What is the manure supporting the engineer. Engineers follow a ten cent light bulb and try to hassle waitresseswith their good looks and fat ass. Weekends nights and holidays, no time for her horses. Fast paced, never sat in a siding for 9 hours. Never had to deal with anyone in management that lied straight to your face. It is nothing more than propaganda. The pay just keeps getting worse. Air hoses, in the days we called it snapping weenies
This video was shot in Winnipeg at Symington yard. Shes a Canadian so she doesnt have to worry about the 2 man crew dilemma yet. Also a green vest in Canada means shes been on her own less than a year so shes still in the CN honeymoon phase.
they wanna take the road conductor in the states because they think PTC is a replacement. we dont even use ptc here, yet. still a while away. they work against themselves by running 12k foot trains theres just no possible way, trains break apart too often to not have a conductor
@@benjlar1902 back in 2014 the BNSF wanted to create a new position called a "master condr"... this new position would take the condr out of the cab permanently and he would be assigned an area to cover in case of an incident like a break in two
@@howardjamespatterson4119 engr only ops is just a pit stop for the carriers... they're looking past that to NOBODY in the cab... just read an article that says CSX is testing a remote-controlled locomotive system called trip optimizer...(you gotta love the unassuming name they gave their job stealing system)... and CSX is big time bragging about it
6:35 you nailed it. My ex worked in a show barn for a while. The daily chores were intensive, and going to a show was a full day commitment, sometimes multiple days. She couldn't mention anything about being on call 24/7 in this video because it would directly contradict the whole idea of showing horses as a regular hobby.
Worked for CN for a while. You’ll make 100k starting out the door. Great pay, highest paying railroad out there. Some conductors were making $130-150k a year. Still a class one however, with a lots of BS.
Well from your experience working with this company do you think that’s company to good company to work for it I’m thinking about taking consideration of applying for it but also I will have to relocate what do you thinks?
Shes bucking for manager. Former CN Trainee here. Your gonna have a lot of money, no life. And if you have a spouse its not likely they'll stay with you living this life. "Fast Paste Environment" equals management yelling at you to work faster, safety be damned. I miss the money but quitting we the best idea I ever had. Toxic workplace isn't strong enough to describe CN Rail.
@@ConductorDon 8k a month pre-tax is impressive. Taxes already take 35-40% of my cheque anyway so paying another 10% for union dues and retirement isn't that bad of a wage. My non railroad pay last month would have been over 7k but after taxes I only took home 4k. No union dues, no retirement fund, no stock options. Gotta be something else going on to be disappointed with the railroad.
1 quick note that all subsidiary Railroads of the CN work as separate roads under the umbrella of CN RAIL and they all work under local contracts and not under the national agreements. I know because I worked for the GTW under the CN RAIL umbrella.
the national agreement short changes workers on arbitraries like dead heading from your away terminal to your home terminal but instead of getting a days pay, you only get time consumed... nice little rip off there... or working a yard engine and being told to tow in a dead road freight that's 25 miles outside of yard limits but NOT getting any extra pay for doing so (both of these scenarios are courtesy of the 1985 p.o.s. national agreement)
Yeah, I work for a subsidiary terminal as supervisor. I supervise a crew loading vehicles onto rail cars, have a lot of duties but insuring a safe environment, locking and flagging out switches and obtaining RC numbers are some of my main duties. I get paid much less then a CN yard supervisor and am out in the yard far more then CN supervisors / superintendents … darn subsidiaries.
Worked for UP and CP. For those thinking about railroading it is extremely challenging work life balance, believe me. You will miss everything with family. You can never really plan anything because the phone will ring unexpectedly ordering you to go to work. The callers/schedulers will call you in the middle of the night trying to trick you into taking trains that aren’t yours. The schedules that they provide online are supposed to give you a roundabout time your train leaves. Good luck with that it’s never accurate. At least once a week you will be caught short and go in dog tired. On top of that you have train, masters, etc. watching your every move. Everyone I worked with exception of a few hated their lives. Divorces and substance abuse run rampant. I was so lucky to get out of that situation because I was miserable. I never got in trouble and always showed up early for work. But everyone around you is doom and gloom. So what you can make $100,000 a year. It is so not worth it. They literally own you. The unions are extremely weak and disorganized. If you get in trouble, usually their hands are tied. Lots of people getting permanently fired(ive been in 5 unions in my life) I have kept in contact with a few people back at the railroad and they’re all wishing they had something better to go to. Also, you have to pay for or should pay for Can insurance. If you don’t know what that is, it is insurance for when you get fired. It’s like unemployment insurance for the railroad. Everyone has it and it can run a few hundred dollars a month. You’ve been warned !!
Totally agree with you. Worked for the FEC in Florida. All the guys I worked with were divorced & hated there jobs. I was on call 24/7 you can never plan anything. I lasted 2 years. I was so relieved the day I quit.
@@daveyboy_some people risk their job sometimes after they’ve been hired in, by using drugs. As long as they don’t get hurt or hit with a random, they skirt on by. My uncle retired from CN, and he told me some of the people that worked out of Memphis would start buying drugs after they were making that good railroad money. Then they would get hurt and loose their job, because they failed their drug test.
CN and CP are the closest options I have been interested in. CP really pushes the "no life outside of work" up front, but neither company really explains how the pay works during training and for the 45 required trips after/during training. Hard to plan for it and I remember an acquaintance dropping out during the training period because they couldn't afford the lifestyle at first.
@@ConductorDon we live in Canada, the government taxes us 40% up front. The pay might just move you into a higher tax bracket unless it's something else.
training from start to finish is gonna be around 5-7 months at cn, after taxes you'll probs get paid like $1400 biweekly while training. hope this helps
They need to update the video, TCRC pulled the OJT's and now the company is doing the training and the structure has radically changed. Also at 4:21 I cracked up at the glad hand flange not being clicked in.
Im 20 years old and been a conductor in Winnipeg for cn for about 8 months now not including training time. I honestly cannot complain much about the training process or job. Fantastic job if you’re single and young, and by the time you have a couple years seniority you’ll be able to hold a scheduled yard job. Pay is fantastic, holding a yard job for a year estimate around 80k-90k Canadian, road would be around 110k-130k average I’d say. I haven’t yet had to experience layoffs, I’m on shortage right now in Prince George Canada making shit tons of money so if you can handle getting shipped away for a couple months it’s pretty rewarding. Not really sure why some people hate cn so much, at least as of right now. Management is very approachable, they let you work at your own pace and don’t bug you much, at least in Winnipeg that’s the case ;) would recommend this job if you can adapt your sleep easily. Update: I got fired with a clean record and now am starting with CP soon
I am in upstate NY there is a Selkirk,NY yard one of the largest yards in the US tons of CP and CSX trains there. Some CN. I wonder if those trains go all the way thru Canada. Big RR industry with jobs around here.
