If so, of course you know, you will not be an engineer right away. If you hire on with UP, you will be a conductor and probably furloughed a few times before gaining consistent employment.

Again, if you're serious, you are probably kind of young. Look into shortlines in your area or tourist operations, as others have suggested. Get some experience and then try UP. I know many people with shortline jobs who are there because they just hung around long enough.