i have an opportunity to choose between the 2 for an interview. I read on here that capreol conductors are more likely subjected to layoffs. Plus Roma is offering a 10,000 dollar relocation incentive. My goal is to make and save as much money as possible and spend as little time laid off. |Any info on either terminal (management, job, pay, work environment) would be awesome.
Is anybody done with all of the pre employment stuff and waiting for the next start date ?
Spent nearly a decade on a Class I in another country. Conductor & Yardmaster.
Left for a variety of personal reasons.
Fast forward a few years and I'm re-assessing my options.
Looking at trades mostly, apprenticeships etc.
But I have to admit, the railroad is tempting me. I know the money is great. I know the pension/401 is solid. Benefits are generally decent.
I've put in some applications with a few major operations around the country, mainly BNSF and CSX. I have no familiarity with how these companies are run and what the policies are like for guys on the ground.
No idea what the collective agreements are like.
From what I've researched so far, seems like you guys aren't treated so well when it comes to time off.
The place I worked at, it actually wasn't too bad. 2 weeks vacation after your 1st year (3 weeks after 3 years, 4 weeks after 9 years) and 12 personal leave days every year. 24 hours rest per road trip, 48 hours once you hit a set number of miles.
Once you had 3 years in, you could manage a decent life, take some long weekends here and there with your PLDs.
Anyway, trying to get a sense of what life is actually like for my American railroad brothers. And to determine if I really want to go back to that life. It for sure took a toll on me in various ways, especially the social/dating aspect.
I've seen comments in various threads from veteran guys saying, basically, don't do it.
With my experience I can pretty much punch a ticket. Could almost certainly go management and work my way up that way, if I wanted to (not so sure about that but it's a viable path and the pay can be massive once you get up to Superintendent and above).
Anyhow, if anyone wants to chime in and let me know what it's actually like for you boys working the yards or road, what your spareboards are like, how it is for time off, etc. Any insights & opinions are appreciated.
I like watching and photographing the trains as they pass on the tracks that are half a mile from my home. But I don't know how to tell when that will happen. Currently my options are:
* Wait by the rails and hope I get lucky
* Hear a train, and rush to the tracks hoping I catch it before the end
Is there any way to find the schedule or realtime tracking data?
Hi everyone,
I recently applied for the PCT role with Amtrak but I haven't heard anything back. I wanted to know if someone has gone through the program and how long the hiring process/ training took.
I would also love to hear about what the day to day is like as I want to keep my expectations realistic.
Anyone on here have any information on what it'll be like to be a conductor for CPKC in red deer, Alberta ...thanks!
My partner just screened through for the assessment for a conductor job with CPKC in Schreiber, Ontario. We currently live in Southern Ontario so he would obviously be re-locating up there for this job. Just curious about working for CPKC and how the more remote yard work - is it easy to find places to live? do you get some time off each month? any ideas about timing for potential transfers further south? if anyone has experience working and living there dm me! would love to ask some questions. TIA
Hey everyone, I just got contacted by a Watco recruiter about an entry-level Student Conductor position in Deer Park, TX. They want to do interview, and I’m pretty excited about it because becoming a conductor has honestly been a goal of mine for about a year.
I don’t have railroad experience yet, so I’m wondering what to expect from the interview.
For anyone who has interviewed with Watco or started as a Student Conductor:
What kind of questions did they ask?
What are they looking for in an entry-level candidate?
Anything specific I should know or prepare for?
Any advice or pointers that helped you get hired?
I recently got a conditional offer from both companies for a TY&E position. I know they both have their ups and downs but which would be the better route. If I withdraw my application from one would it hurt my chances in the future?
Been thinking bout moving to Utah and working for a class 1 railroad. Currently live in Wisconsin/ Minnesota area and work with a class 1 out here but wanna know if I should make the move and how it is like out there. Utah/ Colorado is my end goal to live. I’m only 21 and know how seniority works and don’t wanna try to restart when I’m older with a family.
