Anyone work for the railroads?

xrayman · 09-03-2014, 10:15 PM

Hello everyone, at this point I think I have to consider a second career. I am 42 and I have spent the last 18 years in healthcare, the last 13 in supervision and management. I lost my job last October and have been unemployed since that time. Regardless how hard I try, I have not been able to bounce back. As a result, I have been looking at other industries. I started looking at the railroad industry and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of opportunities. Does anyone here work for the railroads, if so what are the pros/cons is it something that I could do for say the next 25 years?
Thanks for any responses.

2010SLVRBULIT · 09-03-2014, 10:23 PM

g/l..I am in the HC industry as well and considering other opportunities...but guess I can always fall back on this, being a peon and all..

Smoke 'em · 09-04-2014, 02:47 AM

I haven't worked for the railroad personally but my father did for about 12 years. It has been about 15 yrs since. He was a line foreman. He always said the pay and the benefits were great. In his job he traveled around between 5 different states. He mostly stayed in Texas, close to home but he did not mind traveling either. The only thing I remember that was a con, and this may be different with different positons, is that anytime someone with more seniority was looking to relocate or move up in the company they could just bump someone with less seniority out of their current position. Hope this helps some.

its a syn · 09-04-2014, 03:08 AM

I've worked for the last 9 years as a conductor. Depending who you are working for it all comes down to seniority. It will dictate your work location, your pay, and your vacations. This is from a trainmen POV. There are a lot of different jobs involved with railroading. The RR is a 24/7/365 job. You can work all hours on the road, gone for 2-3 days at a time. Yard jobs have a more set schedule.

ssrs2lt · 09-04-2014, 07:43 AM

My Brother, faather-in law, sister-in law, and brother-in law all work in the railroad. ^ What he said, total dedication almost like the military

xrayman · 09-04-2014, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2010SLVRBULIT

g/l..I am in the HC industry as well and considering other opportunities...but guess I can always fall back on this, being a peon and all..

G/L to you also.

xrayman · 09-04-2014, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke 'em

I haven't worked for the railroad personally but my father did for about 12 years. It has been about 15 yrs since. He was a line foreman. He always said the pay and the benefits were great. In his job he traveled around between 5 different states. He mostly stayed in Texas, close to home but he did not mind traveling either. The only thing I remember that was a con, and this may be different with different positons, is that anytime someone with more seniority was looking to relocate or move up in the company they could just bump someone with less seniority out of their current position. Hope this helps some.

Yes it does, thanks.

xrayman · 09-04-2014, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by its a syn

I've worked for the last 9 years as a conductor. Depending who you are working for it all comes down to seniority. It will dictate your work location, your pay, and your vacations. This is from a trainmen POV. There are a lot of different jobs involved with railroading. The RR is a 24/7/365 job. You can work all hours on the road, gone for 2-3 days at a time. Yard jobs have a more set schedule.

Thanks much, I appreciate it.

xrayman · 09-04-2014, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssrs2lt

My Brother, faather-in law, sister-in law, and brother-in law all work in the railroad. ^ What he said, total dedication almost like the military

No problem with dedication, although a little flexibility is nice. At this point I need to go back to work. And I would like job security, if that exists anymore.

mp51998 · 09-04-2014, 08:17 AM

If you're dying to work there's always the oilfield. Its hard work but the pay and schedule are pretty good. With your education you could probably land an office job with a drilling contractor. I know they are drilling like crazy in Ohio,Pa and North Dakota. If your willing travel they're drilling down south too.

xrayman · 09-04-2014, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp51998

If you're dying to work there's always the oilfield. Its hard work but the pay and schedule are pretty good. With your education you could probably land an office job with a drilling contractor. I know they are drilling like crazy in Ohio,Pa and North Dakota. If your willing travel they're drilling down south too.

Thanks a lot and yes I am more than ready to go back to work. This has been the first time that I have been unemployed. I never in a million years would have thought I would be out of work this long.

ssrs2lt · 09-04-2014, 09:33 AM

there's def job security in the railroads

mpiersd · 09-04-2014, 10:21 AM

My brother has worked for a midwest based railroad for several years. I was looking at it as a possibility when I transition out of the military.
His biggest piece of advice was to avoid certain rali companies, including the one he works for, as they don't treat their employees all that great.
He did have good things to say about BNSF and Union Pacific.

