How long does one have stay on extra board before aquiring a full time positionw/ RR? And is the job THAT bad?

Question

What is the length of time that one works extra board say starting out as a conductor before getting a fulltime job ? And Ive read a lot of the horror stories re: working with the railroad. Is it really that bad?

Answer 1

It depends on where you work.  In some unpopular areas (where cost of living is high or the hours on jobs are hard to work), senior men will transfer away from them and those jobs are left open, so even relatively low seniority trainmen can own a job.  In area where there are good jobs (yard jobs during the day that pay overtime), and cost of living is nice, you have to be very senior to own anything.  There are many places that have too few employees and have open jobs, and there are other places that are overstaffed and are laying employees off, where the good jobs are scarce and you'll be in spare h**l for quite a while.

I owned jobs for the last few years as a conductor in this area, and forgot how the spare board could be.  Now I am a new engineer and am right back at the bottom of the seniority barrell, back on the BOARD.  It's bad - you have even less control than usual about when you work, and scheduling anything is impossible (if you take a day off, you are put to the bottom of the board, so you lose work).  It's bad, the sort of thing that can break a marriage.

Answer 2

USA only. Besides those problems mentioned, you have to consider what you want for your family. Wives and children also don't have any sense of schedule and order. The train crew, even on highest seniority slots, are generally gone half the time, and in bad weather can be out for a week.

It is really what you want to provide, financial or emotional security.

Depending whether a class of high seniority hires is all retiring within a few years, which seems to be the case for Vietnam era railroaders at this time, getting stuck on EB for very long, is only for individuals with wanderlust.

Answer 3

The life of a railroader can be a challenge for most. In my career with CSX I have worked as an extra engineer and conductor. Both jobs go hand and hand. One is tipically on call 24 hours for 6 days. As you grow in senority, your chooses on jobs become better.  The extra man (engineer or conductor) work as fill-in personal. They fill open position when the regular man is off work; ie. vacation,sick,or what ever reason.  When you say full time position, these are full time. There are basically two kinds of postions. The first is a regulary assigns position. The workers on these jobs work the position all the time. These jobs vary from regular assigned local jobs, shifter work, pusher service, yard, and through frieght service. They can have regular call times( start times). But, most jobs are called as needed. As a extra man (second job type) you fill in when the regular man can not work, and there are extra jobs not cover by regular assinged personal.

    There has been some changes in nation labor contracts that allow for differant rest cycles. The first is a 6 and 1( 6 days available - one day off). My engr. extra brd. has went to a 7 and 2. I admit ,I like the 7to 2 you get more rest.  The good thing about extra brd. is they tipically pay a quareentee pay. Meaning they pay you to wait by the phone for 6 days, weather they call you or not. So you can get paid for not working. My engineer brd pays @ 2400 every two weeks- @1500 for conductors.  The railraods control the number of workers on these boards. It is smart business for them not to pay too much free money. they want you to earn it. The pay levels are tipically on a five year progresion, starting at 75% pay. Reaching 100% pay at five years. Also with CSX these extra brds. are at their discression. CSX can go with out them. It is rare to have a job that starts at the same time every day. As I've said you are on call. This is a first in first out work rotation. Weekends off and holidays are slim,this is a tranportation job.

  Overall I can not conplain. I am a high school graduate with some college and no labor skills, making a good living with good beniftts. I,am starting my 12 years now and the life style has settled in( i'am use to it).

Answer 4

Working for railroads can be tough in the beginning, but give it a few years and you will work your way up the roster.  I worked in the track department for almost two years.  I made a lot of money, but now I work in the signal department, better pay and a great job.   I recommend working at a railroad.

Answer 5

I work on a yard extra board for U.P. I would rather stay on a extra board right now then a regular turn or job. I bring in $2,100 guarentee with my free day. Here recently though I've been busting guarentee. Even though you are on the extra board you are a full time employee.

Answer 6

all depends on the railroad your working for.