Does this sound right?

BNSF sent me a E-mail last month informing me that I was hired but would not start until March 27, all the E-mail said was to contact the UTU rep in the 5 days following the E-mail which I did but he did not seem to interested to hear from me. I am a little concerned that I will show up and someway or another they will not be expecting me. Are my concerns justified or is this pretty normal. By the way I will be starting conductor training.
Kevin D Mumaw

 

Kevin:

Congratulations on being hired!!

Keep those war stories coming. Thanks.

 

[

 

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Sounds a little strange to me Kevin! I was sent a registered letter and instructed to follow
that up with a telephone call.
I also dont know why you would be referred to
the UTU rep,since you are not yet a member of the union, nor will you be until you have completed your 60day probation period. The
probation period begins when you are officially
hired, normally the date on which you pass your conductor qualifying exam. I can understand the union guys nonchalance as he
has no idea who you are!

CT

 

Kevin, another thing I just thought of. The railroad will be MOST specific in telling you when,where and at what time you are to report for training. They will also provide a
name,address and telephone number of someone in Human Resources as your contact.
Again I find it unusual that you would be referred to a union rep.

CT

 

January 9, 2006



Dear Kevin Mumaw:



Congratulations! This is to advise that you have met the requirements of the background check (pending driver license check) and have been qualified by ADP through the series of physical testing for the Spokane, WA Conductor Trainee position. We believe you will make an excellent addition to the BNSF team! Please report 08:00, March 27, 2006 to the BNSF yard office, 4510 E. Wisconsin, Spokane, WA. Please contact your BNSF UTU Training Coordinator, Mark McNaghten at 509 467 %$#@ or 509 998 ^%$# in the next 5 days for further instructions.

This is the first paragraph of the letter, so they did give me a date time and loction to report to. The rest of the Email had to do what I need to bring, what they will provide me with and so on. the E-mail is from BNSF Human Resources.
Kevin D Mumaw

 

That is how mine was worded and email to me from the recruiter in Lincoln, NE name was PAMELA SHERLOCK Good luck !!!!! My class started on the 16th of January and my brain is ready to explode!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 week class room, 3 weeks OTJ, 3 weeks class room, 7 weeks OTJ, 15th week study and take the almost 300 question Conductors test

there are quizzes every day and homework every night when in classroom. There is a 730 question quiz due Monday of my 7th week what a pain in the a@@ that was. Also the Monday of week 7 we take a test for hostler training (certification to move light engine consists around from yard to yard). Week 15 if you don't pass the hostler test week 7 you take that along with the I think it's 290 question test for Conductor. Around here if you don't pass the hostler test the 2nd time you no longer have a job. If you don't pass the Conductors test week 15 you go for a week of cramming at Kansas city to take the test again. If you fail that one you are looking for a new job.

When I pass all that around here in Chicago we also cover a Commuter line from aurora to Chicago union station so I need 2 weeks training on that and the 2 weeks of hostler training. A total of 19 weeks of learning everything I can. Want a little info on what you need to learn look up gcor 5th edition on the web it is in pdf file and start looking that over.

Good luck

 

Hey,
Happy Railroading

 

Thanks for the support guys, and thanks for the help BNSF1642. I know there will be lots to learn but 6 months ago I knew way to many USMC regs that thankfully I can finaly forget so I do not think I will have to many problems remembering everything. I have not had much experiance studing in quite a while though, so with my wifes nagging (shes a grad student at Eastern Wa U) I should get used to that again.
Kevin D Mumaw

 

Yes the Depot is still standing, when I saw Cheney for the first time last summer I knew I was in love, I mean with both BNSF and UP mains, the CW branch, lots of old brick buildings, big grain elevators and flour mills what is there not to love. By the way one of the corigated steel Grain elevatorts on the west end of town colapsed somethime this weekend spilling grain over a couple of the yard tracks.
Kevin D Mumaw

 

Thanks for the welcome BNSF7173 I'm sure with my love for trains I will fit in fine

Glad to help out Kevin keep us up to date.

Week 6 for me with the BNSF and my brain hurts.

 

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Not meaning to be the prophet of doom, but wait until you take that qualifying exam.
I was just as nervous going into that exam as I
was when I got married! LOL

Railroading eventually got easier!! ROFL!!!!

Charlie

 

How long did you have to wait from the time you got the pre-offer till you got the final offer Email telling you that you passed everything and gave you the starting date.

 

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For me, it was just about a month, and then I was notified by phone. The next day I received another phone call telling me to come pick up my tickets. The Sunday following that first call I was enroute to Kansas City and my training started the next afternoon. Thats right! Afternoon! We had both afternoon and morning sessions while in training. And we worked in the rain at "Chigger Yard". (of course we had rain damn near every day for the first 3 weeks of training).

Locomotive engineer training had more civilized hours. (except for the mandatory qualifying trips).

CT