Am about to go to interview at Union Pacific rail. Applied for entry-level train crew position. (brakeman)?

Question

I have read UP website dozens of times. Am young with very young family. Looking at career aspects of it. But truly, what kind of work and lifestyle can I expect? What do I need to know that would'nt be included in their website? I have been contacted by U.P. and have completed first round of hiring process (reading test) and interview is just around the corner. Any and all info is very much appreciated.

Answer 1

Wow, lot of questions there, congratulations on making it through the first round.

The lifestyle is going to be totally unscheduled, you will be on call 24/7 as I am sure you have been told.

You can expect to work a lot of night shifts, weekends, holidays, and your kid's birthdays.

You wont be able to make an appointment because you wont know tomorrow or next week if you will be working or not.

The work itself will depend largely on the terminal, some terminals have almost all road jobs so you will be a brakeman on the road most of the time.

If there are many yard jobs at your location you can expect a lot of switch engines, if that is the case you wont be gone as much, at the end of the shift you will be able to go home.

Yard jobs are actually more fun for younger guys, more active, interesting but outdoors mostly and not as much money so they usually go to younger seniority.

Good work, good living but not necessarily a good family life.

If they ask you if you are willing to relocate answer yes, you probably wont have to but sometimes people are forced from one location to another as traffic levels rise and fall, they are absolutly not interested if you say you prefer to stay where you are.

Of course you will need to pass a drug test and eye test, color blindness will automatically disqualify you.  

If you are the type of person that needs a structured schedule and needs to know from one day to the next where you will be and what you are doing it is going to be a very difficult transition.

If you can be spontaneous and dont mind being flexible it will be much easier.

good luck!!

Answer 2

Tell you what Joeseph email me a phone number and i'll call you tomorrow and answer anything i can for you.I was on a train all day and i'm going to bed.If you respond let me know when a good time to call is.I'm in the mountain time zone so let me know if there's a time difference

Answer 3

engineers die every year from collisions and derailments.your wife will leave you unless she likes being alone.