In This Thread, I Tell You About My New Job. (So long, Georgia Krew)

[General Public]

I am now employed by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway ([url]www.bnsf.com[/url]) as a freight train conductor. :cool: I will be driving trains west from Birmingham, Alabama toward Memphis, Tennessee.

About two months ago, I applied for the job online. Today, I just received word I was hired. Here's what I had to go through to get there:
[list][*]Attend hiring session in B'ham.[*]Complete two basic arithmetic tests.[*]Complete two workplace safety attitude tests.[*]Take a drug test from a hair sample, going back 90 days.[*]Get interviewed (by three people at once no less).[*]Complete a DOT vision/hearing screening[*]Perform another drug test (urine test).[*]Successfully complete a phsyical endurance test on an isokinetic machine.[/list]So yeah, it was more hardcore than I thought it was going to be. Next, I will have to take many tests about railroad rules and pass them with 90% or above. If I fail to acheive 90% or better after 2 tries, I will be terminated.

Conductors and engineers are unionized ( :rolleyes: unions :rolleyes: ). So, I will have to join a union and pay dues. However, the benefits are really, really good:
[list][*]Medical coverage for me, my spouse, children = $120/month with $15 co-pays.[*]Company pays for 80% of a pair of steel-toed boots each year[*]Company furnishes two pairs of eyeglasses each year[*]All future education paid for by BNSF[*]Lots of room for advancement[*]Discounts on products BNSF ships (cars to computers)[*]Guaranteed minimum amount of work per week[*]Excellent pay ($700/week during training; goes up to $19/hr afterward). About $36,000/yr[/list]There some cons though:
[list][*]No vacation for one year[*]Long periods away from home[*]No set sechedule; on-call 24/7[*]Must work in all weather conditions day and night[*]Possibility of being furloughed[*]Possibility of strikes[/list]So, I start the 29th, and I am in the process of moving down to Birmingham. So, I am no longer going to be a member of Georgia Krew :( If anyone can give me info on the place, it's appreciated. (Yes, I already know Visionland is sux except for Rampage.) I will also answer your questions about the industry and about my job if you have any.

Oh, my first new major purchase will be a new vehicle of some kind. Now acception recommendations, but be advised, I am heavily in favor of the Toyota 4Runner. Not considering anything except Japanese cars right now, $30,000 and below.

So, I will probably be scare round these here parts until I get another apartment and an internet connection (broadband thank god).

I am very, very elated about getting this job. Driving trains should be :cool:

[MaGnUmKeLly]

Wow, that sounds like a really intresting job. Closest thing to a train job, was at Cedar Point on the CP And LE RAILROAD. Thats nothing compared to what you are going to be doing.

Hope things go well with your new job. I have to find some other people to harras while on the boards. I know Kraken and a few others will do a good job.

Come back now you hear... :)

[General Public]

Actually, I was a fireman for the SFRR at SFOG for a little while in 2001.

[Coastr Crazy 72]

You know driving trains was what I always wanted to be as a kid. I loved trains and I had all these miniature models and everything. Well I'm glad you are excited and I hope you have fun. It sounds pretty cool. Good luck and take care, hope to hear from you in the forums sometime.

[MaGnUmKeLly]

Ya that would help out as well. Only thing I did at CP was the platform, not the engine part of the ride.

[Phil]

You suck. How could you leave us?


Oh well, at least you are leaving the Georgia Krew for a cool job. Good luck with it.

[Chip]

That's awesome. Trains are really :cool: things. Unions are also good for the most part. Be sure to come back with trip reports and stories of all the interesting things you see and hit on your voyages. Have fun and congratulations.

[birdie311]

I think you just got every little boys dream job...well, atleast my dream job. That's awesome! Good luck and happy engineering.

[Phil]

Yeah, I have the same question as leeloo. Are you working by yourself at the controls or is someone else there with you.