@@heinjordaan9258 there’s cn side and there former bcr side, both are owned by cn(obviously) but they have separate agreements. Cn side does east and west runs,former bcr does north and south runs. Cn side is way more pay but you sacrifice time off, only 14 hours rest after every shift but you do have a call window, former bcr every time you work you can take 72 hours off if you so choose. Way more freedom. If you hire on you probably won’t get to choose which side you get put to, but in my opinion both side are good! Lots of road shifts on both sides but bcr has lots more yards.
Hey bro I have a interview with cn tomorrow for a conductor position in vancouver bc how long will it take for me to have a set schedule im 42 years old is it worth it at my age for the job thanks man
Well, having read these comments here, I’d like to point out a few facts of life: All jobs suck, and all good jobs entail making similar sacrifices and require a high commitment level. If you’re a mechanical engineer you spend four years in university learning about shit that will never see the light if day again when your university education ends. You live like a pig in shit for four years, and have zero life. When you graduate, your REAL training begins, and you’re not earning huge amounts of money. You bounce around from employer to employer, and if you fuck up on anything, all that invested time energy money is gone instantly. Most engineers have a life going from feast to famine. How about a police officer? Good money, but your life is so shit that it makes the shit offered by CN look like a holiday on a cruise ship. How about a career at sea? Same shit. Complete commitment, no life, and you spend years starving waiting for a full-time job to appear. My stepfather is a doctor, or the absolute pinnacle of shit jobs. Listen, guys, there is NO magic job out there that gives you tons of money without a lot of bullshit attached. If you want to have money, pick a job that you hate the least, and embrace the sucky bullshit.
Ex CP Railway Conductor here out of Calgary. Great work, decent pay. Perfect job for a bachelor with no family or friends. Most employees are overweight and appear much older than they are.
@@adrianang1545 I work at the yard in Toronto. The hours are not good, the days off are terrible. It can take years to get a steady night shift job with Tuesday/Wednesday off... The culture seems to be us vs them with management with many rednecks. Seems like you have to know 1000 different rules and because you're working many different jobs on the spareboard.. Sure you can make decent money, but it costs you your life and health!
I'm doing the interview for CN right now actually, They are very forthcoming with how much it sucks during the zoom interview, but I did not know they were maybe cutting conductors in the train which is a bit jarring. Maybe I should reconsider, the shitty hours and everything is fine with me but having to worry about my "job" being yanked at any time is a very concerning. Do you mean they only want one person driving the train from coast to coast? isn't that dangerous if you get hurt in the middle of nowhere for some reason?
@beautilize yeah! just finished and am doing the medical checks. but so far, it's been easy enough. I can't say much about the job yet as i have yet to do it, but cause i worked in the trades, i have a feeling I'll be fine with this. And im going to be part of the sask line! looking forward to leaving this god forsaken city 😅
@@MozzieVA so bro its our choise how we can slect interview??like online or in person? As iam in ontario right now and if i apply for sakatchwen opening is there chance of getting this interview online??
@beautilize Apply for sure. talked to the medical officer, and she told me they are hurting for people in sask. So you shouldn't have a problem getting in. Just be ready to pay for a hotel or find a place to stay at cause the money may be good, but finding a place to live isn't gonna be fun. im just glad my start is in feb, so it'll be warmer when i move down, haha! But you choose where you want to go on the website and apply that way. interviews are online on Zoom and usually around 10 am for us in ontario due to time zones. hopefully, you can get a day off work. Otherwise, just be yourself. Also, by the hotel, i mean when you get to sask for otj. going to the training center, it's all paid for. which is nice!
@@MozzieVA Bro if you don't mind can we connect on ig or whatsapp i just want to make connections and frnds in the field i am about to step in. And thank u for replying much appreciated.
Hey guys, I am on the last step to recruitment for BC, When they talking about salaries, the range that i can find on web is between 90k and 100k per year, now the most important question is : is this amount based on regular 8h working day and the extra hours will increase it up more, or it cover al the 10-12h workdays with shifts and everything? In first case its a great deal, but if those 100k pet year includes ALL workforce & hours to put in its not at all. I have also an option to go with CSX, but it seams they have a worst management ever....
Hello guys. I have an oncoming interview for locomotive engineer apprentice. Do you think it’s a stable job or I always have to be afraid of being fired even if there is no serious reason? Thank you. The interview is with CN
Some call them slave units, they have traction motors but no Diesel engine. So it’s like using two locomotives with only one burning fuel. When I worked the hump job in Toronto we would use two sets ( four units ) with the two “ slaves “ placed together in the middle. That gave us the pulling power of four units while only fueling two .
I work on the US side of CN and the pay and schedule is one of the best of the class 1s. 5&2 boards, 6&3 pools all conductors start at 100% pay. All jobs pay the same hourly. Currently 5&2 board guarantee is 119k a year, yards and locals are at 130k and 6&3 road pools with 4 hour call window are 145k. All jobs including extra boards have scheduled off days.
Hello can someone help me!! I have my in person interview tomorrow morning. Super nervous. What’s the best dress code for this interview. I’m 22 I’ve never had an interview for this level of a job.
@@joeylesleymorris749 any kind of normal collar shirt will do fine. If you have pants I would wear them but if not just wear what you got. I went to my interview in blue jeans and a flannel shirt lol. I think the most important thing when it comes to interviews is Eye contact when speaking to someone, sitting up straight, sirs and mam’s depending on who’s interviewing you. They may ask why you want to work for CN as a conductor this is where you can tell them cause you know you’ll be making a difference in our economy, it’s a job you will take pride in knowing you’re delivering goods across America and / or Canada depending on where you are that keeps the economy going.
@@dominiccurtale3287 i showed up to the place where they had the interview going on (hotel) There’s was 20-30 other people there applying to the same position/terminal. Orientation was @8am for an hour. Then we all got assigned interview slot times throughout the day. Some interviews were from 9am all way to 7pm. I was assigned to 1pm..so you have to wait awhile till it’s ur turn….basic interview tho. They want to learn about you. Learn about where you worked and how it can incorporate with CN. Stuff like that. THEN At the end of the interview they give u a test. A “recall test” they will say a sentence to you as if they were talking to you on the radio with coordinates and numbers: you have to write down word for word on a piece of paper what he said to you. You get 2 chances. I failed one atttempt. The interview went good in my opinion: but I failed that one test. And I think that’s where/why I didn’t get in…..GOODLUCK on your interview🔥!!!!!
