I don’t feel like working indoors at some boring job again this summer so I was wonder if any railroaders out there know if its possiable that a class one (NS and CSX in Pittsburgh) hire people to work the MoW crews over the summer. I know summer is when they do all their big projects so I assume they need extra hands.
A couple questions; would a railroad hire somebody for 3-4 months, whos is 19? One MoW guy I talked to said that I could always sign on and then ‘screw them’ by quiting, but I might want to work for the railroads after college and I don’t need to be black listed.
other than shortlines the big railroads do not hire part timers, all jobs are full time employ and other than on commoter railroads were some interns are hired to do passenger counts or to take temperature readings in cars , i have never seen any summer workers.
Back during the days of smaller Class 1s I believe some of the railroads might have hired college kids for working just the summer months. I believe my mother told me that Frisco did this. However, the jobs were more of a cleaning nature than anything to do with trains.
I agree that today the railroads are hiring only full time employees, other than a few college interships. The interships are not in the yard or trains but an office type job.
Actually, summer hiring or casual hiring was fairly common in MOW and train service some years ago. The SP among others hired seasonal or casual student labor. This still meant balancing school with the demands of RR life and could be quite difficult.
I have heard that Montana Rail Link has hired some summer help in recent years, so you might try out there. Be a nice place to spend a summer.
I agree that today the railroads are hiring only full time employees, other than a few college interships. The interships are not in the yard or trains but an office type job.
That’s not true. I worked for BNSF last summer as a transportation intern last summer and am doing it again this summer. Along with many of the engineering interns, we are the field interns who are able to travel about the division to which we are assigned. We are able to sit alongside the trainmaster, ride trains, and participate in many other day-to-day operations.
Besides BNSF, several other class I’s have similar programs. I have seen posts for such jobs on UP, CN, and NS.
I worked on a track gang back in the 80s. You may be able to get a job but dont tell them you are only temporary. Our normal work season was may thru oct depending on weather.Good Luck!
I don’t know how good your chances are for obtaining an internship this summer since the hiring process is about 99%, if not 100%, complete. The way I found my internship was by simply searching BNSF’s employment page online.
If you are in college and are serious you can get into a railroad for the summer. I just turned 21 and got myself an internship with a new shortline. I have tried class 1 railroads for about 4 years and have gotten nothing but jerks and no responses. Honestly I think you should try to get with a shortline if there is one in your area. The one I am working for is 2 1/2 hours from my house, but because I want it bad enough I am making it work. If you want some help or suggestions shoot me an e-mail and I will tell you what I did to get into the railroad.
Good luck,
Mike H
Mike I agree with you partly in your position that shortlines do tend to be a bit more pacient (sp) when it comes to hireing part time or for internships, ther is less red tape. I know of a couple of shortlines in the Delaware Valley, here in PA that hire teenagers. New Hope and Ivyland Railroad are looking for people. I also know of some teens, or youngsters working over at Steamtown, and with the Strastburg (sp) Railroad.
Unfortunitly (sp) the good old days are gone in which, a teenager could be a terminal dispatcher, engineer, trainmaster, ect… I think I was born in the wrong generation. lol
You are about thirty years too late to hire out on a Class I for the summer, the last time I remember seeing them hire trainservice employees for summer help was about thirty years ago this summer and the individual I specifically remember is a doctor today, so he did well. It used to be a common practice but with todays’ two man crews and other downsizings, it is also a thing of the past.
Back in the summer of '79, I had a summer job at the UP carshops in Omaha (RIP). Did a lot of grunge work picking up trash & scrap from the property & cutting weeds. They were going to have the UP stockholders meeting in Omaha that year, and wanted to dress up the place a bit for possible stockholder tours. The best day though was when I got to vacuum and wash window of all the fancy business cars the day before they ran some short excursions for the stockholders.