Questions about a Career in Locomotive Engineering

[overkill650]

well i chose liberal arts because coming out of high school i had no clue what i wanted to do. so liberal arts has nothing to do with art, just mean a little of everything. like some english courses, so math courses, some history courses, and a mix of science courses. also the degree offers some random elective type course.

i wanted to do an automotive degree, but there are 2 campuses on LI. one is 5 min from me ( the one i'm attending now) and the other is 45 min. away. i'm not gonna drive 45 min. every day there n back. because of gas, and theres random rush hour sometimes the further campus has degrees in welding, auto, machinery, etc. but out there there are race tracks and farmland, etc. so it makes sense the cooler classes would be out there.

long island is weird. from nyc to queens, its tenament, apartments, industrial, etc. from queens to nassau, its tons of rich people that have their own police force, from the nassau/suffolk border to mid suffolk, its the middle working class peole (like myself), and out east its like all of a sudden u hit georgia or something. like miles of trails, a demo derby track, tons of fishing towns, etc. (oh and every one out there has a rifle)8)

 

[djt]

Looking for something risky, walk into a Navy recruiter's office, tell him you wanna be flight deck crew on an aircraft carrier.

Well I'm not sure if angelo is going to like this suggestion but...


A good friend of mine who I used to work with who is now a railroad manager has a son that haven't seen since he was just a teenager. I really didn't know what would ever become of this scrawny
little wise ass kid who loved trains, lol.


That scrawny little kid (who is now 6 ft+) ended up going into the military were he lost that attitude real quick and grew up, real quick. He later went through the state police academy and is now a Union Pacific special agent out west.

Wonders never cease to amaze.

When I taught those CSXT classes in 2005-06 one of classes had three kids (ages 19-21) that had just come back from Fallujah. They were more capable and disciplined then any of the other students I had regardless of age.

My suggestion at 19 years old would be to go in the military for a while, get an education and if you want to still work for the railroad (and have really good job security) become a special agent.

 

[overkill650]

i'll keep that in mind. my parents wouldnt think of that to be a good choice, but ive heard stories too of rotten kids going to the military, then becoming something amazing. but i'm pretty sure i wouldnt be recruited into the military because of my lazy left eye.

 

[djt]

i'll keep that in mind. my parents wouldnt think of that to be a good choice, but ive heard stories too of rotten kids going to the military, then becoming something amazing. but i'm pretty sure i wouldnt be recruited into the military because of my lazy left eye.

I should have mentioned this in the other post but I'm not stereotyping you as bad teenager, I was just using that as an example, at your age the sky's the limit.


You will have to go through a strict vision test/physical with the railroad as well as a drug test that includes a hair sample, no DWI's in the last five years either.

 

[JCitron]

i'll keep that in mind. my parents wouldnt think of that to be a good choice, but ive heard stories too of rotten kids going to the military, then becoming something amazing. but i'm pretty sure i wouldnt be recruited into the military because of my lazy left eye.

This is something too that may keep you from becoming a railroad engineer as well. Do not mention this to the field recruiter. Let the medical office determine that this is an issue. You don't want judgement passed before you even start the hiring process.

Another thing to consider is not everyone is cut out for T&E work. There are plenty of other craft jobs that you could very easily qualify for, and these could become stepping stones on to other things. Where you are good with your hands, you might want to become a car repair worker, or even end up in signal maintenance. This might be interesting because it involves both mechanical as well as electrical work. I had applied as a signal worker as well last year, but got my job where I am now at Oracle. I have many years of technical experience behind me and can troubleshoot to the component level using blueprints and the usual test gear that goes along with that.

Anyway, Gadfly over at Railroad.net wrote an interesting post about this in the Employment section there. He' now retired, if I'm not mistaken, from the rail industry, but stays active writing about it not just in the forums, but I believe he's written articles for Trains Magazine as well.


