Whats your first week on the job like as a union pacific train crew member?

Question

how many hours you work?any travel in first week ?overnight out of town first week?any classroom time?

Answer 1

Dan-

Congratulations on the job!  That is great news!

I just have to know, what hub were you hired into.  

Roseville?

I have been looking into a couple of slots over here in the Bay Area, (Milpitas and Oakland).

Its still on the Roseville Hub, but I have been told that most of the guys that are hired out of the Bay Area, tend to stay here pretty local because of the traffic volume.

Whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but the slots that I am looking are the shop jobs, not Train Service.

At any rate, I am happy for you!

Good Luck!

Answer 2

With BNSF, it was two weeks of classroom time at the beginning. There's a lot to learn. Then all the new people, about 20 of us, were assigned to the extra board. Some of us were able to fill vacancies as Switchman in a large switching yard that had several crews working one of three shifts around the clock. The remainder of people were on-call to work the main-line-trains with in our assigned district.

I believe that BNSF and UP pretty much still have the same training program. So, it'll be classroom time the first week, or two. No out of town or over nights. Just 8 hours of class every day. I remember that many folks in my class would get together at the end of the day, and stay out til all hours of the night. Now, I'm a friendly, approachable, and social guy, but I never went with 'em. I studied in the evenings. And it payed off later at testing time, and when knowledge was important during the first few months on the job, and you're expected to know what you are doing. I kept my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut. The socializing followed soon enough, but I wanted to learn as much as I could first, and become somewhat comfortable with the job.

Answer 3

After getting hired, and going through the physicals and drugs tests, this is how it goes.

1.  3 weeks of class, 6 days a week, learning rules, signals, air brake rules and so on, none of it will make sense until you actually get out there and work.

2.  3-4 weeks of brakeman/switchman training.  You will be assigned to one yard job (a different one each week) different shifts, 12 hours a day, different days off each week, to learn the layout of the yards, learn switching, and basically just learn the processes of going to work

3.  2 more weeks of conductor class, more rules, focusing more on thru frieght.

4.  4 more weeks of ojt, this time assigned to a conductor and going out on the thru frieght trains, taking them to the outlying locations, spending the night, or day, and them bringing a train home.  If your conductor will let you, sit up in the front seat, and do as much as you can while you have someone there to help you, because they will turn you loose soon enough, and you still won't know near everything you need to know.  

5.  After completion of your student trips, you will be a promoted conductor, that doesn't mean that your senority (or lack of) will allow you work as a conductor, you will probably have to work in the yard for several years first.

6.  If you are lucky, your service unit will send you to RCO (remote control) class, that will give you more options to work.

7.  And lastly, know this, UP is nothing but liars, I was told when I hired out that they would fill up my pockets, and that I wouldn't have time to enjoy it because I would be working so much.  A lie.  When I was cut off the first time, they said it would be for 2 months.  Another lie (14 months).  They let me borrow out, said it would be for 6-8 months.  Another lie (2 months).   But if you can work, it will pay good, good luck.

Answer 4

That is going to depend on your location, I am assuming you mean after the first couple weeks that are classroom and orientation which will be all at home and daytime, 40 hours a week, which in the railroad industry is what we refer to as "part time work".

Just like the rest of your career, it will depend on the requirements of the terminal you are employed out of.

If you are in a location with a lot of yard/local assignements you may be home every day between shifts, but roughly half of those will be night shifts.

If you are in a terminal with mostly road assignemnts, you may be gone 70 or 80 hours a week, that is not unusual.

That's what railroading is, you are not going to know from one week to another what you will be doing.

Get used to it.

Answer 5

Congratulations!  Getting hired is hard to do.  The first week?

Monday:

Report to hospital at 07:00 for full frontal lobotomy.

Tuesday:

It is discovered too much grey matter was removed.  You will then be given the UP Operating Management Test Battery.

The Test Battery works as follows:

1............The Battery is the 72 volt variety that came out of a retired GP-9.

2............There are two leads, one to an "anode", which is grasped in the left hand, and one to the "cathode," that is grasped in the other.

3............The person conducting the interview controls the voltage. A prospect is judged on his management capabilities by a simple time = brain damage formula, as follows.  

If you can hang on for:...................................

1 to 3 seconds.....................Normal neurological function.    Unsuitable for management.

11 seconds...................Some moderate damage to neural synapses. Borderline qualification for MOP (Manager of Operating Practices).   Was once called “Road Foreman of Engines.”

16 seconds...................Indicative of drug use when younger.   Moderate damage qualifies you for an immediate position as an MTO (Manager of Train Operations).    Was once called “Trainsmaster.”

22 seconds..................You’re on the fast track to Division Superintendent!

27 seconds..................Say hello to Omaha!!   First out for an office with a window!!!

32 seconds..................Congratulations... just got the interviewer’s job!!!!!

45 seconds or longer...Guaranteed next open chair on the Board of Directors will have your rump in it!!!!!!

And you wasted aaaaall that money on an MBA...

Wednesday:

Wife wants to know where you’ve been for the last two days.  Threatens to leave.

Thursday:

Dog tired.  Looking forward to some sleep.  Phone rings at 10:30.  You’re called for a drag at 00:01.

Friday:

You report for duty at 00:01, only to be told your call has been busted.  NOW maybe you can get some sleep.  Back at home and just between the sheets, the phone rings at 01:15.  You’re called for the same train, now that they have found a rested engineer who was dumb enough to answer the phone on his rest days.  02:45, arrive back at yard office, make 12 hour trip to destination.

Saturday:

You’ve had five hours sleep out of the last 72 as you start your trip home.  You’re not in a hurry, because when you get home you’ll have to mow the lawn, trim the hedge, change the oil in the car and take the wife (who is now really suspicious of your long and continued absences) out to a movie.

Sunday:

Angry because you spent $45 to go see a movie that stunk.  This keeps you awake until 05:00.  Finally asleep, the phone rings at 05:05 with a call for another dirty ol’ drag.  As you are dressing, you realize that you spent all that money on booze and drugs during your college years just to feel the way you do now for free; disoriented, sleepy, unable to think clearly and with great lethargy.

Monday:

Repeat process.

Answer 6

Class for the new kids here was 3 weeks then they start student trips going out with regular crews.They work you pretty steady.They let you stay home about 12 hours then away you go again for more fun in the sun.Just don't count on the sun part lol.Try to stay awake.If you see something you don't understand ask questions!Most of the guys will be glad to help you out.

Awww Bob you spoiled it now.I was going to let him find out all part for himself.Now he'll be all giddy with anticipation! LMAO!  Too funny!