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Anyone work for a Class 1 or Shortline RR?

Discussion in 'Jobs & Careers' started by bobg03, Dec 15, 2011.

  1. Dec 15, 2011 at 5:21 AM
    #1
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just curious with the size of the site if there are any T&E employees that work for one of the Big 4, Amtrak or a shortline??
     
  2. Dec 16, 2011 at 3:49 AM
    #2
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wow, this many members and no other conductors or engineers here?
     
  3. Dec 25, 2011 at 9:37 PM
    #3
    sdnicker2000

    sdnicker2000 Well-Known Member

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    I work for Union Pacific. I am a conductor/brakeman and remote control locomotive operator.
    You?
     
  4. Dec 26, 2011 at 3:58 AM
    #4
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    CSX...(Crash, Spill, Explode):D....on the old B&A line (Boston to Albany).

    I'm a conductor holding an X-board in a terminal that has no originating trains, cause I hate the hotel stays...IF I go west it's always a one-way and deadhead. Mostly yard work in an intermodal terminal.

    Altho the last year myself and the other guy on this board have been dubbed "Professional Flagmen", lots of bridge raisings for future double-stacks.

    We get a move every 14 days......so I bounce around a bit when I need a change. For some reason tho I always gravitate back to this board, when I go to the one of the other 3 terminals I take a road, yard or local, never a board. Heck it's only for 14 days...

    Sorry to hear that you guys have RCO.....I move around to avoid engineer school, I can hold better on the ground.
     
  5. Dec 26, 2011 at 4:04 AM
    #5
    TmecTaco79

    TmecTaco79 Well-Known Member

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    I work on LRV. Not really the same as you freight guys but still on 4' 8 1/2" track:D
     
  6. Dec 26, 2011 at 4:41 AM
    #6
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I love freight, first off cause it can wait......and best of all it doesn't talk back or blow you in.....:D

    This is my second career, I already retired from one......and I'm counting down on this one.
     
  7. Dec 26, 2011 at 4:55 AM
    #7
    TmecTaco79

    TmecTaco79 Well-Known Member

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    I would LOOOOOVE to get into freight. But I've heard you have to know someone to get a job in that field.
     
  8. Dec 26, 2011 at 5:21 AM
    #8
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I knew nobody.....still not even sure why I went this route..applied online got an interview a week later and off I went to Atlanta Georgia for training......but I do like my job, especially the guaranteed x-board....last worked thursday, 2nd out w/no jobs today tomm is rest day....hoping to make it all the way til the saturday yard extra...life is good...

    I look every day at job listings, I gotta work 9 more years......w/6 years seniority invested and todays economy, I'm guessing I'll be switching for the next 9 years...:D

    I had 25 years in at a large Global Pharmaceutical Company in the safety dept as a Firefighter/Haz-Mat tech/EMT and when I retired I was free to go anywhere and after interviewng at NS down south, felt that I would do better here in the Northeast, I watched other new guys struggle here w/the 5 years to 100% but owning a home where I could work in any of the four terminals in Massachussetts (especially cause I didn't have to live there..LOL) was a decision that paid off for me....I understand that things are different out west where the terminals are more scattered...
     
  9. Dec 26, 2011 at 5:32 AM
    #9
    TmecTaco79

    TmecTaco79 Well-Known Member

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    Right on man, that's some encouraging new because UP has a position open that I'll be applying for today. I really wanna land that job cause the freight world seems very fascinating. What kid when they're growing up doesn't like trains hahaha.
    Btw, what's x-board?
     
  10. Dec 26, 2011 at 5:48 AM
    #10
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well for the record, I'm not a buff or anything.....I just thought that it looked like a good job w/decent money and I am an outdoors kinda guy.

    The x-board is where they fill vacancies for vacations, sick days, personal days and extra trains that do not have an assigned crew and also flag jobs. I get a 2 hour call to report, if I don't make a certain amount of money in the 2 week period they supplement it w/a guarantee...if I beat the guarantee I keep it. I have to remain available 6 days a week 24 hours a day, with a mandatory 10 hrs off after I work a job.

