u/TheBearoftheBeach

Hello! I have just applied to a Motorcoach company close to where I am. The pay is good, the people ive met who work for the job are happy and enjoy it, and the actual owner of the company is in charge of recruitment which is incredibly transparent and honest.

That said, and this is what has kept me from applying for a while... I am a little bit nervous at the idea of driving a coach bus.

I have been wanting to get a CDL for many years. I had a CDL Permit before COVID and just was too swamped to ever get it renewed and couldn't afford school. Since the company pays for your CDL Class B (Provided you agree to drive with them for a year) I figured this was a wonderful way to get started.

But, the idea of having people on board and having a stationary longer vehicle on the contrary to an 18 wheeler, kinda makes me afraid. Dont get me wrong, I love people. I love to make people happy. But the liability of it, and just one minor thing going wrong, terrifies me.

So, TL;DR is... if the company hires me... how can I overcome this fear, how EASY is it to overcome this fear, AND, has anyone else had this fear and what did you do to get over it? I know its probably like riding a bike, just like everything in life, it becomes second nature. But still... these are human lives. I would never forgive myself if something happened.

Thank you in advance. Wish me luck!

{Clarifying for mods: I am not a new hire, I am looking for input/advice from fellow railroaders}

I am a former Railroader from a Commuter Operation that was laid off after the position I worked was removed several years ago. I've tried to hire back on to the company, but have had minimal success due to it being incredibly competitive to get into, or having to know several people to apply. Due to this and partially due to other life conditions, I had to move/relocate being unable to afford to live where they were headquartered. I've been considering trying to re-apply for another railroad and then potentially moving back to that company if I'm able and it is practical to do so.

I recently learned that Norfolk Southern was going to be re-opening a shop near me that was formerly either closed or low-staffed. Although I've been reluctant to apply to NS due to the recent Merger/Buyout bullcrap that's been going on, and weary of how freight railroads in general tend to operate (on call, longer hours, safety, etc.), I am a mechanic in my pass time and have been curious about how it is from a railroading standpoint. I know that at my old company the Mechanic Department was often mocked or seen as "bottom of the barrel" but I've also heard it can be taxing depending on the company. As far as I know, the railroad I worked for operated on a M-F basis with equipment shuffling on the weekends. But don't quote me on that.

My questions are the following;
-Despite the obvious flaws with the company, how is working for Norfolk Southern and their Mechanical Departments, are higher ups down your neck, can you keep to yourself and go about your business or are people trying to pull you into drama? I don't mind hard work. I do mind people that can't keep their nose out of my business/life. If I want a High School Drama environment I'll go work a 9-5. (Edit: All Workplaces have drama, I'm just trying to make sure that its easier to avoid at the railroad since I figure you can keep to yourself more since its widespread rather than being a brick and mortar establishment)
-Are you able to get FRA certified as a shop worker, or is that only as an Engineer/Conductor?
-How is the Work/Life Balance here, if at all, specifically within this department? I've been reluctant to be an Engineer/Conductor due to being on call, mostly because I require SOME sort of semi-routine schedule to keep my life on track. I am single with no current plans to enter a relationship at this time and I'm more focused on trying to prioritize other more important aspects at this point in my life.
-The Elephant in the room, this UP merger. I've met a Norfolk Southern employee at my current job (hence why i've come here to ask about this position now since i'm curious) who has told me things about it, and he has been with NS for a long long while. I've heard from others, employed or not, about what's been going on. Based on my own findings from surface research there doesn't seem to be a clear answer. However, I do not want to get involved with a company that has an uncertain future in the next year or so. I'd go to CSX, but they are a bit further away from where I am.

TL;DR; I am a former Railroader, laid off from my original company, trying to get back in the saddle in the Mechanic Department if it appears to be worth while.

P.S. Is this also the same department that does signal maintenance and the like? Or is that a different department. How does that compare to working in the Shop? Thank you.

So hopefully this isn't against the rules but I keep seeing this in the online scene literally everywhere especially on Facebook and Instagram. It's particularly common with those railfans obsessed with getting the "perfect shot" for Flickr or those who are "professional photographers"

I dont get how a hobby which is already considered niche and obscure and often viewed as unusual by the general public has such a community where everyone puts themselves and others on a totem pole based on what they know and don't know and of course rather than being helpful and answering simple questions they just laugh react to posts and gatekeep or make sarcastic comments.

Not sure how it is in other countries but it seems that railfans within the U.S. Just seem to have a god complex over their railfan stature and it just does not make any sense to me. We all like trains, we are all dorks. Why do we need to put ourselves above others just because in our minds we THINK we are superior?

(Delete if not allowed)