Is worth being train engineer?

Question

i am thinkig in start a railroad career as a conductor after NARS or Modoc course,but i have some doubts:i know that life at home will not be easy,however,my girlfriend has in mind that i will spend lots of hours out of home and she understands that,i also know that the pay is good and is a job that i will love to do,but is really worth it?i mean,i will earn enough and spare money to take care of my family,but i'm affraid to work a week without stoping at home,that will bi really bad;if i work 12 hours,what are the mandatory hours for rest at home?other thing that i need to know is how is going to be(in the future) the train engineers "office",modern diesel locos are compturized but they could have more confortable cabs,I think that train engineers deserve a cab with conditions equal to common offices(A/C,LCD displays,etc)

Well,i hope an answer as well an opinion to help me on my decision...

Thanks for your attention and greetings for all train engineers

Answer 1

Everyone knows the draw backs.  Everyone knows the good pay and decent benefits.

Is it worth it?  That is very subjective.  What is of worth to you may not be of the same worth for another.

So, only you can answer that question and then, only from the perspective of a future time.  

Looking back on my own career, I never regretted one day of my decision to go railroading.  But it isn't for everyone.

As far as a day at the "office", leave any notions of this behind.  Though many are equipped with computer screens and are "fly by wire", there's no keyboard, no mouse, and only a few buttons to perform various functions. The rest are analogue gages.

Locomotive cabs are much better these days, creature comfort wise, but you're still on the business end of a bunch of pushy tonnage, and it is geared to that purpose alone.

If the heaters work, they work.  if they don't, they don't.  If between repair facilities, bundle up, because you're goin' anyway.  It is called "do now, grieve later."  If you get a company directive to go, you depart or face charges of insubordination, heater, or A/C, working or not.

Ditto if your speedometer quits working.  The attitue is, you have a watch, and there are mile posts.  You don't need a speedometer.  Doable, but not the best way to operate.  Especially if you're in fog so dense you can't see anything, or if the mile posts are under three feet of snow.  If you're ordered to go, you go.  Under protest, if you wish, but you go or get cited.

If you are told that you will not rearrange your locomotive consist to get a more suitable unit on the point due to the train being expeditied (inter-modal) then you aren't going to do that either.

Equipment is better maintained these days, but you're still going to work with whatever you're given.

Railroading was never all fun, but there was a lot of it.  I'm afraid it's in rather short supply these days.

These are not reasons to forego a career as a rail, however.  You just need to find out more about the reality of the day in day out.

But for me?  Yeah.  It was worth it...

Answer 2

I worked as a conductor since 1990. On the BNSF, all trainmen make the same money after 5 years on the job. Two years ago I took a conductor job on an industry railroad. Go to work at the same time every day. Nights, weekends and holidays off. One day I asked to be an engineer, and two months later I was certified. It's a great job. To answer your question. After working 12 hours, you can be called back after 8 hours. I was on the extra board with BNSF many years ago. With 30 days in November, I went to work 38 times. But if you get through the first couple years, then you'll gradually earn the ability to pick the trains you want and the chaos will start to decline. At first however, your life is not your own.

Answer 3

A number of them seem to like it, just be ready to have it take over your life.  Its will be hard to plan on trips, holidays or vacations.  Hours of service rules will definately apply and be ready to get driven to motels in odd places in a carryall and have unpredictablle hours.  When the calls come for assignments, you MUST be available.

Answer 4

And to answer you questions on the train engines cab is that the newer locomotives have ac and have computerized controls.