Something else to take into serious consideration is your own comfort level with your wallet! We are damn near 40 years post Staggers Act....there has been a lot of changes and the one reason I bring this up, is that not everybody has the desire to put up with the politics of Class One railroading. EQUALLY, not everybody has the desire to put up with the chump change of shortline railroading. There is a whole lot of difference between making 100k a year and making maybe HALF that amount. You really have to decide how much PASSION you have for the industry. The end all situation is that your RRB retirement will be reflected upon your wages, pure, plain, simple. I highly doubt all of this was taken into consideration when the papers were signed almost 40 years ago. Used to be if you wanted to work for the railroad, ANY local job would or could fit the bill, now you have to take into consideration possible relocation of considerable distance to get the position and the pay you are eager to chase after.