OK, so Keith put me on the spot, now I'd better respond.
I got into this while living in the Kansas City area, working in the family
McDonald's business. I was told after starting work up here that most guys
quit the railroad and went to work for McDonald's, not the other way around. I
was accepted into the "revenue" (tuition-paying) Conductor class at Johnson
County Community College's Railroad Science Program, which was in the BNSF
Training Center on the JCCC campus. When I signed-up for the program, I
wasn't looking to make a career change. I was doing it more so from my
interest in railroading. But I did let my "bosses" know that if it interested
me, I just might make that career change.
The second week of class we were able to interview with the BNSF HR people out
of Kansas City. They were actually there for the preceeding class, but told
our class to sign up as well. Four of us were offered jobs in Chaffee, MO.
The other three took up the offer, as they were out of work at that time and
were ready to see an income. I decided I wanted to talk with some other
railroads first. I think NS and UP were about the only ones I didn't talk to.
NS because they didn't select me for an interview (thank God!), and UP, because
they want to do things their way and don't come into the BNSF camp for recruits.
I wound up on the WC because a friend of mine from Superior knew a number of
friends on the railraod and they were all working steadily, and not being
furloughed as was the case for the other railroads in town. I went to work as
a conductor June 10, 1996. I was THE conductor extra board in Superior at that
time. A year-and-a-half later I was in an engineer promotion class, and two
years to the date after starting as a conductor, I had my engineer card signed.
This is not a typical scenario. I was told in class to ask when interviewing
for a particular terminal to inquire about the number working there and the
general age of the work force. Fewer people ahead of you may mean quicker
opportunities for promotion. More "old-heads" means more attrition due to
retirement. Superior worked out in my favor.
We had no "yard" in Superior, so except for the few daily transfer jobs, all
the other regular jobs were road pools. By the first bid period following my
engineer promotion, I was able to hold one of the pool jobs. At that time the
pools worked 6 and 3 (protect 6 days with 3 rest days). The transfer jobs and
the extra board worked 5 and 2.
So all this sounds like la-la land. Except for those nights hanging on the
side of a boxcar in the rain; or walking an air test or replacing a broken
knuckle at 20 below; or being sent over to Mellen or Ladysmith or North
Ironwood to fill a vacancy for weeks; or knocking a county snowplow out of the
way at 50 mph, it isn't too bad.
Welcome the CN.
In a few short years we've seen 16 6&3 pool turns dwindle to only 3, although
the extra board primarily is used to handle road trains. We no longer have any
transfer jobs. The extra board works 6&1, as do the remaining road turns. So
much for any "quality of life". I've seen guys quit for another railroad. The
grass is NOT greener on the other side of the tracks. Some have quit and later
come back. I've seen guys quit and in spite of the resultant lower income,
still think it's the best decision they made. I look at the number of guys
with young kids and say to myself that I doubt I would have considered this
work with children that age. In the years I've been here I'd say there's been
almost 10 divorces in our terminal alone.
There's pro's and con's to any job. All I can recommend is that if you are
contemplating this line of work, make sure the "pro's" outweigh the "con's" of
your present situation. I'll stay here for now. The paycheck (yes, it is in
US dollars!) pays for the vacations, the toys, and the model railroad
essentials. I get to see the sun rise and set behind some beautiful scenery.
It's a good bunch of guys I work with. I get to shoot those railroad pics and
videos in places where others don't have access. And I've learned "to work the
system" to schedule weekends off for those train shows and meets. And I've got
Sunday for my day of rest. Life is good.
Bill Jelinek
CN Engineer, Superior WI
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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