Become an Engineer..... .Suggestions??????

[ILCentral]

Hello to all.
I am curious on how to become an engineer? I know you have to be a switchman first but how do you get in? Do you have any suggestions on getting into the railroad business? I currently work for a large corporation (General Motors) but really want to be out on the rails. I am from the country and this corporate life is really catching up to me quick.

Where can I go to get hired? Any suggestions? I would like to stay in the midwest.(IL, IN, IA).

Any suggestions or if anyone can help me I would appreciate it.

You can email me or post here i love reading your stories!

[Gregg Mahlkov]

Tried to post a reply last night, but site would not work. Suggest you go to www.RailServe.com (http://www.RailServe.com) (search) and www.trains.com (http://www.trains.com) (classifieds) and look for those community colleges that provide courses in railroad train and engine service. These courses, which usually run about 9-12 weeks, prepare you for conductor and engineer positions. The schools are connected with the Class I's, so usually have a list of available positions for graduates. NS runs its own school at McDonough, GA, and advertises of major city papers for trainees when needed. The nearest one to you I am familair with is in Lenexa, KS (Kansas City area), and is affiliated with the BNSF. Be prepared to be unable to call your time your own from now on though! You will be on call 24/7/365. :cool:

[CP&E 3207]

I have talked to CSX employees I know, they all say that if you work for CSX, you are required to use like 20+ days of vacation time ;) , and are pretty much guaranteed to be home for Christmas, and Thanksgiving.I have pretty Much made up my mind on being an engineer / crew member for CSX, I've heard bad stuff about NS. So It'll be either CSX or WVRA. :D

[ 27 March 2001: Message edited by: A&A 6183 ]

[ILCentral]

Thanks for both suggestions. I will check them all out.

If anyone else has suggestions please post.

Thanks

[CPRailfan]

I want to do the same thing IL! I know some stuff about the Milwaukee area and its railroads, but not much about IL. I do keep in touch with a BNSF engineer, who lives in Galesburg. From what he told me, you start workin' in the yards after schooling. Then you go to engineer schooling, and when that's done, you're an engineer, and you work your way up from there. But that's all I know, so if anyone can help IL and me, we'd be happy smile.gif

[Rule 281]

Hi ILCentral-
Glad to see someone still wants to learn the craft. I know quite a few guys who would do almost anything to avoid engine school and stay on the ground conducting until the day they are actually ordered to go. I was forced within weeks of hiring out without ever working as a conductor or trainman and except for a short stint when I couldn't hold the engineer's exta list, have run trains almost constantly since. I still enjoy playing with the big toys but wish I had been a little more informed when I was considering the career change.
The two things I wish I had known better at the outset, was that no matter which road you end up hiring on, seniority is everything and as Gregg said, your time will rarely belong entirely to you. If you're married and/or have kids, your family has to be supportive and understanding if it's ever going to work. You'll sleep at weird times, get called whenever, and go out the door a lot not really knowing when you'll be back. No job is worth destroying your home.
As for seniority, if you're going to go railroading, be the first in line at the hiring session, sign up for your physical first and hope the last four digits of your soc. sec. are better than anyone elses. The one guy who winds up ahead of you in seniority may dictate when, where or if you can hold a job. Everything else will follow along as you learn the craft, but that magic number will be with you till the end. Good luck and keep us posted. :D

[Mopac3092]

hey il. central the cn/ic is always hiring for the chicago terminal area. not many people want to work it. right now they are hiring engineer's from other rr's and putting them right to work. right now with the slow down in the economy we are getting real slow on the ns and forsee more furlows or layoffs coming. the last i heard to the ic was wanting guys on the old ccp in nw illinois and iowa. just don't give up your job now until some things straighten up with businessbecause i think it will get worse soon because the line i run depends on auto traffic for 75% of its revenue and ford is really killing us right now with low traffic. i went from an engineer to a brakeman on the extra board within 2 weeks. so look at it hard before you do anything rash.

[ILCentral]

Thanks everyone, I will keep all that in mind I appreciate it and will look at all my options. You are right this is a slow time of the year hopefully it will pick up.

[Benny]

What kind of education would be useful for this kind of profession.

I am currently a Mech. Engineering Student, I at the University of Arizona.

Also, how are the Roads in the warmer climates? I don't have very tolerant antifreeze in me, I like it warm! Especially, whats the likilihoods in the southwest are? I'm guessing the choice of enployers would be UP and BNSF. Is there any more Arizona New Mexico Texas California lines?

Thanks

[Hytec]

How about KCS/TFM, especially if you speak Spanish? Just a thought, I don't know anybody :(

[NSBrakeman]

You gotta stand the cold if you wanna be a railroader! Just kiddin around-good luck on your search. :D

Dave

[Benny]

I am not going to stand it if I absolutely don't HAVE too. :D

I am sure that it is on of those things that grows on you. Then again , I've lived my whole life in Hot Arizona, so It would take a lot of time to get used to it!

Anybody know where I can find an up to date map that details the companies routes in a color coded (different color, different operator/owner)fashion for the entire US?

Thanks

In four to five years everything will probably be different again :D But this institution that I'm in doesn't want to let me go yet.

[DaveCN5710]

Hi IlCentral , I would be almost certain that CN IC is hiring in the Chicago area .

The have hired qualified Engineers from other railroads there in Chicago .

