How will my first year as a train crew member (St. Louis) be at Union Pacific?

Question

How will my first year as a train crew member (St. Louis) be at Union Pacific?

Answer 1

Better than if you worked for NS!!  We dont even have trainmans guarantee!!  good luck man

Answer 2

Hi,

     My husband is the General Mechanical Foreman @CSX & he LOVES his job.He started off as a carman 10 years ago.His first couple of years were tough( you have to take alot of classes & obtain different certifications)As a "railroad" wife@ first I was a little stunned @ the level of respect that people would show when he was asked about his job.The benefits of railroad retirement & the medical insurance are also a great plus.Over all I would have to say that the railroad industry has been good to us...but it did take alot of work on his part!Another thing is that with economy derailing...the railroad is expected to be a prime choice of transportation & the job should be a secure one.

Answer 3

Like Coolhand said hopefully you'll get to work all year.Get RCO qualified as soon as possible so you have more options open as far as being able to work.Right now all our guys are called back and working.They even just hired a new class so maybe that's a good sign.Stick with it because there are going to be a lot of retirements in the next 5 years.

Answer 4

Hopefully you will actually get to work, I have been cutoff, called back, and cutoff numerous times here in the Southern Region.  But if you can work, you will probably be working in the yard.  Are you RCO qualified?  If so, most likely you will be working in the yard.  Even if you can hold a regular turn, or a road extra board, you will get bumped alot, and probably have to work off of the bump board, which means you might go in many different directions.  Good luck, stick with it.