Anyone work for the railroad? Did you go to school? How did it all work?

Question

Anyone work for the railroad? Did you go to school? How did it all work?

Answer 1

I hired on with the Seaboard Coastline in 1968 as a Machinist Apprentice, I became a Journey Machinist in 1972. After several mergers over the years, its now called CSX transportation. I will soon complete 39 years and for the most part its been an enjoyable career.  Last year I made a little over $60,000 but you have to work some overtime as my base salary is just over $40,000.

Answer 2

I live right next to a railroad here in my hometown of Ely, Nevada, and I know a couple of people who worked for the Rail Road. They tell me it's a good paying job, especially being that the railroad here in Ely is a big tourist attraction. Here in Ely, the railroad used to be a short line for the copper ore that was mined out of Ely in the 1900's, and so all of the miners used to load their copper ore on the train cars headed for the main line up by Elko, Nevada. Also, during the first 40 years of the 1900's here in Ely, everyone who went to high school rode the train to school. Now though, the Northern Nevada Railway is just a tourist attraction that gives people a chance to ride on an old steam train and kind of see the countryside around Ely.

Answer 3

sorry

Answer 4

It depends on the job you want.  I applied for the railroad and know a bit about the railroad.  I was going to be a conductor.  Pay was around 3000 every 15 days.  If you were on call everyday and didn't call off or take off days sick or tired.  The pay was guaranteed work or not.  Most jobs don't require any college education.  Some railroads hire conductors out of a railroad college called NARS.  I am listing several links to railroads if you are interested in jobs.

Answer 5

I work for CN out of Niagara Falls, Ontario, as a conductor.

I hired on as part of a pilot project; I went to school for two semesters at a college, then was hired.  I'm told U.S. railroads do this fairly regularly, but it's a new thing in Canada.

I already had a college education behind me when I hired on, but I'm not sure how that influenced the hiring staff.  Basically, while I was still in school, I sent applications to several railroads, to see where it would lead.  I was called back by several of them, interviewed by a few, and had job offers from CN and CP.

I took the offer from CN, over the CP one, for several reasons.  The pay was better at CN, the likelihood of layoffs was significantly less, and there was a the possibility of working closer to home.  All in all, I'm glad I did what I did.

It's definitely an interesting career, and you can make a good paycheque when you put yourself out there and start grabbing extra runs and overtime.  However, it ruins your social life, and time at home is often at a premium.

Answer 6

I work for NS in roanoke, VA.  Managment job in accounting/finance/auditing I have a BSBA in MIS, and use it in my job.  It works out great.  I love working for the railroad!