Train engineer classes?

Question

OK... Im a junior in high school and im interested in working on the railroad driving trains. I recently got a letter from the school about vo-tech classes at our community college for machining operations. The classesthat you can take are prints, layouts and measurements, math for occupational technology:Intro to manufacturing, lathe operations and milling operations. After completing theese classes I would recieve a Certificate of Competency in Machining Operations. Are anything of theese classes good to take to prepare to be a train engineer? I don't want to waste my time and not need the classes. Any other suggestions on how to become a engineer? Thanks for any answers

Answer 1

All good advice.

For a head start on other prospective hirees, check into one of the railroad academies, such as MODOC academy.

Some railroads such as BNSF and CSX give graduates of these institutions preference in hiring.

You wont be hired directly as an engineer. All engineers come from the ranks of conductors on the class 1 carriers. You will start out as switchman/brakeman but that is in the same department as engineer and as staffing requirements dictate you will be offered a chance to promote to engineer.

The best bet is probably to start in an entry level job such as the track department for a season, then transfer at the first opportunity.

Typically this is how a hiring person will look at a prospective class:

First will be class transfers from other departments with a good work record

Then people with previous experience from other railroads,

then academy graduates, not that they consider this to be very valuable training, you still have to go through most on the job training but it demonstrates you are serious and have a strong commitment to the railroad industry.

Then it is "off the street" hiring.If you have a reference from an employee of the railroad you are looking at it helps tremendously.

Don't give up if you aren't accepted the first time, you have to be persistent and if you are willing to move, that helps.

Good Luck, it is a demanding life but either you like it or hate it, not much in between.

Answer 2

Though 'tis true the divorce rate is much higher than the national average amongst railroad families, but, as Andy rightfully pointed out, you won't need an attorney the day after you hit a seniority roster.

Both my grandmothers were railroad wives, as was my aunt and my mother.  There were no divorces.  I have a wonderful railroad wife.  My brother had a railroad wife of 30 years.  My daughter is married to a locomotive engineer.  But, people are ready to split the sheets at the drop of the hat these days anyway, so this is a non-issue.  You can head off trouble by finding a woman who can handle it, and waiting until you're 45 or so before you walk down the isle...

Math courses will be a big help.  Day to day operations don't require a great deal of math to get from point "A" to point "B".  But, to truly understand all that is actually at play insofar as running a train is concerned, including how the train reacts to the forces that run through it except when in steady state, a better base in mathematics is needed.  This is especially true when getting into truly understanding air-brake operation.

But, take your classes.  It'll be a while before you earn the right to sit on the right hand side anyway.  In the interim, when starting out as a conductor as Andy has said, you are subject to furlough, sometimes for an extended period.  You can't lose if you have something to fall back on, like a good education, including the classes you have named here.

I wish you well.

P.S.  I forgot to mention, any trouble with alcohol or drugs, either happening at the time or on a record somewhere in your past (eg: drunk driving), will be the end of any career with the railroad before it even starts.  Keep thy nose clean...

Answer 3

No sorry to tell you that those classes would be useless as far a an engineer's job.Most all railroads now hire engineers from the conductors ranks.So you need to start as a conductor.Don't let roadrash's comments discourage you if that's what you want to do in life.You do work on call and it can be tough on your social life.As far as marriage they are lots of us that are happily married.And when you start you more than likely will be working an extra board so you work all the routes not just the one's the older guys don't want.Railroad life isn't for everyone, but i'm on my 32nd year and i wouldn't still be there if i didn't like it!

Answer 4

no they are useless. you could be a locomotive mechanic apprentice though.there is a school in alberta canada that teaches locomotive operation,.its about 8000.$.it is a hard life to live.you are on call all the time .you get the routes that senior guys dont want.get a good divorce lawyer,working on the railway is not good for a marriage.