Im think 3 years make money build equity and dip out to start my farm in Canada elsewhere. I worked as a cook for 10 years 5 to 14 hours doing short orders and preparation... I have nothing to show for it. The pay was garbage and I worked 50 to 70 weekly.
It's not always necessarily going to be physically demanding. It depends on what job you have to work. I probably spent about 80% of my time sitting in a seat staring out the windshield. Knuckles really aren't that bad either. You don't have to carry them by hand to the separation. If you can lift a bag of quickrete at Lowes, then you can lift a knuckle.
how's it going donald... i thought i saw you wrote a few months ago you gave up on the railroad... yea buddy join the club, i was 10 years in and bailed... had enough... they kept taking helpers off the switch engines, then started taking whole switch engines off... i wondered if the place would still be there when i retired... i hired on in 93, if i was still there now i'd have 29... with another 8 to go before i could retire... i can honestly say i don't see that place surviving another 8 years so i'm happy with my choice... although i do admit i miss working there, i truly became a railroad man at heart... but for my own personal experience, the toxic culture coupled with the overall employment uncertainty forced me to look elsewhere for work
@@25mfd I was actually really proud to call myself a railroader and took pride in what I did. If they hire at my local terminal in the future, I might try to go back. I lived over 2 hrs from the terminal I worked at and would have to start driving when I was 2nd out to make it on time. There weren't any vacant apartments close by and the ones that were available were way to expensive. The final straw was the fact they were actively hiring at the terminal 30 minutes from my house and I asked multiple times to transfer there. Management seemed on board with it when I initially asked. After asking for an update the 4th time and once again being told they needed to "wait 1 more month," I finally came to the conclusion they were just stringing me along. At that point I decided I was done. I'll never understand why they thought it was worth losing me over that considering how desperate they are for people. They would have lost a conductor, but the other terminal would have gained one right away that would have only needed to CQ for a few trips and then could go straight to work. It wasn't going to put my hire terminal in a bind either, because they literally had 40 cubs there and at least half of them would've been marked up within a month or two. Like I said, if they hire out of that terminal again, I'll probably apply and would consider going back if they offered it to me. It definitely would be a much harder decision now though since I actually know what I'd be signing up for this time.
@@ConductorDon oh man yea i've been down that same road, leaving early when i get close to being first out... i lived in milwaukee but worked the pool which was in adams wisconsin ( 3 hr drive)... they give a 2 hr call so yea had to scoot up there early... although i did tell the caller to add a notation to my record to give a long call... that did help some... but unlike your situation i bid to work that pool and wasn't forced... although i was forced to work in another terminal that was a hour and a half one way drive... not too bad but not really fun either... but yea railroading is tough it takes some getting used to... for me one of the issues i had early on was what to wear in the winter... i tried MANY different things and combination of things before i found what worked for me... but it's too bad it didn't work out for you... if it had worked out you could have shared your experiences on your channel... would have been cool to have a guy right there on the inside sharing his info about the railroad and how it works... after watching joeys vids and seeing the questions people ask, i'm surprised at just how many folks are interested in railroading and how it works
Bro when someone say it depends on terminal what is meant by that? Like if for example say homepayne( ontario )has long routes and on other side it is saskatoon, canada terminal like how people estimate that here it will be not that much work like If terminal has long routes does it mean work will be more??
Some terminals service more routes than other. I have been to one that only has 3 mainlines. Memphis, Birmingham, Chattanooga. Then others like Birmingham has 5. Depends the inflow and outflow of railcars.
When I started at CP in '77 we had 4 man road crews and 4 man yard crews and total work force was approx. 35,000. When I retired more than 30 years later we were down to 2 men road and yard crews and total work force was now about 16,000 - and CP was still trying to cut more! Need I say more?
When the yd foreman would sit on the engine all day while his 2 yd men did the work, what do you expect would happen Back in 1973 when I started out the instructor mentioned this very fact about yd foreman on engines
I worked at CN for a few months and it was a mixed bag. Pay was good, the work itself was honestly kinda fun (who doesn't like playing with trains?), but the hours are trash and everyone is miserable. Would be a lot better if they gave you more off time and actually let you have a life but apparently that costs too much for a multi-million dollar company.
How would these videos compare to a short line conductor? Are the schedules as chaotic and on call based on a road that never leaves the state? (Looking at Watco in WI) I'm pretty sure I couldn't physically handle the job anyway, as a fat 30yo with bad joints, back, feet, and shoulders.. but it's fun to think about.
My dad was a CN conductor in Alberta for like 30 years. He trained on the job and started in the yard and then went on the road in the late 80’s until he retired in 2010. I would be interested to see his reaction to this video.
a standard railroad P.R. puff piece, in this case, heavily flavored with CN herbs and spices... so yea i didn't expect her to stray too far from the "company propaganda line" at all... she stayed right on track
I work(ed) at CN. 3rd Generation. Been a Conductor since 2001. I was recently fired for getting injured. (Isn't the 1st time) I'll be back again eventually. Never seen a company pay so much money and time into hiring new employees only to spend the rest of their career trying to FIRE THEM.
I applied for the conductor position for the Steven's Point WI yard. During the Zoom interview, the manager told everyone, and im not joking as quote, "if we pay you a dollar, we want a pound flesh from you", meaning its gonna be shitty, but the pay is amazing. $41/hr staring and after 1 year, your making max pay of $48/hr. Is it worth it? Sure, if you dont have family.
Nothing is more fun that having to walk your two-mile-long train when it's -50 degrees outside in the middle of no where while a mountain lion wonders if it can cull you from the herd.
Another user said they had worked with her in Winnipeg during their time. The update is, she is no longer with CN; left to become a city cop in Winnipeg.
Just a few thoughts: I worked at CP for a few years as a dispatcher. The railway is not a job, its a lifestyle. Forget the 9 to 5. If they have a way of replacing human worker with technology, they will do it in a heartbeat. Railways are ALWAYS looking for ways to cut costs. That said, you can learn much about rail transport. intermodal ops and transportation and logistics in general.