Also forgot... a starting salary of $43k a year is great for someone whose 19 years old! When I was out of high school, I was making a whopping $3.25 an hour to start. That's not quite $7k a year! A single person can live easily on 43k a year to start, as long as you keep your spending under control until you make the cut, and gain seniority.

Some things to think about.

John

 

[overkill650]

thanks for the tips guys.

as for my eye, its not too bad, but i can see great in my right eye. my left is not so good. i wear glasses that help both eyes, but my left is still not the best.

and if i am to be turned down, then oh well. sometimes things arent meant to be.

but till then, im gonna keep my hopes up.

besides, if i can ride a motorcycle at 40+ mph in a tight 1ft trail between trees and not hit them, then i think i can see pretty good.

 

[overkill650]

This is something too that may keep you from becoming a railroad engineer as well. Do not mention this to the field recruiter. Let the medical office determine that this is an issue. You don't want judgement passed before you even start the hiring process.

Another thing to consider is not everyone is cut out for T&E work. There are plenty of other craft jobs that you could very easily qualify for, and these could become stepping stones on to other things. Where you are good with your hands, you might want to become a car repair worker, or even end up in signal maintenance. This might be interesting because it involves both mechanical as well as electrical work. I had applied as a signal worker as well last year, but got my job where I am now at Oracle. I have many years of technical experience behind me and can troubleshoot to the component level using blueprints and the usual test gear that goes along with that.

Anyway, Gadfly over at Railroad.net wrote an interesting post about this in the Employment section there. He' now retired, if I'm not mistaken, from the rail industry, but stays active writing about it not just in the forums, but I believe he's written articles for Trains Magazine as well.


Also forgot... a starting salary of $43k a year is great for someone whose 19 years old! When I was out of high school, I was making a whopping $3.25 an hour to start. That's not quite $7k a year! A single person can live easily on 43k a year to start, as long as you keep your spending under control until you make the cut, and gain seniority.

Some things to think about.

John

thanks john, i appreciate the support. and yeah i didnt think $43k a year wasnt too bad either for me. im at maybe $10k/year with my current job

 

[overkill650]

I should have mentioned this in the other post but I'm not stereotyping you as bad teenager, I was just using that as an example, at your age the sky's the limit.


You will have to go through a strict vision test/physical with the railroad as well as a drug test that includes a hair sample, no DWI's in the last five years either.

I am definitely physically fit. Lets hope I can pass that eye exam.

As for the other stuff, ive never done drugs because in this day and age, i need money for gas and resto parts for my old truck, i have no money to get dizzy for a couple hours.

and ive never gotten a summonce, ticket, etc. (Yet, knock on wood)

 

[LtBorgOps]

Ok, heres my take on the whole thing... (this may have been said already) but any ways

First off most railroads require you to become a conductor first before you get promoted to an engineer.

Second.. there are a few "railroading" schools out there i my self went to NARS (natl. academy of railroad sciences) in Overland Park (Kansas city), KS. when i went the cost was about $5,000 + room/bord (hotel or short term apartment) now this school is ran by BNSF i enjoyed it there. BNSF and several Class I's from the "west" side of the country (every thing but NS/CSX) gave interviews/app at the school as well as some of the shortline/regional railroads

Now i want this next statement to be taken as is and meaning that nothing was intended to offend or disway you from your choices.

The railroad is a hard line of work. it basically becomes your life as they told us in school there. I my self decided after my exams and completions that i would not take this as my line of work. so just remember that you are basically becoming a member of the railroad when you work for them just as you would be come a member of the armed forces


LtBorgOps AkA Thad

 

[djt]

I am definitely physically fit. Lets hope I can pass that eye exam.

As for the other stuff, ive never done drugs because in this day and age, i need money for gas and resto parts for my old truck, i have no money to get dizzy for a couple hours.

and ive never gotten a summonce, ticket, etc. (Yet, knock on wood)

With you being drug free with a clean drivers license you'll have one up on many of them that go through the interview/testing procedure.