[General Public]

Here's the deal: there are pretty much two types of trains: locals and through freights.
[list][*]Through freights are generally long distance unit trains (that is, they haul one thing--coal, cars, grain, intermodal traffic) and usually do not add or remove cars between their origin and destination. They typically have one conductor and one engineer on board.
[*]Locals are the opposite of through freights. They are mixed (you'll see boxcars, tank cars, flat cars, hoppers, etc.) and will sometimes deliver cars to local customers along the route, or just take a string of cars to the next yard to be assembled into unit trains. Because there is lots of switching going on, they have a crew of three: brakeman, conductor, and engineer.[/list]
Here is a good description of what you can expect to do as a conductor or engineer. This comes off of Union Pacific Railroad's website but it's accurate no matter who you work for.
[indent]A train service employee is responsible for the safe movement of freight trains and switching of cars in the yards. Specific functions will include frequently climbing ladders to board standing or moving cars, operating hand brakes, coupling air hoses between cars, operating track switches, inspecting cars, and using hand and lantern signals, radio communications, and remote control technology to control train movement. Chicago area train service personnel may be required to become suburban (passenger) ticket collectors, which entails the purchase of a uniform and the handling of cash. This is not a typical 40-hour-a-week opportunity; the position consists of variable and irregular work hours, with irregularly scheduled days off. Train service employees work weekends and holidays on an "on call" basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Travel is required, and personnel must be available to report to work 90 minutes after notification.

Train Service positions require employees to work on an "on call" basis, and employees must be available to report to work 90 minutes after notification. You may be called to work on weekends and holidays, and the job may require you to travel and be away from home several days at a time. There is a considerable amount of variability in the work schedule of these positions; and your availability to work is critical to the success of the Railroad and its Customers.


TRAIN OPERATION AND MOVEMENT. Get on and off stationary equipment and equipment moving at speeds of 4 mph or less; couple and uncouple air hose and electrical connections between cars; ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps; assist in moving replacement knuckle to location of broken knuckle; assist in removal and replacement of broken knuckle; assist in aligning of drawbars by using available equipment to lift, pull or push on the drawbar; perform hostler operations by operating locomotive between various shop locations, service tracks, and switching areas.
PERFORM SWITCHING OPERATIONS. Read switching instructions on OBTs or switch lists; oversee switching operations; pull pin-lifter rod to raise knuckle pin; spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations; pull on knuckle to open for coupling; apply and release hand brakes; operate various track switches and derails to change routing of train or cars; perform flat and hump yard classification switching; operate automatic switches and retarders.
CONDUCT TRAIN AND EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS. Observe track conditions for broken rails, defective switches, and so forth; inspect rolling stock for defects and evidence of wear; inspect the condition of train and equipment while stationary, infrequently involving walking the length of the train to distances of more than a mile over uneven terrain and ballast.
COMMUNICATE AND REPORT INFORMATION. Transmit information using on-board computer terminals and other communications equipment (telephones, radios); receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquires received from train operations and customer service center personnel; transcribe track bulletins and authorities; report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completions, time slips, and Federal Hours of Service reports electronically.
INTERPRET SIGNALS. Observe and respond to a variety of wayside and cab signals which include color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors; verbally communicate wayside signals in a clear manner to coworkers for verification; signal crew members for movement of the engine or train using lanterns, hand signals, radio, or telephone.
PRACTICE SAFE WORK HABITS. Follow company and federal safety rules, policy, and procedures; wear prescribed safety apparel; take appropriate action when conditions threaten safety of crew or other personnel; read and comply with track bulletins and authorities, signals, railroad rules, and regulations.
Experience/Skills Required:

Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.Individuals with felony and/or misdeameanor convictions may not be hired. Must not have any alcohol or drug-related convictions or suspensions due to drugs or alcohol within the past three years. Applicants must be able to read and comprehend regulations and instructions in English, as well as possess good oral communication skills. They should be experienced in working variable hours and in an outdoor environment. Candidates must be able to discriminate between colors, and must successfully pass a reading comprehension exam and physical agility test to qualify for an interview. [/indent]
Also, if you're curious as to what the controls look like, [url=http://krugtales.50megs.com/rrpictale/cabtour/cab7254lbl.jpg]here is a picture of them with everything labled.[/url]

[jimmycoasterman]

And the GA Krew loses a valuable member....

But the job sounds kick-ass. Good for you man. Hope it works out well, and I mean trains = the winnar.

[coaster9freak]

The only thing I have to say is good luck. I hope you get to do what you want and have fun doing it. I won't think any less of you for leaving...it just saddens me a bit...

[MaGnUmKeLly]

Good luck once again. You will truely be missed a lot.

[General Public]

I'm not leaving forver? I probably won't be around quite as much for a while, especially in the next 2 or 3 weeks.

[Kraken]

All abourd the ManTrain! Choo Choo!


This job will limit your Internet time. Don't take it. You must live in poverty in front of your computer for the rest of your life.