Thanks to everyone for your comments and replies.

My opinion - I can't see how Modoc Railroad Academy is worth the cost. Even if their classroom training is stellar, a 1/2 mile track with an obsolete centercab and green goat gives little hope of "real world" railroading. $6,500 for a conductor's class and another $19,000 for an engineer's class with no real running or switching experience? (I think they have a simulator.)

I know Modoc approached another shortline a couple years ago with a proposal to "run their trains for free" - but only when a class was in session. They use the "creating jobs" and filling motel rooms claim, but didn't offer any real advantage to the railroad.

A few years ago I was managing a switching operation and out of desparation called Modoc looking for another engineer. I did get a call from one of their graduates who 1) already knew it all 2) was offended by the salary I could offer. Instead, I took someone who had been switching two car with a 25 ton and taught them to switch cars with a GP40 on a grade, and to flood dump shuttle trains with UP AC power.

As far as getting on or off moving equipment - 20 mph means something is going wrong. 10 mph is OK only if you have good switchpaths and the right grab iron arrangement. 4 mph is preferable. I would rather be off a car before making a joint or stop rather than deal with the slack run out or a hard joint. A lot of this has to do with FELA claims and the attitude that "all accidents are preventable".

For training and books at a far more resonable price - try www.transalert.com The REB classes are simple correspondance courses with the book included, or sometimes you can just buy the same book.

Railroad museums vary widely as to their training. Some are just as good as any shortline program, others are model railroaders with big train sets that don't have a clue as to the real railroad world. But as was mentioned, most museums welcome new volunteers, though some make it difficult to make engineer due to "seniority".