Railroading is in the blood. It’s not for everyone. It’s not a place to go because “YOU NEED A JOB”. 27 years in the industry and I’ve seen many people come and go.
if a glad hand locks too easy, it didn't lock and it'll leak. at least that's what i tell my trainees as a double/triple trailer truck driver trainer. it seems like there's a lot of similarities between trucking and railroad work. but railroad people work harder and rightfully get paid more, credit where credit is due. thanks for the upload
You're right, working around trailers now. If that glad hand isn't snug you can hear it leaking. There are a lot of glad hands that have smaller leaks on a train but as long as that pressure gets to the required pressure they will let it roll
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors I just walked a 119 car stretch all t box. A couple dozen gaskets and a few shoes. A hundred or so cable ties through glad hands for peaking prevention since were around -10. We will keep yard air on as long as the air is within 10 cars of the head end because transportation won’t walk more then that 😆
Dad worked for Illinois Central starting in 59', he worked passenger as conductor and freight until IC stopped passenger service in 71' he worked out of E StL/Madison/Venice then the Sauget hump as a brakeman switchman when cabooses were still being used, he mentioned many times that cooks could cook you up everything from biscuits and gravy to pork steaks, and of course back then, and I'm not condoning it but RR workers liked to drink a few, and it was nothing back then. Dad eventually got the seniority to bid on the Fulton Ky coal run hauling the coal from the Powder River Basin, 2nd best bid job for his seniority, it was almost a 3 day round trip but hauling coal is the best job because you're only hauling 1 thing, then he got the Ballwin Lake Power plant job hauling the same WY coal there 2 loads a day.
From all I've seen on this channel and stories I've read on Reddit: the shift work changing daily, being on call and terrible managers trying to get you fired all the time lead me to turn down my offer to be hired. What's the point of having money if you have no life, no wife, no time with your kids, no friends, no free time, no sleep, no nothing? Sure, it might be good for some people -but holy shit this sounds fucking terrible. I know I can do this job with training, I know I can put up with awful managers, I know I can learn and comply with all regulations, I know I'm physically fit -it's the shitty schedule that I'm saying no to. Why is it so bad? I thought their shift work was like nights for a few months and then switches... There's no way in hell this is a safe way to work being that tired all the time.
The main perks I can see just doing it temporarily, 1. Pay off debt quickly or create a large nest egg before leaving and looking for a new job. 2. Experience and looks good on a resume. That’s really about it. It’s not for everybody that’s for sure. It’s a crazy lifestyle
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors I feel mixed about having to say no to the offer I recieved. The money is lucrative. The work looks enjoyable and I think I'd be great at it. I can't justify the schedule though -and I don't see why it's like that and nobody's fixed it. Maybe if you're interested in teaching that part it would be good content? Anyways, I'm not going to be a railroader and put up with that lifestyle. I could do graveyards every day and swap it throughout the year but I can't handle on call everyday with changing times.
I'm looking at switching careers. I've been a postie the last 8 years. Job is good but money is mediocre. Job has similarities as your outside in all weather conditions so CN intrigues me. I'm currently living in southern Ontario, Canada. I've applied for many CN conductor positions. I also see that there are lots of opportunities that will pay you to relocate. I just want to know if that is enough to get the ball rolling from start. Doing the training and getting incentivized, will I be ok financially if I look out west for a conductor job ? Just want some thoughts. Thank You :)
CN conductor training wage is $180 every time you go to work. Generally you will only go to work 10 times in 14 days (could complete those 10 shifts in 7 days with quick turnarounds) you'll take home roughly $1300 every 2 weeks for approx 8 months (until you are fully qualified) then the sky is the limit. Like someone else said, move to the praries and you'll make big $$$ and cost of living is cheaper. Come out westt where it's slower track and shorter runs (less $$) but the views are incredible.
@@79random appreciate the reply. And from your experience is on-call just in the beginning when your seniority is low or is it on call always? I heard some say that after 3-4 years you can bid on jobs that have a better work life balance.
@@stevenov4843 if you chose to work the road, you will always be on call....forever lol. If you have the seniority and can hold a yard job, you'll have a schedule for the week. (At cn schedules are subject to change every friday)
If she had put enough pressure on the gladhands when she put them together, they literally would have come back apart, I always try to slam them down into place so if they’re improperly connected they’ll fall apart while I’m working with them.
That’s the goal of a thumbnail. One of the main metrics RUclips looks at is CTR (click through rate) the higher the more they push your content to new viewers.
It’s not a job it’s a way of life. Be prepared to work crazy hours and having to be on call to make the top dollar. 36 years as a conductor and happily retired.
Thank you for this video! I have been considering changing my career to conductor. I got CPKC 2nd interview soon and wondering if anyone here has worked with them before, specifically Port Coquitlam yard? I have 2 grown kids now and I have warned my wife regarding the crazy shift work. I do like going on vacations for long period of time so im wondering if this is for me and my family??
Csx only did the100% if you were currently working their when the contract negotiations were settled. NS starts you off at 80%. I'm currently a conductor
There’s no doubt that less traditional jobs than the 9-to-5 ones have become commonplace. That said, it’s important for railway companies to give anyone higher to do a safety-critical job, if shift work is involved, more notice than just 3-5 hours or so. Working in rail yards, not just driving trains, involves a lot of danger.
As a former CN employee who quit recently I can assure you that they laid off/re-hired all the time. And the company being around for 100 years+ just means they have been around awhile but also means a lot of “old school” mentality and “this is how things are done at CN because it worked in the past”. Money was good but even as an office worker my schedule was days/nights/evenings/weekends and only a couple of holidays actually off. Combine that with an environment that’s short staffed and always buys makes for a snotty work life balance.
Or, I should say "post office". Retired a couple years ago after mourning the loss of my dream job railroading. But more and more lately, it has become clear to me that the dream job never existed. I really feel sorry for the people putting their health and lives at risk by railroading with 4 or 5 hours sleep between tours, the god-awful noise and discomfort inherent with the job. You all have my sympathy.
@@railroadfan-io7ns not trying to be an asshole by saying this, but your name and pic give you away as a foamer. I was once a foamer myself, until I got every foamer's wet dream of getting to work for the railroad. I promise you that love of trains and the railroad is gonna die real quick if you get hired on. If you do though, don't ever give any hint that you're into trains. Most railroaders despise foamers and they will bust your balls and pick on you mercilessly.
As a truck driver who hauled rail maintenance equipment all over Canada I have no idea how people want to work for these companies. Everyone I know who works for the rail is miserable, always trying to figure out when the company is going to lay them off or screw them over or call them to comeback to work after walking in the door 10 minutes before. Brutal.
Hi great video yes working for the railroad is a life decision it can't be rewarding and the pay is very well however it is grueling I know quite a few people who work on the railroad and have said that
@@emiddlebrooks7183 i think they have until the 19th the turn all of their votes in. From what I have been hearing, looks like a no. Only speculating time will tell
I came out looking for a second retirement. I'll retire in 3 after 10 years at 60 years old and my second retirement that will replace social security and do a little better. I would never recommend that a young person like her ever hire on. I believe in 10 years the conductor will be off the train, I also believe that in 15 years the engineer will be working in a ground based booth similar to a simulator, while a ground based conductor will be doing the work, either way the job will not be the same and I believe they will find a way to make the money not the same as well. The companies will do their best to contract out the work and make our jobs go away. I firmly believe that we are in the same boat as the last generation of stage coach drivers.