    We have 5 boards in a 200 mile radius in 5 different terminals the other 4 boards are all junior guys that can hold nothing else and have to be there , myself and the 1 other man on the board where I am can hold those boards as well as a bunch of regular jobs in the various terminals but we like the diversity of where we are.....
     
  11. Dec 26, 2011 at 5:56 AM
    #11
    02YOTA33

    02YOTA33 Well-Known Member

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    Hey guys i'm matt new to the form thought i'd tell you about the company I work for. I'ts HERZOG and they deal with pasenger and fright rr.If you guys are looking a job with the railroad you should check out there website for job openings its a great company to work for in the rail industry.

    Herzog Contracting Corporation - Corporate Site




    Careers
     
  12. Dec 26, 2011 at 6:03 AM
    #12
    TmecTaco79

    TmecTaco79 Well-Known Member

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    That's not a bad gig at all. The job I'm going to apply for is in Texas(beaumont to be exact) so I'm not sure where they run. But it's something I'd think I'd like a lot. I'm an outdoors kinda guy myself and also like diversity. Routine work gets too boring for me.
     
  13. Dec 26, 2011 at 6:27 AM
    #13
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I can tell you a few things......

    The railroad for most....is the best job you'll ever hate..

    It's a lifestyle, not a job, nothing like anything you've ever done before...we make decent money for the lifestyle we live...it's not for everyone.

    and 3, you can't make up some of the stuff that you'll experience....

    The rules are brutal, you'll have a chance to buy insurance (not from the employer) for when you get put in the street for doing something stupid....having it is piece of mind. I got 7 days last year because I got off a car before it fully stopped, I made more staying home that week.
     
  14. Dec 26, 2011 at 6:34 AM
    #14
    TmecTaco79

    TmecTaco79 Well-Known Member

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    Oh shit!!!:eek: 7 days off?! That's crazy. But I can only imagine how strict the rules are cause I know it is a dangerous line of work. My GM came from the freight world and has told me a few stories that were fatal and near fatal.
     
  15. Dec 26, 2011 at 6:39 AM
    #15
    WizzyTRDTXPRO

    WizzyTRDTXPRO Well-Known Member

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    I'm a conductor for BNSF Railway have been there 8 years in May (3rd week of vacation next year YAY!). I work the Butte Subdivision for the last 6 and half years in the Powder River Basin.
     
  16. Dec 26, 2011 at 8:27 AM
    #16
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wow that must be some gorgeous area to work...we go thru the berkshire mts for about 25 miles of a 200 mile trip.the rest of is is rural or mostly of armpit beauty..I can't wait for that week 3, 2 more to go...LOL

    I had 7 weeks total at my last job, coming here w/these f'd up hours sure was culture shock to say the least....
     
  17. Dec 26, 2011 at 8:32 AM
    #17
    WizzyTRDTXPRO

    WizzyTRDTXPRO Well-Known Member

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    I'm second generation so I knew what I was getting myself into, for a while my dad and I were working the same pool and everything. Yeah it is pretty I take it for granted when ever I have a student conductor it reminds me how it is. I can't wait for that week 4 that's a few years away :(.

    Video of where my pool is.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbuKsfROPHc
     
  18. Dec 26, 2011 at 8:45 AM
    #18
    Swanson52

    Swanson52 Well-Known Member

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    I worked for BNSF in alliance from 97-02. My dad was an engineer out of Edgemont making the Gillette run, but I think he retired.
     
  19. Dec 26, 2011 at 8:55 AM
    #19
    WizzyTRDTXPRO

    WizzyTRDTXPRO Well-Known Member

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    I hired out in 04 so just a little after you left.
     
  20. Dec 26, 2011 at 11:22 AM
    #20
    bobg03

    bobg03 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just curious......are they Union? Site doesn't give much info...:confused:

    Doesn't quite look the same as working for a Class 1.
     
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