Information on being a train conductor and working for CSX?

Question

Hey, I was thinking about becoming a conductor and working for CSX. I went to the CSX site and read the job descriptions and company info. Now I just want the help of anyone that can give me further insight on what I would be doing as a condutor, day to day activites, whats expected, the good and bads of the job, starting pay, what knocwlege or skills will I need for the job, whats required in conductor school, costs, etc. I just want to know anything from the smallest of things to any other thing that may be good know. Also, if anyone is familiar with CSX and can give me as much details pertaining to the job as a conducor and what it's like to work for CSX I'll greatly appreciate it. I need as much info as possible, any and all help will be good.

Answer 1

hello, i am a conductor for a passenger rail, so i give you some of the info you need. first it is not a 9-5 job or Mon-Fri work week. the hours can suck (no do suck) but the pay is good, as for training you need to know there safety rules witch is very important they are for a reason For the RR i work prier RR work experience was not necessary, if you have a GED or high school diploma you should be fine, they will also drug test you and back rounds checks etc.

   your job duties, may include putting trains together,working with the engineer and yardmasters,rail traffic control,and so forth .When you do get the job i strongly suggest getting disability insurance it is easy to get hurt around a rail yard I know from experience it happen to me good luck hope you get the job

Answer 2

Well, your grammar is good and spelling is great, so I am guessing you aren't from  CSX southern divisions (hehehe).

Actually, pay is pretty good, but the benefits are great.  They make you pay for health these days, but it's not nearly as much as going it by yourself, and I heard that they just stopped charging the conductors for school (I had to pay the 5 grand - sheesh).

As it said on the website, it's 24-7 in all weather.  We move freight, and many of the tracks we use are also used my commuter rail, so we usually work at night, when there aren't many commuter trains.  Buy good rain gear, GoreTex or the like, and if you are in the north, good heavy-cold gear.  I bought a lot of mine army-surplus, very warm, but cheap (and cheap-looking).  The company supplies work boots, but I like to use their waterproof-insulated boots for winter only, and buy my own summer boots out of pocket and deduct them for taxes.

Get used to carrying everything.  I had a 26" duffel back with all my books, forms, and tools, with a backback to hold clothes, toiletries, and other stuff for a hotel stay, and a medium sized cooler for meals/drinks.  This sounds like a lot, but you will only be carying it onto the engine - the train does the rest of the work.  You have to have a good reliable car too, or access to the wife's car in an emergency.

Starting pay around me depends on how often you work - you can make 40-50K if you are available and the work is there.  Guys in Detroit around this time, when the auto plants are slow, are starving now, but they make crazy money after August and into the new year.  It's hard on a family though - you will be working nights and sleeping days, while they will be opposite you, so you may not see them for long periods.  Forget about it if you're on 2-day road trips.

You won't be going cross-country.  You can only work a route if you have first memorized it, so you can only wok about 300 miles in any direction from your home terminal.  The government laws state that you can not work more than 12 hours at a stretch, including deadhead time, so you won't be on any 36-hour trip across the nation.

One skill you need to be good at is kissing a-- when needed and respecting the jerks you have to work with.  The guys with the most knowlege are grumpy old bigots who think that training you consists of either screaming at you or sitting back and watching you, and then walking over and saying, "well, kid, you really screwed that up, didn'tcha..."  If you can sit tight and watch them, and not get them all riled up, you can learn a lot.

CSX isn't as bad as NS (n**i-Southern, I've heard), but it's a big unionized corporation, so if you have any trouble, you go to your union rep and not anybody in the company.  

Railroading in general isn't too bad.  Bennies are good, and you get to be your own boss a lot (managers sometimes come out and watch you, but it's not like in an office.  Also, where else can you get paid to ride the side of a railcar going 30 miles an hour through beautiful countryside?  It's like a carnival ride in heaven.