Engineers operate the locomotives. Conductors conduct the movement of the train. Another way to remember it is the Engineers own the locomotives but the train belongs to the conductor.
Okay, thank you for the crazy fast answer :). I am right now looking for a job as Locomotice Engineer, but sadly I can only find jobs as conductor, do you have any idea what to search on google? Needs to be in Canada :) Would be cool if you could maybe help me to find the right thing for me.@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors
on the DM&E part of CP the conductors make about 42 an hour now i'm sure the SOO line will be making like 52 an Hour I miss the job but i don't miss the CP managers they're Aggressive in testing
Those brake pipe glad hands were definitely not locked together as you specified. I guess attention to details in recruitment videos is completely unnecessary.
It’s an honest mistake I guess lol. I have mentioned glad hands on my channel for years and that slipped right out of my head and i went with flange lol.
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors All good. At least you definitely know what you're talking about, especially when it comes to the consequences of cutting in that particular trainline.
I began railroading as a yard clerk in 1972, took promotion to engineer in 1977, and resigned in 1990. I understand the miserable life one lives being on call 24/7. Missed family events, lack of sleep due to short calls (I worked 8 on 8 off continuously for four months at one point). I put up with that nonsense because I liked the work in spite of the conditions. I was furloughed more days than I actually worked, being on the street for nearly three full years at one point. This was all because the senior engineers were too greedy to accept a five day work week, essentially telling the younger engineers "We have seniority, so screw you, kids". Just short of my 18th year with the company reality finally broke through and I quit. Got a job at the pist office
I was wondering if Freight Conductor was as intense as Ironwork but the fact that she can do her job in mittens is a dead give away Conductor is much easier!
The rail road is always hiring conductors for more than one reason it’s a good job if your single and not much of a family institution like any company you only get to see what they want you to see I know how cn and cp run there companies and I believe that it is t the safest way or environmentally friendly look up how many derailments happen a year and double it not all are reported they put less money into track structure and wait for derailments to fix up there track so please don’t let anyone blow smoke up your buts
It's interesting to see a North American 'conductor' role. I will be starting as a conductor here in the UK next month. Our job roles are mainly customer facing, checking tickets, operating passenger doors and train dispatch. Unions here are fighting to keep conductors... or guards as they're also known, on trains as companies are fighting to make trains driver operated only. (DOO.) This obviously takes away from the customer service and potentially safety side of services.
Which company is next?! Reply
To this comment with your answer 👍🏼.
BNSF
Kansas City Southern please
What is the manure supporting the engineer. Engineers follow a ten cent light bulb and try to hassle waitresseswith their good looks and fat ass. Weekends nights and holidays, no time for her horses. Fast paced, never sat in a siding for 9 hours. Never had to deal with anyone in management that lied straight to your face. It is nothing more than propaganda. The pay just keeps getting worse. Air hoses, in the days we called it snapping weenies
The 2 fittings are called glad hands.
@@josephhigdon2204 Not true, CN Engineers make $56 hr., Conductor $50 making more than ever before. Unbelievable earning potential!
Update: the girl Meagan in the video left CN to become a winnipeg cop. I worked with her a couple times at CN
Im looking to apply as a conductor at CN and have questions. Do you know where I should look to get some info?
@@Nick-ty3dg Perhaps check with a certain Winnipeg, Manitoba police officer.
You Winnipeg some, you Loseipeg some
What's your experience with the CN police? That seems interesting
"I enjoy fitness on my off day"
A most interesting euphemism for sleeping.
🤣🤣🤣
I was thinking the same. Lol
fitness for her horse. It would get fit carrying her heft!
fitness for her horse. It would get fit carrying her heft!
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors LOVE your Honesty Bro!!! You keep it a BUCK!!!
This video was shot in Winnipeg at Symington yard. Shes a Canadian so she doesnt have to worry about the 2 man crew dilemma yet. Also a green vest in Canada means shes been on her own less than a year so shes still in the CN honeymoon phase.
We have to worry just as much about it here. Might take a bit longer but the company will push for it sooner or later
they wanna take the road conductor in the states because they think PTC is a replacement. we dont even use ptc here, yet. still a while away. they work against themselves by running 12k foot trains theres just no possible way, trains break apart too often to not have a conductor
@@benjlar1902 back in 2014 the BNSF wanted to create a new position called a "master condr"... this new position would take the condr out of the cab permanently and he would be assigned an area to cover in case of an incident like a break in two
@@25mfd theres a sub ive run on that has 20 grade crossings in 230 miles. wouldnt work
@@howardjamespatterson4119 engr only ops is just a pit stop for the carriers... they're looking past that to NOBODY in the cab... just read an article that says CSX is testing a remote-controlled locomotive system called trip optimizer...(you gotta love the unassuming name they gave their job stealing system)... and CSX is big time bragging about it
6:35 you nailed it. My ex worked in a show barn for a while. The daily chores were intensive, and going to a show was a full day commitment, sometimes multiple days. She couldn't mention anything about being on call 24/7 in this video because it would directly contradict the whole idea of showing horses as a regular hobby.
Shoveling more manure about CN, then she ever had to shovel out of the horse's stall .
Worked for CN for a while. You’ll make 100k starting out the door. Great pay, highest paying railroad out there. Some conductors were making $130-150k a year. Still a class one however, with a lots of BS.
Well from your experience working with this company do you think that’s company to good company to work for it I’m thinking about taking consideration of applying for it but also I will have to relocate what do you thinks?
@@chrisrich7281 it’s a hard life, but the money is great. Just have to decide what you want
Decide what you want
There is no decision, make us our money. That's it, you worker
@@jeramiahnguyen1800 work on a service rig just as good a money maybe be better work even harder and sleep in my own bed every night.
hello how can I do to work in a service rig? can I contact you via email? Have a great night 👍🏻
Really I'm glad to see these videos, you are doing a good job
Shes bucking for manager. Former CN Trainee here. Your gonna have a lot of money, no life. And if you have a spouse its not likely they'll stay with you living this life. "Fast Paste Environment" equals management yelling at you to work faster, safety be damned. I miss the money but quitting we the best idea I ever had. Toxic workplace isn't strong enough to describe CN Rail.
