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Re: Difficult getting a RR job.
Author: Observer
Date: 01-16-2013 - 14:55
JR Wrote:
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> I was wondering if anybody knew why it is so
> difficult to get hired by the RR, specifically in
> train service?
1. Why not go to college and get an engineering degree; civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, structural and etc. My first job out of college was as a civil engineer working as a "Cost Engineer" with a Rock Island system tie gang. My entire tour of duty was spent in the field, started in Arkansas, went to El Reno, OK, moved to the Dallas/Ft Worth area, then ended up in the Chicago area. Had a chance to work with the Rock's Manager of Disbursement, my boss, had an obligation to write monthly progress reports directly to the Rock's President. During the off season (winter), I got a chance to "herd" grain cars, for the winter grain rush. Not a good deal, really, union issues, ie I, and others like me, were taking work away from the union clerks. However, I had to deal with the Rock's agents, a great bunch of dudes trying to work within the constraints of the Rock's policies/finances.
2. If college isn't in your future, look into the engineering department, specifically as a member of a survey crew. I spent the summer of '74 with the UP as a "rodman" assigned to the engineering department in Rock Springs, WY. Spent the entire summer, as an intern, laying out the trackage for upgrades to various industries (mining, potash, I think) in the Green River/Rock Springs area. Unless you want to actually operate a train, these ancillary positions will put you on the ground and in the field.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was wondering if anybody knew why it is so
> difficult to get hired by the RR, specifically in
> train service?
1. Why not go to college and get an engineering degree; civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, structural and etc. My first job out of college was as a civil engineer working as a "Cost Engineer" with a Rock Island system tie gang. My entire tour of duty was spent in the field, started in Arkansas, went to El Reno, OK, moved to the Dallas/Ft Worth area, then ended up in the Chicago area. Had a chance to work with the Rock's Manager of Disbursement, my boss, had an obligation to write monthly progress reports directly to the Rock's President. During the off season (winter), I got a chance to "herd" grain cars, for the winter grain rush. Not a good deal, really, union issues, ie I, and others like me, were taking work away from the union clerks. However, I had to deal with the Rock's agents, a great bunch of dudes trying to work within the constraints of the Rock's policies/finances.
2. If college isn't in your future, look into the engineering department, specifically as a member of a survey crew. I spent the summer of '74 with the UP as a "rodman" assigned to the engineering department in Rock Springs, WY. Spent the entire summer, as an intern, laying out the trackage for upgrades to various industries (mining, potash, I think) in the Green River/Rock Springs area. Unless you want to actually operate a train, these ancillary positions will put you on the ground and in the field.
