelp you. You WILL get blasted by “You need college! Wer have to shove COllege down your Throat! No big university, no good job for you! Learn Learn Lear! Get Loans earn Scholarships! Pay Later with your kidneys!” And don’t get me wrong, college is good. Education is good. But a lot of school counselors are set up for doctor, lawyer, pilot, mechanical engineer etc. A good one can work with you to get you in applicable classes without doing the anove

  3. Find train museums Find a good museum involved with the public. Around me, the Indiana Transportation runs in place of a commuter from their station to the Indiana Fairgrounds, and I volunteered as a car attendent. SO I got to get as close to the real thing as I can without insurance panicking at minor next to 100,000 pounds of equipment. It was 80 hrs over 2 weeks of sheer hell. Early rising, late to bed. On your feet all day, same turkey sandwhich provided everyday, heavy lifting up steep ramps. I can’t wait to go back. Museums have things to teach. Get to know them, and listen to all of the musuem volunteers you can. They are there because they care. But f you can find one that does more than just museum running, actually work with the public like this, you’ll get a whole different taste. These are people who are riding the train to go somewhere (usually, some just ride to ride). And did I menation I learned volumes there? I had the chance to work with someone who was going for their conductor license. She was a real treat. She could run the train with the dedication that an untrained eye would call stern. And at the same time, she could delight the kids.

  4. Liten to what the above people said. Some of them are train people.

  5. Talk to other train people

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Hi evreyone! How are we this fine Friday evenig! Anyway, I’ve been following my thread for sevral days and I can only say one thing, thank you all for responding! I realize that I don’t know everything but i’m eager to learn. It will of course be a while before I get to be qualified as a engineer, or hire on for that fact, but I know that deep down in my heart this is what i’m going to do. I have so mutch drive and motovation now. One quetion though. I wear glasses will this crush my chances of being a locomotive engineer? [:(] Any way like I’ve said before I am hungry to learn about the railroad and can’t wait to try and hire on with the railroad no matter how many times as it takes me to get hired on with the railroad. Thank’s again,

Justin

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Justin , For the last 36 years I have been living your (and MY ) dream . Been railroading all across the Southeastern part of the U.S. (finally found a home on the former I C Railroad) . First off , as others have stated - EDUCATION , EDUCATION , EDUCATION . No one is going to hire a drop-out . Secondly keep a clean record . No one is going to hire somebody with a criminal record . AND , if you want to be a LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER you must have a clean DRIVING record ! ! ! Third , keep a healthy body , starting out on the railroad is not for the “leasure class” , you will be doing the grunt work of a new hire . Now , let me see if you REALLY want to be an Engineer . Do you enjoy being with family and friends ? The railroads work 24 / 7 / 365 . As a new hire YOU WILL be working nights , weekends , holidays , birthdays , graduation days , anniversarys , and funeral days . Oh , and on the railroad it is NEVER too hot , too cold , too stormy , too ANYTHING to keep the freight from moving . Are you still with me Justin ? If you are , GOOD , you may have what it takes to be a RAILROADER ! Let me tell you what else you can expect as a RAILROADER , you will see and do what most NORMAL people would not even think of seeing or doing . The people you will meet and work with , the places that you will travel to . The sights and sounds of RAILROADING ! ! Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it . AND , for all of the above stuff mentioned , you get P A I D for doing it . Working on the railroads is getting better , new laws are going into effect that will make life on the railroad a little better for all . As of 16 July 09 the new "Hours of Service " law goes into effect . If a worker makes 6 starts in a week , they get 48 hours off . If a worker makes 7 starts in a week , they get 72 hours off . Kind of nice , my personal best was 146 starts in a row with no off day . With all of the “new” high tech improvements out there railroading is getting

20

Helo! Nice to meet you! I see you have taken the time to give me the “chat”.

Anyway I read youre post a few times and I am compleatly ok with working 24/7. I am a boyscout and don’t mind being out in all types of weather. Being with my family all the time get’s a little tiring too. But I dont take it that I don’t like my family, I love them, but it won’t bother me to be away from them often. als working nites weekends will be chalenging too but I like a good chalange! It won’t bother me that mutch either working holadays like b-days x-mas etc.

Anyway, I apareciate you giving me advice I am glad I got the chat out of the way, and I am perfectally content with it. Thank’s a millon! Justin[:D]