I actually found the money disappointing. Really sucked making 4- 4.2k every 2 weeks and only taking home 2.2 to 2.4k
@@ConductorDon are you sure? Im a CT at NS and made about 2.2k and took home 1.8k. Onmy best check it was like 3.1k and 2.3k
@@Wergrun It’s real but it’s blood money, you don’t want a CN/CP style agreement!
@@ConductorDon 8k a month pre-tax is impressive. Taxes already take 35-40% of my cheque anyway so paying another 10% for union dues and retirement isn't that bad of a wage. My non railroad pay last month would have been over 7k but after taxes I only took home 4k. No union dues, no retirement fund, no stock options. Gotta be something else going on to be disappointed with the railroad.
not all true, and how do you miss the money on training rate?
Man I just received an offer from csx and your videos have been great showing what to expect.
Good luck man. Going to Debutts I assume?
Congrats. What city?
@@ConductorDon yes sir
Where
@@ConductorDon you care if I reach out to you and ask you some more questions? seems like your familiar with the area and stuff.
1 quick note that all subsidiary Railroads of the CN work as separate roads under the umbrella of CN RAIL and they all work under local contracts and not under the national agreements. I know because I worked for the GTW under the CN RAIL umbrella.
the national agreement short changes workers on arbitraries like dead heading from your away terminal to your home terminal but instead of getting a days pay, you only get time consumed... nice little rip off there... or working a yard engine and being told to tow in a dead road freight that's 25 miles outside of yard limits but NOT getting any extra pay for doing so (both of these scenarios are courtesy of the 1985 p.o.s. national agreement)
CN is bargaining under the national agreement…..
Yeah, I work for a subsidiary terminal as supervisor. I supervise a crew loading vehicles onto rail cars, have a lot of duties but insuring a safe environment, locking and flagging out switches and obtaining RC numbers are some of my main duties. I get paid much less then a CN yard supervisor and am out in the yard far more then CN supervisors / superintendents … darn subsidiaries.
Worked for UP and CP. For those thinking about railroading it is extremely challenging work life balance, believe me. You will miss everything with family. You can never really plan anything because the phone will ring unexpectedly ordering you to go to work. The callers/schedulers will call you in the middle of the night trying to trick you into taking trains that aren’t yours. The schedules that they provide online are supposed to give you a roundabout time your train leaves. Good luck with that it’s never accurate.
At least once a week you will be caught short and go in dog tired. On top of that you have train, masters, etc. watching your every move.
Everyone I worked with exception of a few hated their lives. Divorces and substance abuse run rampant.
I was so lucky to get out of that situation because I was miserable. I never got in trouble and always showed up early for work. But everyone around you is doom and gloom.
So what you can make $100,000 a year. It is so not worth it. They literally own you.
The unions are extremely weak and disorganized. If you get in trouble, usually their hands are tied. Lots of people getting permanently fired(ive been in 5 unions in my life)
I have kept in contact with a few people back at the railroad and they’re all wishing they had something better to go to.
Also, you have to pay for or should pay for Can insurance. If you don’t know what that is, it is insurance for when you get fired. It’s like unemployment insurance for the railroad. Everyone has it and it can run a few hundred dollars a month.
You’ve been warned !!
Totally agree with you. Worked for the FEC in Florida. All the guys I worked with were divorced & hated there jobs. I was on call 24/7 you can never plan anything. I lasted 2 years. I was so relieved the day I quit.
How can there be substance abuse when ur tested?
@@daveyboy_some people risk their job sometimes after they’ve been hired in, by using drugs. As long as they don’t get hurt or hit with a random, they skirt on by. My uncle retired from CN, and he told me some of the people that worked out of Memphis would start buying drugs after they were making that good railroad money. Then they would get hurt and loose their job, because they failed their drug test.
I enjoyed and love the honesty from you and some of the comments as well from other people!!
Would love to say more but unfortunately can’t!!
CN and CP are the closest options I have been interested in. CP really pushes the "no life outside of work" up front, but neither company really explains how the pay works during training and for the 45 required trips after/during training. Hard to plan for it and I remember an acquaintance dropping out during the training period because they couldn't afford the lifestyle at first.
You are heavily pretaxed at the railroad. You will probably only take home 50 to 55 percent of your gross pay.
@@ConductorDon we live in Canada, the government taxes us 40% up front. The pay might just move you into a higher tax bracket unless it's something else.
@@ConductorDon but the gross pay is very high
training from start to finish is gonna be around 5-7 months at cn, after taxes you'll probs get paid like $1400 biweekly while training. hope this helps
@@bradbradshaw8639 that figure cant be right a new burger king worker in my town will get 1000 after taxes bi weekly
They need to update the video, TCRC pulled the OJT's and now the company is doing the training and the structure has radically changed. Also at 4:21 I cracked up at the glad hand flange not being clicked in.
Im 20 years old and been a conductor in Winnipeg for cn for about 8 months now not including training time. I honestly cannot complain much about the training process or job. Fantastic job if you’re single and young, and by the time you have a couple years seniority you’ll be able to hold a scheduled yard job. Pay is fantastic, holding a yard job for a year estimate around 80k-90k Canadian, road would be around 110k-130k average I’d say. I haven’t yet had to experience layoffs, I’m on shortage right now in Prince George Canada making shit tons of money so if you can handle getting shipped away for a couple months it’s pretty rewarding. Not really sure why some people hate cn so much, at least as of right now. Management is very approachable, they let you work at your own pace and don’t bug you much, at least in Winnipeg that’s the case ;) would recommend this job if you can adapt your sleep easily.
Update: I got fired with a clean record and now am starting with CP soon
I am in upstate NY there is a Selkirk,NY yard one of the largest yards in the US tons of CP and CSX trains there. Some CN. I wonder if those trains go all the way thru Canada. Big RR industry with jobs around here.
Anyone who says campus is a good training center is 🤡😅 nothing like reality
What’s the work like in Prince George?
@@heinjordaan9258 there’s cn side and there former bcr side, both are owned by cn(obviously) but they have separate agreements. Cn side does east and west runs,former bcr does north and south runs. Cn side is way more pay but you sacrifice time off, only 14 hours rest after every shift but you do have a call window, former bcr every time you work you can take 72 hours off if you so choose. Way more freedom. If you hire on you probably won’t get to choose which side you get put to, but in my opinion both side are good! Lots of road shifts on both sides but bcr has lots more yards.
