Is it hard to get a job as a train conductor or engineer?

Question

I was wondering if it is hard to put your foot in the door to become a train conductor or engineer. I was talking to someone and they thought that you would have to know someone in order to do a job. Im talking Amtrak or some place that would have a good yearly income in the long run. thank you!

Answer 1

Your chances of hiring directly to train or engine service are not real good, but the railroads are still hiring in many places.

There is a lot of attrition due to retirements and a lot of railroad traffic such as grain, fuel and coal are somewhat more "recession proof" than other industries.

"knowing somene" doesnt really make as much difference as you might think, we have lots of people here that didnt have any connections.

Your chances are better if you transfer from an entry level position within the company.

When you talk to human resources people, let them know you are interested in any position they have available and that you are willing to relocate.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

If you want a rr job now, the way the economy is, you are gonna have to think outside the box a little. Look to short lines in remote areas, training schools like NARS ( National Academy of Railroad Sciences) in Johnson County COmmunity college, or MODOC in Sacramento CA ( Althought I would use these as a court of last resort...dont pay to learn the trade if you can hire on and learn it in the field for pay!! Try Watco for shortlines..you can apply online. Most of the big RR have plenty of help now, and have people furloughed that will be called back ahead of you being hired.....Even though you may wanna work for a big RR for the security in the long run, you may have to get your foot in the door at a shortline for now,....then when the economy picks up, you will have an excellent resume for the big RRs....good luck

Answer 3

do not. If the gates are closed against the line, meaning a prepare is coming. you may think of you have time to circumvent around the gates, yet trains flow swifter than your motor vehicle does. in addition they take an prolonged time to end. you will possibly not pay attention the prepare coming till it is too previous due. in case you're using and there's a surprising obstruction forward, you're able to do an emergency brake and are available to a stand in some yards. not so the prepare, which could take in to a million mile to end even in an emergency. regrettably there are countless human beings each and every 3 hundred and sixty 5 days who dismiss those data and attempt to run the gates. you may learn them interior the obituary columns of the newspapers. additionally please think of of the engineer, who's to blame for the risk-free practices of the prepare and has to handle it if there's a deadly accident. Many engineers go through traumatic breakdown as a effect and a few by no skill bypass lower back to the interest.

Answer 4

I think you may find it quite hard at the present time to find a job in the rail industry due to the economic downturn. I dont know about the States but here in Australia, you must be drug and alcohol free and be prepared to work 24/7 365 days a year and very unsociable hours. Over here, one can earn around 135.000 dollars a year. I have been a locomotive engineer for over forty years and still love it. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

I can't speak for all but CNRail is still hiring although you may have to relocate. You can check there website www.cn.ca then click on careers and it should walk you through the rest. Good luck to you and happy hunting.