09-03-2014, 10:15 PM	#1
xrayman Drives: 2012 RS/LT Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 59	Anyone work for the railroads? Hello everyone, at this point I think I have to consider a second career. I am 42 and I have spent the last 18 years in healthcare, the last 13 in supervision and management. I lost my job last October and have been unemployed since that time. Regardless how hard I try, I have not been able to bounce back. As a result, I have been looking at other industries. I started looking at the railroad industry and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of opportunities. Does anyone here work for the railroads, if so what are the pros/cons is it something that I could do for say the next 25 years? Thanks for any responses.

09-04-2014, 02:47 AM	#3
Smoke 'em There's always a faster 1 Drives: (-,-) Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Somewhere out there Posts: 201	I haven't worked for the railroad personally but my father did for about 12 years. It has been about 15 yrs since. He was a line foreman. He always said the pay and the benefits were great. In his job he traveled around between 5 different states. He mostly stayed in Texas, close to home but he did not mind traveling either. The only thing I remember that was a con, and this may be different with different positons, is that anytime someone with more seniority was looking to relocate or move up in the company they could just bump someone with less seniority out of their current position. Hope this helps some. __________________ Sometimes we forget Have you thanked a soldier lately? "I believe that a man wearing a helmet to protect our country, our lives, and our freedom should be paid more than a man wearing a helmet to protect a leather ball." --Anonymous--

09-04-2014, 03:08 AM	#4
its a syn B.O.D. 02/16/10 Drives: 2010 SGM Sp. Edition 2017 RS Conver Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Albia,Iowa Posts: 3,959 View My Garage	I've worked for the last 9 years as a conductor. Depending who you are working for it all comes down to seniority. It will dictate your work location, your pay, and your vacations. This is from a trainmen POV. There are a lot of different jobs involved with railroading. The RR is a 24/7/365 job. You can work all hours on the road, gone for 2-3 days at a time. Yard jobs have a more set schedule. __________________

09-04-2014, 07:43 AM	#5
ssrs2lt Drives: too many Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: oh va pa ma tx Posts: 3,046	My Brother, faather-in law, sister-in law, and brother-in law all work in the railroad. ^ What he said, total dedication almost like the military __________________

09-04-2014, 09:33 AM	#12
ssrs2lt Drives: too many Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: oh va pa ma tx Posts: 3,046	there's def job security in the railroads __________________

09-03-2014, 10:23 PM	#2
2010SLVRBULIT Drives: G5(LLT) & C6(LS3) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MARS Posts: 7,525 View My Garage	g/l..I am in the HC industry as well and considering other opportunities...but guess I can always fall back on this, being a peon and all..

09-04-2014, 08:17 AM	#10
mp51998 Drives: Black 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: S. Texas Posts: 1,817	If you're dying to work there's always the oilfield. Its hard work but the pay and schedule are pretty good. With your education you could probably land an office job with a drilling contractor. I know they are drilling like crazy in Ohio,Pa and North Dakota. If your willing travel they're drilling down south too.

09-04-2014, 10:21 AM	#13
mpiersd Drives: ABM #2041 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 1,561 View My Garage	My brother has worked for a midwest based railroad for several years. I was looking at it as a possibility when I transition out of the military. His biggest piece of advice was to avoid certain rali companies, including the one he works for, as they don't treat their employees all that great. He did have good things to say about BNSF and Union Pacific. __________________ Retired United States Army Bernadette: 2LT/RS, ABM #2041 of 3903 ZL-1 Springs \| CAI \| Muffler delete \| Magnaflow resonator \| LED DRL \| RX Catch Can \| Mini me Cortana: 2015 Harley Davidson Road Glide Special V&H Power Duals Headers & Oversized 450 Raider mufflers \| Screamin' Eagle Stage 1 Chisel Extreme intake \| Screamin' Eagle Stage 1 programmer Gretchen: 1994 Ford F350 Crew Cab Long Bed 4x4 51k mile survivor Own an Aqua Blue Metallic Camaro? Click here to join us on Facebook and help us in establishing the Aqua Blue Registry to locate all 3903 of these beautiful Camaros!