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PorkyWallace t1_jab2vu5 wrote

You are hired on in the $45,000-$55,000 a year range assuming you work a full schedule. BUT....you are not guaranteed any minimum number of hours. Unless you are specifically scheduled off, you are on call. If you get the call, you have to drive to any point on the line (could be 50-100 miles) at your expense, within 2 hours. You might be gone one day or three days. You can't sleep on the train. The work requires concentration and physical effort in all weather. You generally don't get sick days. You cannot plan vacations.

The railroads are trying to get rid of the conductor but they haven't been able to do it so far.

If you want to put in the time, have no life and have an understanding spouse that you will almost never see, and work 25-30 years like that, good luck.

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ShiftSouthern6186 t1_jab37p9 wrote

What railroad do you work for making 45-55k a year? The NS minimum guarantee is 71k, and that's if you only work 1 or 2 days a week

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uswforever t1_jab53ob wrote

I work for US Steel, and I met a guy in a training class who works at a different plant that I do, who had previously worked for the railroad, and I do believe it was NS. And he told a similar story about not getting hardly any hours, and being on call. Maybe they've changed something since then, or maybe it was a different RR, but he quit and came to the mill because he wasn't making a stable income.

To be fair, I do think that all happened while he was still probationary. But it did not sound like a pleasant job compared to working on a blast furnace.

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[deleted] OP t1_jab5cy9 wrote

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uswforever t1_jab5ymc wrote

It was probably about five years ago I was talking with him. And I don't recall how long since he'd had that experience. Thanks for clearing it up.

The extended time away would be a deal breaker for me. I turned down a lot of lucrative, "on the road" work over the years. I have kids, and I can't be the kind of dad I want to be if I'm 1000 miles away all the time. Heck, the rotating shifts at the mill damn near wrecked my marriage. But you're right, if you're a person who's already working 80 hour weeks for shit money, this would definitely be a better opportunity.

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[deleted] OP t1_jab7gko wrote

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uswforever t1_jab82e5 wrote

I've done pretty well in the mill. I don't have to work a shitload of OT to cross the six figure mark. The Job I had before this was USW represented as well, and that was also pretty good. That RR retirement does sound pretty good. But I'm a little long in the tooth for it to benefit me anyway. Resetting the retirement clock for a new 30 year countdown doesn't make much sense when you're already over 40.

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PorkyWallace t1_jab8hb6 wrote

For what you earning, you are making more than 90% of college graduates will ever see. You made a good choice.

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[deleted] OP t1_jab93hg wrote

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PorkyWallace t1_jaedsoc wrote

If I was young and single, I would consider it.

I might talk to my nephew about it, though. He is 19 and college wasn't for him (he went one semester). He likes working in a warehouse and the hours are good (M-F 7:30am-4:00 pm). I might ask him about the railroad, though.

Thank you.

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PorkyWallace t1_jab89ax wrote

This is from a Norfolk-Southern ad for Conductors:

"The conductor position can often mean a significant lifestyle change as the work schedule is often non-traditional and requires many to be available to work on a 90-minute to 2-hour notice
Individuals are responsible for providing their own transportation to the area
A CT will expect to work a schedule similar to that of a regular conductor
As a conductor you will most likely be assigned to a conductors' extra board
Conductor extra boards have schedules with a minimum of two rest days for every six consecutive working days
While not on your rest days, you are subject to be called to work 24 hours a day, on an as-needed basis
Extra board work schedules are irregular and are determined by business needs
You will be required to report to your work location within a 90-minute to 2-hour notice
A conductor should expect to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions
This may mean working in poor weather conditions day or night"
During training a Conductor Trainee (CT) will earn $25 per hour, with a minimum $200 in earnings per shift

Additionally, CTs are eligible for an on-the-job training incentive of $300 per bi-weekly pay period

After training, conductors earn an average of $70,000 in their first year"

Here is the pay info for Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad (admittedly, not a Class I railroad):

"Wages
Brakeman: $22.12/hr
Conductor: $24.35/hr
Engineer: $26.52/hr
The annual earnings potential ranges from the low $50k to mid $80K depending upon the number of hours worked"

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