Train conductor?

Question

I live in manhattan and I was wondering how I can become a train conductor? I looked at the MTA website for the subway and for the long island railroad, but all the jobs are like electrical work. So if anyone knows how to become one or something else with the MTA please let me know. Thanks.

Answer 1

Don't forget there are other railroads in the NYC area too--  Metro North, Noo Joisey Transit, PATH, New York & Atlantic, Amtrak, and CSXT.

Might help to check them out too.

Answer 2

On some companies, you start as a track maintainer and work your way up to conductor.  CSX is a better bet.  You will be more likely to find a conductor opening with a large Class 1 railroad.  If not, try Norfolk Southern or NYA.

Answer 3

go to the MTA offices and tell them you want to interview for this position.

Answer 4

Don't forget about other railroads in the area, such as CSX.

Here's my tips & advice for getting a job with the railroads:

  you don't need any schooling to become a switchman or conductor or most any other rr job. There are schools such as the Modoc Rail Acedemy in California where you can go to learn how to become an engineer or conductor, ect... Most railroads do on-the-job training for those jobs, but if you want to work for a Class 1, going to a place like Modoc might be a good idea (it is still optional).

On most railroads, like CSX, you have to become a conductor before you can become an engineer. Some railroads, such as Montana Rail Link don't have conductors, instead they have 2 engineers share the duties of engineer & conductor. With MRL you have to become a switchman ( basically a yard engineer) before you become an engineer.

From what I've heard from other railroad employees I've talked to, doing seasonal track work is a great way to "get you foot in the door" for future rail jobs. If you have done seasonal track work & you apply to be a conductor, your application will carry lots more weight than an application from a person that hasn't.

If you want to be a conductor, you need to be able to lift a 70-80lb. knuckle coupler. You should also be able not only to lift a knuckle, but carry it the length of the train, also. General point: BE IN SHAPE!

If you want to be a conductor, be prepared for long & odd hours. Regular hours? They don't exist on the railroad. They will call you up whenever they need a train crew, whether it's 11:00 AM or 1:00 AM. You will have to work alot of the night-shifts & holiday shifts & stuff at first when you're low on the seniority list. As you gain seniority, you will have more control over your hours & be able to choose them more. Sometimes you can be away for several days at a time. If you don't want go to work at 3:00 AM, then the railroad isn't for you.

Railroad pay is good.  I don't know what CSX or other railroads up where ou are pay, but I know that pay at Montana Rail Link can be up to $90,000 for engineers.

Even as a Conductor, you will still need to be able to repair minor mechanical difficulties like broken knuckles (couplers) and air hoses, loose or dragging banding, tarps, cables, ect…

The more knowledge the better! Even if you're going to become a conductor or engineer, it still pays to know a bit about the engine & stuff, nothing in depth, just some basic knowledge can come in handy sometimes.

You can get tired working the night shifts. A railroad rule does say that if both crew members are tired that they can notify dispatch & pull the train into a siding so they can get a little shut-eye.

Check the railroads' websites for job listings & details specific to that railroad.

In addition to great pay, you also get great benifits. Sound pretty good, huh? But don't forget: in turn for that high pay & good benifits, you have to be on call pretty much 24/7 any time of the day or, any day of the week, holiday or no holiday, weekend or weekday. They give you about a 1-2 hours to get ready & get down to the station.