I'm not sure exactly how they go through the orientation/testing now but with the job orientation/testing/interview sessions I conducted a quick color blind test was also given. Later on with the actual railroad physical you'll be given a hearing examination as well as depth perception/peripheral vision test among other things.

The color blind test is of course necessary to find out if the candidate can read signal aspects and depth perception/peripheral vision is obviously important for giving car counts and working around moving equipment in general.

 

[sniper297]

Funny thing, the US Navy requires 100% normal color vision for everything except Mess Cook and Yeoman (clerk). Something like 10% of the white male population has the most common form of color blindness, inability to distinguish certain shades of blue/green - for white females and other races that type of color blindness is so rare there aren't any statistics for it. My oldest son failed that test, didn't want to be a cook or clerk, so he went across the hall and broke family tradition by joining the Army instead. Lucky accident, since artillery seems to suit him well.

Always wanted to make that into a bumper sticker.

Want to take an online color vision test to see if you'll pass;

http://www.egopont.com/colorvision.php

 

[AJ_Fox]

Nice. A good man there.

The color test was cool too.

Cheers

AJ

 

[djt]

Something like 10% of the white male population has the most common form of color blindness, inability to distinguish certain shades of blue/green

Yep, my only brother is color blind, I can read an approach medium from a long distance, he can't.

He also graduated from a very well known engineering school here in New York and is now a senior engineer at a fuel cell development company, color blindness hasn't held him up much in life either, lol.

 

[overkill650]

hello guys, good afternoon.

djt, any luck on getting in touch with that hiring manager?

i had another question, if i'm selected to attend an interview, what questions will they ask me? like i love anything railroading, but i know very little about the trains, signals, etc.

should i study these areas, or will i learn them in the school that the company will send me to?

thanks, angelo

 

[overkill650]

so far i've applied to NY-SELKIRK, MD-CUMBERLAND, MD-BALTIMORE, PA-CONNELLSVILLE, NJ-SOUTH KEARNEY.

all of the applications say STATUS: CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED

judt giving you an update

 

[overkill650]

Want to take an online color vision test to see if you'll pass;

http://www.egopont.com/colorvision.php[/quote]

tried that. got 100% in 40 out of 60 seconds.

 

[djt]

djt, any luck on getting in touch with that hiring manager?

Actually Angelo they're not hiring managers, the railroad will often send Trainmasters and Road Foreman to the hiring sessions also. One of the guys I’m trying to get a hold of is a Trainmaster in S. Kearney.

[FONT=&quot]i had another question, if i'm selected to attend an interview, what questions will they ask me? like i love anything railroading, but i know very little about the trains, signals, etc. [/FONT]

There will be a lot of safety related questions and you’ll be asked about your previous work history and how it relates to the job requirements/responsibilities of a train service employee.

I would not let on or even mention that you’re into trains or that you love them. The railroad has wasted a lot of money on training disillusioned rail fans who find out the hard way that liking trains and working for the railroad are two entirely different things.

should i study these areas, or will i learn them in the school that the company will send me to?

They used to have a downloadable signal study guide on the web site but I’m not sure if they still have that available.

You’ll get everything you need when you get to the Redi Center in Atlanta.

 

[ct_krogen]

first thing first he has to go to train school. even if he pastes with all A's
that does ot mean you will get toowrk on the train,,,, my good friend went to train school had all A's and it to three more months to get on with csx.... in the nashville sub..,,,,

 

[djt]

first thing first he has to go to train school. even if he pastes with all A's

He doesn't have to go to train school, CSXT brought the new hire training back in-house and everything is done at the Redi Center now.

 

[overkill650]

ok guys so again i really appreciate all the help, and i'll try to stay in touch and let you know what happens.

and djt, it would be really cool if you could get in contact with that trainmaster from jersey. thanks in advance.

angelo