Train Conductor

[psysicx]

Anybody know what its like to be a train conductor?Pay,QOL,and benefits?

 

[sqwkvfr]

Try this guy: secks

I'm kinda curious, as well....Union Pacific was hiring a bunch not too long ago...I don't know if they still are or not.

 

[Flic1]

I wonder if there are any $80k Train Conductor Academies around?? I think Amtrak is still PFT........

 

[psysicx]

Now that is sad.Hopefully secks will type in.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

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


that's what google gave me

 

[Ill Mitch]

Anybody know what its like to be a train conductor?Pay,QOL,and benefits?

On the road alot, on call everyday you are not on the road, work outside in good and bad weather, all hours, no set schedule, pay is decent, but not the best or anything.
After putting in your time as a conductor, you can apply for a locomotive engineer...that would be pretty cool. But, same lifestyle unless you get one with a commuter railroad or Amtrak (which often operates the commuter railroads).

 

[psysicx]

Thanks keep it coming.

 

[falcon20driver]

Anybody know what its like to be a train conductor?Pay,QOL,and benefits?

The BN is hiring, you get paid during training and they pay well.
"Conductors earn an average of $67,128. BNSF employees receive annual benefit packages averaging $22,986." Quote from the link below
https://secure.recruitingcenter.net/clients/bnsf/PublicJobs/controller.cfm?jbaction=JobProfile&Job_Id=13871&esid=az

My little brother grossed $96,000. last year as a freight train engineer and he booked off plenty of times. Unlike aviation a 1st year conductor or engineer gets paid the same as a 30 year conductor or engineer, you get paid for the trip you do.

He has a two hour callout and usually works 12 hours and off 8 than on call again.

I guess if I couldn't fly that would be my next choice.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

There is a pretty good article in the January issue of the "Atlantic Monthly" about what would happen to Amtrak if the terrorists attacked it, Spain style. It would most likely be the straw that would break the camel's back, because it is surviving largely on govt. subsidies now. Wait, isn't that the same scenario with most of the airlines?

 

[TriStar_drvr]

Check out this link:

http://www.careerlink.org/0/0/5/7/interfac.htm


Check out the Train Service position. On call 24/7 with a 90 minute callout time. Can take years to become a locomotive engineer. However you can make $40,000 the first year and you're paid while in training.

 

[falcon20driver]

I don't think that pay is realistic, my brother grossed 80K his first year and forced to engineer after the first year, the pay is about the same for conductors and engineers.
He works for one of the highest paying railroads, but even the UP's pay is probably at least 80% of what he makes, you have to figure in overtime pay, that is significant.

Norfolk Southern is also hiring http://www.nscorp.com/nscorp/application?origin=header.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=home

If you look at the pay rates at NS those are per trip, you can easily do 8 or more trips a week, the road trips are not always 12 hours, you might complete the trip in 5 hours, the pay is the same.

 

[psysicx]

falcon 20 does your brother like it and did he know someone that got him on.Is there a way I contact him and ask some questions?

 

[falcon20driver]

Try the forum below
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=da499b6abb006d58f698a66daa7e3fe5

 

[supsup]

choo choo!!!1

I was a switchman/conductor for about 3 years in the midwest. Many of the previous comments are correct. No schedule, 90 minute call, 24/7, no set days off, good and bad weather. My first year i was a switchman for about 8 mos. and conductor the rest, made just over forty. Second year was over sixty. I usually would stay available for 9-10 days then lay off sick for 4 days. If you were available 80-85 % of the time no one bothered you. For the most part I enjoyed my time at the RR. I met some good guys and had some big fun on the road, but its a hard on your social life.

supsup

 

[psysicx]

Thanks for the info.

 

[secks]

Now that is sad.Hopefully secks will type in.

Of all days to not check flightinfo.com, I pick the day when I could actually help someone. Everything said here is pretty much true. The thing is, your QOL depends on many factors: passenger or freight? Class I or shortline? BNSF, UP, CN, IC, KCS, NS, CSX? Which seniority district? What time of year are you hiring on?

That being said, if you want to work freight (which is true railroading .. passenger stuff is a totally different ball game) and have a good QOL while making a pile of cash, GO CSX. You'll be on call 24/7, BUT you'll have guaranteed minimum pay. This means that during the winter, assuming you're not furloughed (after 2 years you'll be safe from this in most areas) you'll collect minimum pay every 2 weeks regardless of how little you work. There's nothing quite like collecting $2300 for 2 weeks of sleeping in.

Keep in mind that CSX only gives you 8 hours off after 12 hours on, and they can call you 2 hrs into your rest to call you up for your next run. So, during the Summer when freight is really picking up, you'll be lucky to get 5 hours of sleep before you're right back at it if you factor in a commute. Also, CSX trainmasters and RFEs tend to be pretty cool, laid back guys who don't go out of their way to bust your balls. What I've just said is true for the W&A seniority district (Atlanta and northward), but may not hold true for other districts.

The catch is that you have to PFT for CSX!! Hah, that ought to ruffle a few feathers around here. Unless you're already a conductor for another RR, you're gonna have to fork over $4250 for training at an approved training center. The training lasts 5 weeks, then it's off to on-the-job training for awhile. And no, the training you pay for doesn't apply to other RRs as far as I know.

If you don't feel like spending $4250 to be a slave to your cell phone, you can always work for NS. They will pay for everything during your training. There are a few catches. First, it's very hard to get hired in big cities. Hiring sessions usually attract over 150 applicants. Highly competitive. You'll be training for about 6 months earning between $400 and $500 per week with NS. With CSX, you'll mark up to 80% of your full rate much earlier .. in the end it's more economical to pay for the training. Your QOL will be much lower with NS, unfortunately. They are unofficially known as Nazi Southern. Trust me, this is a well-deserved name.

I don't know much about western RRs except for the fact that they furlough like crazy. So you'll probably jump around the country chasing seniority for your first 4 years or so if you try for UP or BNSF.

Good luck, WORK SAFE.

 

[DenverDude2002]

What kind of background requirements are required for entry level positions? Sounds like a cool job, i see lots of BNSF traffic and Ive been through Alliance Nebraska more times than I want to remember.

 

[psysicx]

Do they usually furlough in the winter when there is less work.And are you pretty much going to be furloughed there is no chance to stay on.And how often are you not called for a trip.Is it just random or is there a list.And have you seen this website.CSX-sucks.com thanks again.

 

[falcon20driver]

Don't believe that pay for training bull**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**, go with CN or BN, pay is better and you get paid **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good during training and you don't buy your job.

Don't know if the CN is hiring right now but the BN is, that's who I'd go with.

 

[bobbysamd]

"I am working on the railroad . . . ."

I have a friend who was flying for a company that went out of business. He called me a month ago and said a railroad in Wyoming is hiring people. I don't remember the name or title of the position, but he explained it involves assembling trains. He said the locomotives are moved about the yard by way of a remote control, something like R/C. He explained the railroad in question hires people without experience, and with no age discrimination. Pay is supposed to be great. He said one may be working six or seven days a week, six hours a day. Eventually, he said, he could train (sorry) to be an engineer.

It's not for me, but it sounded like interesting work, nevertheless. Pilots would have obvious transferable skills.