Anyone ever worked for the RAILROAD?
Had a job offer from a major RR company. The benefits sound too good to be true. Anyone ever worked for one?
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nope but i heard your on call 24/ 7, if called in need to show up in 40 min or less, 0 -
If its unionized ask to see a contract book. Then you will know exactly what you get. If its non-union, what they are telling you could be too good to be true. 0 -
Email me....probably can answer most of your questions. 0 -
You will be "on-call" 24/7/365 until you have enough seniority to hold a "board" that gives you a little more flexibility. (Years probably)
You don't just go to work and get paid according to your union agreements.
The major carriers try to pay you as little as possible and use your union pay agreements as butt-wipe, because guess what???, your unions are powerless and without teeth.
You can't strike because of the interstate commerce thing, and now days, a railroad strike would be seen as a threat to national security and you would be ordered back to work by presidential decree, or people would start going to jail.
You will be expected to be available whenever the phone rings (including weekends and holidays) and will seldom be on the same schedule as your family so not good for a married person, particularly one with small children or a working spouse.
You will have to memorize a rule book similar in size to The New testament and new rules and updates to existing rules might be issued on a daily basis.
Violation of any of these rules will result in your suspension or permanent dismissal.
In addition to your union dues, you will pay $40-$100 a month, unless you're stupid, for "job insurance" (a policy that protects your income when you get suspended) and you WILL get suspended periodically, COUNT ON IT!!
I "know a guy" who's worked 3 starts since the first of this month. All on duty times have been 13-16 hours and at-home time between these shifts has not exceeded 10 hrs. 3 mins.
Can you say "fatigue"!
On the bright side, very little of what you do is particularly physically demanding, but every day will be a test of endurance, especially if you want to spend ANY time with loved ones instead of sleeping between shifts.
Union heavy equipment operators or electricians make twice what a locomotive engineer makes and most have regular working schedules.
The health insurance isn't bad, but my employee contribution has nearly doubled in the 3 years since I took the job, so that is rapidly losing it's luster.
Fortunately for me, I don't really need the money, I just do it for the glory![;)]
[Edit] I almost forgot to mention the equipment you're working with is very unforgiving and the combination of fatigue/dangerous equipment will cut you in half if you become complacent.
And, in the course of a 30 year career, you will probably kill 10-12 people in suicide by railroad and crossing incidents, and don't think you won't have to see the gory results, because you will!0 -
Why does everyone assume he's offered a train crew job? If that is the job then most of what has been said is true. But what about other fields in the RR industry? Most the track workers I know around here are local guys, who work and area of about 100 miles. Most are 8 hour day jobs with good pay. You may get on a surfacing gang or a tie gang that will travel all over the system. You could be gone for weeks at a time. Those jobs are best suited to the single person. But what a job. RR pays for your motel every night, you do the same thing, day after day, but never in the same location. Or maybe it's a managment job, there's a 9 to 5 deal there. The railroad is a great place to work. we have a motto out here on the track gang, "all you need is a strong back and a weak mind!". I love railroad work. It's either the hottest place or coldest place to work, depending on the season. You get to travel. The work is hard, easy, boring, exciting, scary, thrilling, etc. depending on the situation.
Got Guns?0 -
Retired after 31 years AT&SF/BNSF. MOW track welder. Still here living good.
Strong back and weak mind is true. Not for everyone.0 -
I used to be a "Carman" at a non-union (scab) maintence facility (Watco/SEK RR). We did any/all maintence on cars that came in. Changed wheels, brakes, couplers. Welded up cracks, replaced hucks (big rivets) etc. Sand blasted/painted cars (inside and out). Even built some cars from the ground up.
EVERYTHING on a RR-car is HEAVY! So it's work that takes some getting used to. But if you stick it out, you'll eventually be strong as a bull.
Alot of the work is done outside, year round, rain/sleet/snow or shine. Not much shuts it down.
What work was inside was in large draftly buildings that were HOT in summer and COLD in winter. For heat we mostly had wood burning stoves and fire barrels that we burned old RR ties in. Pretty primitive conditions where I worked. I think the "big boy" railroads have better facilities.
We worked a standard 40 hr week w/some OT as needed per contract. I made $8.00 per hour. Good wages 17 years ago for Coffeyville Ks.
Kids make that @ Sonic nowdays!
BTW: I knew one guy that worked track gang for the UP (Union Pacific) who got a back injury and disability after only a couple years on the job. I don't know what kind of settlements or Union benefits he had. But he made more money going fishing or sitting in a bar all day than I did working. Owned nice home & drove new cars etc. I do recall him having back surgery and being laid up for a year or so. But he doesn't "LOOK" very disabled now and appears to livin on Easy Street.0 -
can you swing a hammer boy...
quote:Originally posted by guns-n-painthorses
Why does everyone assume he's offered a train crew job? If that is the job then most of what has been said is true. But what about other fields in the RR industry? Most the track workers I know around here are local guys, who work and area of about 100 miles. Most are 8 hour day jobs with good pay. You may get on a surfacing gang or a tie gang that will travel all over the system. You could be gone for weeks at a time. Those jobs are best suited to the single person. But what a job. RR pays for your motel every night, you do the same thing, day after day, but never in the same location. Or maybe it's a managment job, there's a 9 to 5 deal there. The railroad is a great place to work. we have a motto out here on the track gang, "all you need is a strong back and a weak mind!". I love railroad work. It's either the hottest place or coldest place to work, depending on the season. You get to travel. The work is hard, easy, boring, exciting, scary, thrilling, etc. depending on the situation.
Got Guns?0 -
our is your work something like this. warning adult content 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPcLPzItOQs
quote:Originally posted by guns-n-painthorses
Why does everyone assume he's offered a train crew job? If that is the job then most of what has been said is true. But what about other fields in the RR industry? Most the track workers I know around here are local guys, who work and area of about 100 miles. Most are 8 hour day jobs with good pay. You may get on a surfacing gang or a tie gang that will travel all over the system. You could be gone for weeks at a time. Those jobs are best suited to the single person. But what a job. RR pays for your motel every night, you do the same thing, day after day, but never in the same location. Or maybe it's a managment job, there's a 9 to 5 deal there. The railroad is a great place to work. we have a motto out here on the track gang, "all you need is a strong back and a weak mind!". I love railroad work. It's either the hottest place or coldest place to work, depending on the season. You get to travel. The work is hard, easy, boring, exciting, scary, thrilling, etc. depending on the situation.
Got Guns?0 -
Thanks to all for the info. I myself entertain the vision of "working on the railroad" sometimes. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mp5shooter
our is your work something like this. warning adult content
So do youse guys sing "Camp Town Races"?[:D][;)]0 -
The BNSF guys in St.Louis were all old. Tells me no one retires. Must be something good about it. 0 -
i shoot with a guy that works for nw, when he retires {on time} he will make more money than i ever did working 0 -
I don't know any poor railroad workers.
Got Guns?0 -
quote:Originally posted by guns-n-painthorses
I don't know any poor railroad workers.
Got Guns?
Shortlines probably suck0 -
I wanted to thank you RR hands for answering the post. It is a union maint. job for Burlington with an excellent package. The job does require alot of traveling which I've done for the last 7 years.
I'm going to cross my fingers on this one! THANKS0 -
GOOD LUCK......hope it works out. 0
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