Where is the go-to lodging for long-term stays? I'm looking at chasing work soon, and Galesburg is what I'm considering for employment. I'm from Illinois originally and have family I can stay with, but both Coal City and Kankakee are a bit of a drive. We plan on moving back to Illinois, and I'm struggling to hold for the first time since I hired out. I want to check out Galesburg before I make any financial decisions. Also, where did your familiarization disperse to? I was in a GN last year with all the info, and now it's just vague. If you will, call X person (superintendent, if I recall).
They are smaller, under the rla, cannot strike. How is it over and over pilots keep getting these massive contracts, and this is only 2yrs. The railroads are willing to die over 3%, and it's like pilots get whatever they want. How do these guys never end up in a PEB like we do?
On August 25th, join Railroad Workers United for a workshop and discussion on how rank and file railroaders can work together to improve safety at your workplace. Recent years have been deadly for railroad workers, with countless injuries and fatalities in the performance of their duties. Instead of dealing with poorly maintained infrastructure, hiring adequate staff, or improving the training process, the railroads' response is to cite the number of rules broken and lay the responsibility on the victims, regardless of any other context or management's own role in the disaster. In an effort to more effectively blame workers while ignoring workplace hazards for accidents, injuries and fatalities, the railroad carriers are now introducing surveillance measures, including "Al" tools. Hear from experts in fighting back against "Behavior Based Safety", and share your own experiences and thoughts.
The workshop is open to all working railroaders, regardless of RWU membership status.
Hey everyone! I’m seriously interested in getting into Amtrak and I’ve applied to several positions, including positions related to Passenger Engineer Trainee, Passenger Conductor Trainee, On-Board Services/Train Attendant, customer service, and train/station cleaning.
I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what it’s actually like to work for Amtrak from people who have been there.
For anyone who currently works for Amtrak or has worked there before:
What position did you have and what was your overall experience?
What is the pay like when you first start, and how does it increase over time?
What are the typical shifts like?
Are you working mostly days, nights, weekends, holidays, or a mixture?
How does scheduling work? Do you have a set schedule or are you on an extra board/rotating schedule?
How much overtime is available?
For Engineer/Conductor Trainees, how difficult is the training?
How long did it take you to qualify?
For OBS/Train Attendants, what is the day-to-day work actually like?
How much of the job is customer service versus cleaning, food service, luggage, etc.?
For people who worked in train cleaning or station services, what was that job like physically?
How often do you have to travel or stay away from home?
How is the work-life balance?
How are the benefits and union?
How difficult is it to get hired?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who were not already railroad employees when they got hired.
For some background, I’ve been a federal employee for about a year, and someone else I know who is also interested has been a federal employee for about five years. We’re wondering whether federal employment experience gives us any advantage when applying to Amtrak, or whether Amtrak mainly looks at railroad/customer-service/technical experience.
I’ve applied to multiple Amtrak positions because I’m genuinely interested in making the switch, so I’d really appreciate hearing the good, bad, and ugly from current or former employees.
If you work at Amtrak now, what position would you recommend to someone trying to get their foot in the door?
In 2025 I was terminated from NS via rules violation. While there was extenuating circumstances, the termination was upheld by the law board. However, with all this, I want to return to the railroad and the only one viable for me right now (location wise) is NS. I have an application with them for Linwood. I did the Hirevue. It currently says they are reviewing all applications. Has been that way for a month now. This is the furthest I've gotten since my termination was finalized (early 2026). So my question is: is there an actual chance of me getting back or am I wasting my time? This yard is not the one I was terminated, but it is in the same division.
I just got my offer from NS as a freight conductor out of Voorheesville NY and am curious if anyone has any insight/advice for working for NS or even in the specific region for NY. I have watched a lot of videos breaking down the job and what the basic necessities are but any other advice will be much appreciated!
Buddy told me a new bulletin got put out for Canada saying mouth swabs came into effect for THC of 10ng? Anyone hear anything about this?