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ShiftSouthern6186 t1_jab37p9 wrote

Reply to comment by PorkyWallace in America's backbone by [deleted]

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

[deleted]

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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

[deleted]

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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

[deleted]

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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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