Hey bro I have a interview with cn tomorrow for a conductor position in vancouver bc how long will it take for me to have a set schedule im 42 years old is it worth it at my age for the job thanks man
Well, having read these comments here, I’d like to point out a few facts of life: All jobs suck, and all good jobs entail making similar sacrifices and require a high commitment level. If you’re a mechanical engineer you spend four years in university learning about shit that will never see the light if day again when your university education ends. You live like a pig in shit for four years, and have zero life. When you graduate, your REAL training begins, and you’re not earning huge amounts of money. You bounce around from employer to employer, and if you fuck up on anything, all that invested time energy money is gone instantly. Most engineers have a life going from feast to famine. How about a police officer? Good money, but your life is so shit that it makes the shit offered by CN look like a holiday on a cruise ship. How about a career at sea? Same shit. Complete commitment, no life, and you spend years starving waiting for a full-time job to appear. My stepfather is a doctor, or the absolute pinnacle of shit jobs. Listen, guys, there is NO magic job out there that gives you tons of money without a lot of bullshit attached. If you want to have money, pick a job that you hate the least, and embrace the sucky bullshit.
Best life advise ever !
Ex CP Railway Conductor here out of Calgary. Great work, decent pay. Perfect job for a bachelor with no family or friends. Most employees are overweight and appear much older than they are.
what made you quit? im currently working with cn as a trainee,.. about 6 months in.. starting to dislike this job
@@chrislang6698 just got hired at CN, relocate to Jasper, currently working at fort mac clearing 83k a year, is it a good thing to switch
@@chrislang6698 how come you dislike it?
@@adrianang1545 I work at the yard in Toronto. The hours are not good, the days off are terrible. It can take years to get a steady night shift job with Tuesday/Wednesday off... The culture seems to be us vs them with management with many rednecks. Seems like you have to know 1000 different rules and because you're working many different jobs on the spareboard.. Sure you can make decent money, but it costs you your life and health!
@@chrislang6698why disliking it? I’m looking to get into it
Yes she Didn't make that hose properly but she wouldn't have gone in emergency the air would have never built up
I'm doing the interview for CN right now actually, They are very forthcoming with how much it sucks during the zoom interview, but I did not know they were maybe cutting conductors in the train which is a bit jarring. Maybe I should reconsider, the shitty hours and everything is fine with me but having to worry about my "job" being yanked at any time is a very concerning. Do you mean they only want one person driving the train from coast to coast? isn't that dangerous if you get hurt in the middle of nowhere for some reason?
Hello bro you are working with CN??cleared the interview??
@beautilize yeah! just finished and am doing the medical checks. but so far, it's been easy enough. I can't say much about the job yet as i have yet to do it, but cause i worked in the trades, i have a feeling I'll be fine with this. And im going to be part of the sask line! looking forward to leaving this god forsaken city 😅
@@MozzieVA so bro its our choise how we can slect interview??like online or in person? As iam in ontario right now and if i apply for sakatchwen opening is there chance of getting this interview online??
@beautilize Apply for sure. talked to the medical officer, and she told me they are hurting for people in sask. So you shouldn't have a problem getting in. Just be ready to pay for a hotel or find a place to stay at cause the money may be good, but finding a place to live isn't gonna be fun. im just glad my start is in feb, so it'll be warmer when i move down, haha! But you choose where you want to go on the website and apply that way. interviews are online on Zoom and usually around 10 am for us in ontario due to time zones. hopefully, you can get a day off work. Otherwise, just be yourself. Also, by the hotel, i mean when you get to sask for otj. going to the training center, it's all paid for. which is nice!
@@MozzieVA Bro if you don't mind can we connect on ig or whatsapp i just want to make connections and frnds in the field i am about to step in. And thank u for replying much appreciated.
Hey guys, I am on the last step to recruitment for BC,
When they talking about salaries, the range that i can find on web is between 90k and 100k per year, now the most important question is : is this amount based on regular 8h working day and the extra hours will increase it up more, or it cover al the 10-12h workdays with shifts and everything?
In first case its a great deal, but if those 100k pet year includes ALL workforce & hours to put in its not at all.
I have also an option to go with CSX, but it seams they have a worst management ever....
Hello guys. I have an oncoming interview for locomotive engineer apprentice.
Do you think it’s a stable job or I always have to be afraid of being fired even if there is no serious reason?
Thank you. The interview is with CN
*2:20** what is that car attached to the back of the locomotive?*
That’s what’s known as a slug. It’s like another locomotive in a way, provides extra traction.
@@jadestudios5424 oooh very interesting!! Thank you so much for your reply!!
Some call them slave units, they have traction motors but no Diesel engine. So it’s like using two locomotives with only one burning fuel. When I worked the hump job in Toronto we would use two sets ( four units ) with the two “ slaves “ placed together in the middle. That gave us the pulling power of four units while only fueling two .
@@raypatterson4894 super fascinating!!, I thank everyone for this information!
I work on the US side of CN and the pay and schedule is one of the best of the class 1s. 5&2 boards, 6&3 pools all conductors start at 100% pay. All jobs pay the same hourly. Currently 5&2 board guarantee is 119k a year, yards and locals are at 130k and 6&3 road pools with 4 hour call window are 145k. All jobs including extra boards have scheduled off days.
shoot yeah man that is awesome, glad to hear CN is taking care of you guys / girls
@@theoneonly3679 same thing they did at NS and will continue to do lol. The last thing they won’t is someone off work.
@@theoneonly3679 HA, i wouldn’t buy that for a second.. i would however test the waters 🤣
What was the gross pay
Can anyone please help me with diesel service attendant position. How long does it take to become a full mechanic
What is the pay actually like now in 2023 for a conductor?
Better, i would say start out now is around 70-80k at NS, any other class 1. 90-100k
Glad hand. Is what is on the end of the air hose.
Hello can someone help me!!
I have my in person interview tomorrow morning. Super nervous.
What’s the best dress code for this interview. I’m 22 I’ve never had an interview for this level of a job.
I would not wear a suit or tie. Nice polo nice pants. Willing to work on call, in the elements and long hours. 👍🏼 You’ll do just fine
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors can I get your opinion on a nice shirt and shorts.
Would shorts work?
@@joeylesleymorris749 any kind of normal collar shirt will do fine. If you have pants I would wear them but if not just wear what you got.
I went to my interview in blue jeans and a flannel shirt lol. I think the most important thing when it comes to interviews is Eye contact when speaking to someone, sitting up straight, sirs and mam’s depending on who’s interviewing you.
They may ask why you want to work for CN as a conductor this is where you can tell them cause you know you’ll be making a difference in our economy, it’s a job you will take pride in knowing you’re delivering goods across America and / or Canada depending on where you are that keeps the economy going.
I have mine in two days, how'd it go?
