Buckshotmckee

I was just wonder'n if anybody out there works for one of the railroad companies??? I was look'n for some feedback about the jobs. I'm look'n at switchen careers. I've applied for Union Pacific and made it past the application process and now I've been invited to the hiring session. Thanks

Gotlift01

Right there with you Tye......I'm thinkin about going to work for the railroad too!! My girlfriends uncle works for them ( not sure which one ) and I talked to him last night to see if he knew of any job openings.........getting tired of this construction crap!!



~Nick

Buckshotmckee

I'm sick of the crap in the automotive world. I've had it! These people actually think "I" built these cars, and "I" set the prices for the parts, and "I" have something to do with our labor rate.

Just go online Nick to one of the railroad companies and look under there employment section. That's what I did.

Tye

Gotlift01

Cool I'll look em up!!! Butch is supposed to be calling me back tonight to tell me what he found out........so hopefully he can find me a decent job!!!

I've been doing this construction stuff for about 6 years now and I'm fed up too........plus I work for my dad so that adds A TON more stress on top. Expects me to be more than perfect all the time and expects 150% all the time......


~Nick

Buckshotmckee

Nick,

Go online here: http://www.uprr.com/employment/index.shtml and look @ the job listing in Colorado. They've got some listing now.

Tye

Gotlift01

I just pulled up that same website........looks like they have a couple in my neck of the woods. Did you look at that practice test they have on there?? Boy was that a piece of cake


~Nick

BearKiller

I worked for Norfolk Southern as a locomotive service attendant, Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers.

I quit over a matter of principle, and they thought I was bluffing when I gave them an ultimatum and said I would quit if my problem was not addressed.

It is a long story that I won't bore you with.

Some things I will say about the railroad:

You will have to join a union, and the dues are outrageous, you have no choice in this, and the union is only on the side of union management, not the individual worker.

You have to "bid" on your work schedule, bids awarded in order of seniority, and for many years, you will work every Saturday and Sunday.

The railroad does not acknowledge excuses for being late, or out, no sickness, vehicular trouble, death in the family, nothing, either be there, on time, or be reprimanded, maybe even terminated; they will not tolerate tardiness or abscence.

If you want to trade days with a co-worker, it is a nightmare of seniority that is best forgotten about.

I could go on and on.

They pay decent, but it is not a dream job for an independent man, such as myself.

Gotlift01

Hmmmmmmmm kinda sounds like it royally sucks!!!! The big deal with me is joining the stupid union......not a big fan of those guys!!!



~Nick

Buckshotmckee

Where did you find that?

Scramblinman

I've been a trainman with BNSF for 12 years now. Like everything else, railroading has it's ups and downs. I generally work as a switchman and enjoy what I do. It's not that the work itself is difficult, it's the railroad lifestyle that many people are unable to to tolerate. If you need a Mon-Fri 9-5 job, have an active social life, are unwilling to work holidays, in all kinds of weather, be gone for a couple of days at a time, or tolerate an unpredictable work schedule do yourself a favor and look elsewhere other then train service. I also would be hesitant form any kind of opinion of railroading in general based on negative reports of the Norfolk Southern. They are pretty much universally considered the worst railroad to work for and are commonly referred to as the **** System.

Where else is the view from the office going to look like this?

Gotlift01

It had a link to it on one of the positions I was looking at.......let me get the link to it...........



~Nick

Kemble

I though the railroad industry would be a cool job, but I can't ever find any jobs in my area.

Gotlift01

Well it won't let me direct link it, basically if you look at any of the positions, it should say on the bottom somewhere about a practice test in PDF format




~Nick

Red3quarter

I work for Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern RR as a locomotive machinist. It's a decent job but like other have said you'll have expensive union dues, the Railroad Retirement take out alot of money from every pay check, and **** Southern is probably the worst one out there next to CSX. The railroad is a good job for a single person. I don't see myself staying at the RR forever like some guys do but for now i'm happy with it.

megajoltman

Been there done that got out of it after a year, me and the old man were just all the time

He tells me all the time I did the right thing, his body is shot from all the hard labour over the years