Smitty,
When hiring out now days in train service, you start out as a "Conductor Trainee". Conductors do not come within the company, unless they had hired out in another department and got a transfer to TEY service. Before I retired, almost 10 years ago, a person in CT would have classroom time to start with, learning the rules and so on. Then after a few weeks they are sent out in the field for on the job training with a qualified Conductor. That process lasted several months, and then more classroom work, tests and so on. From there he is marked up on the extra board and is then on his own. As far as what you call "grunt work", that is part of the job for all train and yard service personnel. You don't "bypass" anything.
Hope this helps.


V

SLOCONDR