Thread: Any railroaders out there?

I looked around and didn't see any railroading threads and can't believe that I'm the only poor soul who works for the railroad "all the live long day". It's not a great job, nor a crap job. I'll most likely retire doing it as you can't count on social security for sure.

I for one am a locomotive engineer for Kiamichi Railroad, a Genessee & Wyoming company. If I gather things right, G&W is the largest shortline holding company in the world. On our property we haul coal, rock, sand, paper products, wood, grain...pretty much everything but cars.

Only a railroader fully understands how the term: He/she got railroaded. For those who aren't railroaders, the term is synonymous with "He/she got screwed".

Anyone looking to get started in railroading, got to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and check the job board as they are usually hiring somewhere around the U.S. and the world actually.

I grew up next to the Burlington Northern line outside K.C. It was always a kick to see the old steam engine that came through once every couple of years.

The closest I've come to railroading was while on the job we worked closely with the Railroad Police for Burlington Northern. Theft is a big problem on the lines.

Although I don't run on a federal track, but I run a loco on private tracks, and work closely with the railroad. I work at a power plant as a heavy equipment operator running dozers of all types and sizes, escavactors, backhoes, locomotive, heck just about everything.

My father worked for the railroad in New Zealand for years as a boilermaker before moving on and starting his own engineering company.

I myself now live in Canada and am going Into training In January to be a frieght conductor, with the end goal of being a train engineer.
Looking forward to the change and challenges.

Walter, that's cool. I looked at working at some coal plants doing what you are once.

ADG, what railroad are you going to work for...G&W has several Canadian railroads.

ADG, what railroad are you going to work for...G&W has several Canadian railroads.[/QUOTE]

Shooter74743, after I've done my courses, CN or CP ideally but there are a bunch of shortlines around here too, guess it will depend on the package and where the runs are.

I would start looking at the particular railroads you might want to work for and start communications with them so they know you are going to go through school on your own & express your interest. Railroad jobs don't just fall in your lap, you have to work a bit for them here in the US.

I worked for the Southern Railway Company and later the Norfolk Southern Railway as a Railroad Police Officer from 1974 until 2006, working out of Birmingham, AL.

It was interesting work and I enjoyed my job.

They are short on conductors here at the moment,
I will be doing a 4 month full time course training with all the rules, regs, protocols, signals and hands on in the yard.
Have to pass exams at the end.
At the moment the main company's talk to the instructors who have all worked in rail for 30+ years and find the best students and interview them.
So most people will come out of the course with a job lined up.
I know it's not always like that.
90% employment rate with the big company's coming out of the course.
Rest go to shortlines.
Still 7 more weeks of training and 3rd person observer before your done.
They don't seem to take many off the street and train them now, costs them too much.