Basically you have to hire out as a Conductor , switchman . When I hired out in 1994 I was a switchman/Conductor and then in 1997 I was promoted to Engineer .

I have actually been in contact with the BN and even though I am a Engineer , the lady told me if I was hired I would be a Conductor .

Your not going to be able to hire out as a Engineer , it don't work that way . You got to start on the ground and work your way up . You need a high school diploma , no drugs , be able to drive all over , work 24 -7 , holidays , weekends , it's not as great of a job that it is cracked up to be .

I love it of course , but you sacrifice ALOT . If your married , hopefully you have a wife who will put up being gone for days at a time having not much of a social life . It pays great though smile.gif

If I were you I would try to get into CN at the Chicago Terminal .

[ILCentral]

Thanks for all the great ideas.

What is the website for CN? THANKS

Does anyone know what a conductor pay starts out as? Usually.

Thanks to all!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveCN5710]

CN website is www.cn.ca (http://www.cn.ca)

When I hired out I made $75.00 per day

Now as a Engineer I make around $230.00 for making my run , one way 156 miles , that is without overtime .

[rsn48]

I was going to post this just for Canadians, but with the value of the American dollar so much higher than the Canadian dollar, there might be some who can afford it. The name of the institution is the Southern Alberta Institute of technology (SAIT); I believe it is....I'm not sure...but if interested I will find out; I want to say revelstoke, but I am pretty sure I am wrong.

It has a program to train engineers, in other wards you go to school there, and come out trained. Given the shortage of engineers in the US - they are often trying to woo away BC Rail engineers - getting a job afterwards, even in the US (especially in the US) shouldn't be a problem.

[watash]

How many years of hands on experience do they teach you there? Do they use simulators, like for pilots, or do they have actual time in engines on the road?

[rsn48]

Not sure Watash,
I will try to find out more...maybe they have a web site. I dislike and like the idea at the same time. With CN and CP, if you didn't have relative in the company, there was no way you were going to get hired, especially for jobs priming you for engineer...my uncle started out as bike courier, calling up engineers, then went to car knocker...his father was engineer with CN.

So railroading in Canada was a family affair. The SAIT program does away with that system, which is great if you don't have relative in the industry. The reason I don't like it, is that the railroads are downloading costs of training onto the student and the parents, which is great for the railroad.

[Maxwell Plant]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CPRailfan:
...I know some stuff about the Milwaukee area and its railroads, but not much about IL. I do keep in touch with a BNSF engineer, who lives in Galesburg. From what he told me, you start workin' in the yards after schooling. Then you go to engineer schooling, and when that's done, you're an engineer, and you work your way up from there...so if anyone can help IL and me, we'd be happy smile.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You speak of Galesburg, Carl Sandberg College in Galesburg has courses in Railroading. Your friend there should be able to get you some info. If not, Harry "LittleGiant" Grossman might be able to help. I'll direct him to this thread and see what he says. smile.gif

[DaveCN5710]

When I went through Engineers Training , I went to the CN Training Centre in Gimli (Manitoba) which is north of Winnipeg .

I was there for 3 weeks , we had weekends off , and had classroom training as well as Locomotive Simulators , these Simulators were cool :D

The had some that actually moved and shifted around like a real locomotive , cabs were detailed to perfection , it was amazing .

The Simulators shook and rocked and made noise , whistle , bell , everything . I have heard CN has closed that facility down up there in Gimli , but we had a blast . CN paid for our air fare , meals , everything , even paid us our wages for going to class .

[T.K.Marletter]

[ 10 April 2001: Message edited by: T.K.Marletter ]

[Colonel]

Tim,
Welcome to trainboard it is always nice meeting new members. i hope you make this site your home and enjoy it as much as I do.
tell us more about what work you do now. I'm a Signal Engineer on the rail network here in Sydney Aus.
look forward to reading more of your posts

[T.K.Marletter]

hello I'm new, my signature tells a part of my story. I first dropped out of High school in 1956, and was hired as flagman on the B&O in 1957, I worked my way up to Engineer in 1960, (i was personally surprised) and many times was at the controls , leading a train over cranberry grade, and Sand Patch, too. In the summer of 1979, Chessie System released me with still being on payroll until I completed my GED, other wise I would have to scram. I completed and went back to work in 8 months. In 1982 I was transferred to run the old St.Louis line(from Cumberland) my usual route wa from Grafton,WV to Benwood juction, heading up "the Benwooder" I've been in a few accidents, for various reasons. I retired from CSX in 1993 with about 35 years of service. I just enjoy watching trains (and still ride from time to time) and am planning on trying the hobby.I unfortunately don't have many picture of mre on the job, so I don't have much to scan. -Tim

[Charlie]

To ILCentral et al,

The other poster are correct in stating that
you have to get hired as a "ground" employee
first.The only time railroads will hire you
as an engineer is if you already have a card.
The BNSF will send you through 5 weeks of
training in Overland Park KS, but that is
split into two sections. You take 3 weeks of
classroom training, followed by 17 weeks of
qualifying runs and then 2 more weeks of final exams, both written and simulator. If you work in the Chicago Terminal, you will also get another 30 days of qualifying on
commuter trains. In reply to another posting,
being an engineer is not all it is "cracked-up" up to be. I am really not so sure I made
the right choice myself. I am not currently
working as an engineer cuz I dont have enough
seniority to hold a hoggers job. I guess you
could say that I am in a "reserve" pool of
engineers.
Good luck anyway!