@@dominiccurtale3287 i showed up to the place where they had the interview going on (hotel)
There’s was 20-30 other people there applying to the same position/terminal. Orientation was @8am for an hour. Then we all got assigned interview slot times throughout the day. Some interviews were from 9am all way to 7pm. I was assigned to 1pm..so you have to wait awhile till it’s ur turn….basic interview tho. They want to learn about you. Learn about where you worked and how it can incorporate with CN. Stuff like that. THEN At the end of the interview they give u a test. A “recall test” they will say a sentence to you as if they were talking to you on the radio with coordinates and numbers: you have to write down word for word on a piece of paper what he said to you. You get 2 chances. I failed one atttempt.
The interview went good in my opinion: but I failed that one test. And I think that’s where/why I didn’t get in…..GOODLUCK on your interview🔥!!!!!
Im think 3 years make money build equity and dip out to start my farm in Canada elsewhere. I worked as a cook for 10 years 5 to 14 hours doing short orders and preparation... I have nothing to show for it. The pay was garbage and I worked 50 to 70 weekly.
It's not always necessarily going to be physically demanding. It depends on what job you have to work. I probably spent about 80% of my time sitting in a seat staring out the windshield. Knuckles really aren't that bad either. You don't have to carry them by hand to the separation. If you can lift a bag of quickrete at Lowes, then you can lift a knuckle.
how's it going donald... i thought i saw you wrote a few months ago you gave up on the railroad... yea buddy join the club, i was 10 years in and bailed... had enough... they kept taking helpers off the switch engines, then started taking whole switch engines off... i wondered if the place would still be there when i retired... i hired on in 93, if i was still there now i'd have 29... with another 8 to go before i could retire... i can honestly say i don't see that place surviving another 8 years so i'm happy with my choice... although i do admit i miss working there, i truly became a railroad man at heart... but for my own personal experience, the toxic culture coupled with the overall employment uncertainty forced me to look elsewhere for work
@@25mfd I was actually really proud to call myself a railroader and took pride in what I did. If they hire at my local terminal in the future, I might try to go back. I lived over 2 hrs from the terminal I worked at and would have to start driving when I was 2nd out to make it on time. There weren't any vacant apartments close by and the ones that were available were way to expensive. The final straw was the fact they were actively hiring at the terminal 30 minutes from my house and I asked multiple times to transfer there. Management seemed on board with it when I initially asked. After asking for an update the 4th time and once again being told they needed to "wait 1 more month," I finally came to the conclusion they were just stringing me along. At that point I decided I was done. I'll never understand why they thought it was worth losing me over that considering how desperate they are for people. They would have lost a conductor, but the other terminal would have gained one right away that would have only needed to CQ for a few trips and then could go straight to work. It wasn't going to put my hire terminal in a bind either, because they literally had 40 cubs there and at least half of them would've been marked up within a month or two. Like I said, if they hire out of that terminal again, I'll probably apply and would consider going back if they offered it to me. It definitely would be a much harder decision now though since I actually know what I'd be signing up for this time.
@@ConductorDon oh man yea i've been down that same road, leaving early when i get close to being first out... i lived in milwaukee but worked the pool which was in adams wisconsin ( 3 hr drive)... they give a 2 hr call so yea had to scoot up there early... although i did tell the caller to add a notation to my record to give a long call... that did help some... but unlike your situation i bid to work that pool and wasn't forced... although i was forced to work in another terminal that was a hour and a half one way drive... not too bad but not really fun either... but yea railroading is tough it takes some getting used to... for me one of the issues i had early on was what to wear in the winter... i tried MANY different things and combination of things before i found what worked for me... but it's too bad it didn't work out for you... if it had worked out you could have shared your experiences on your channel... would have been cool to have a guy right there on the inside sharing his info about the railroad and how it works... after watching joeys vids and seeing the questions people ask, i'm surprised at just how many folks are interested in railroading and how it works
Bro when someone say it depends on terminal what is meant by that? Like if for example say homepayne( ontario )has long routes and on other side it is saskatoon, canada terminal like how people estimate that here it will be not that much work like If terminal has long routes does it mean work will be more??
Some terminals service more routes than other. I have been to one that only has 3 mainlines. Memphis, Birmingham, Chattanooga. Then others like Birmingham has 5. Depends the inflow and outflow of railcars.
When I started at CP in '77 we had 4 man road crews and 4 man yard crews and total work force was approx. 35,000. When I retired more than 30 years later we were down to 2 men road and yard crews and total work force was now about 16,000 - and CP was still trying to cut more! Need I say more?
When the yd foreman would sit on the engine all day while his 2 yd men did the work, what do you expect would happen Back in 1973 when I started out the instructor mentioned this very fact about yd foreman on engines
@@thomasklimchuk441 Well, that wasn't the case in my terminal. I wouldn't tar everyone with the same brush!
I worked at CN for a few months and it was a mixed bag. Pay was good, the work itself was honestly kinda fun (who doesn't like playing with trains?), but the hours are trash and everyone is miserable. Would be a lot better if they gave you more off time and actually let you have a life but apparently that costs too much for a multi-million dollar company.
Glad hand is what the end piece of the air hose is called.
Does anyone know if CN starts new employees at 100 percent pay once they mark up? Got a interview soon
How would these videos compare to a short line conductor? Are the schedules as chaotic and on call based on a road that never leaves the state? (Looking at Watco in WI)
I'm pretty sure I couldn't physically handle the job anyway, as a fat 30yo with bad joints, back, feet, and shoulders.. but it's fun to think about.
My dad was a CN conductor in Alberta for like 30 years. He trained on the job and started in the yard and then went on the road in the late 80’s until he retired in 2010. I would be interested to see his reaction to this video.
a standard railroad P.R. puff piece, in this case, heavily flavored with CN herbs and spices... so yea i didn't expect her to stray too far from the "company propaganda line" at all... she stayed right on track
I work(ed) at CN. 3rd Generation. Been a Conductor since 2001. I was recently fired for getting injured. (Isn't the 1st time) I'll be back again eventually. Never seen a company pay so much money and time into hiring new employees only to spend the rest of their career trying to FIRE THEM.
Is this job possible part time? I am a pilot full time but i work shift work 10 on 10 off. Id love to do this on my days off...
No it’s not
I applied for the conductor position for the Steven's Point WI yard. During the Zoom interview, the manager told everyone, and im not joking as quote, "if we pay you a dollar, we want a pound flesh from you", meaning its gonna be shitty, but the pay is amazing.
$41/hr staring and after 1 year, your making max pay of $48/hr.
Is it worth it? Sure, if you dont have family.
Hey gotta respect his honesty lol. Beats what some of these other carriers did or use to do 🤣
Nothing is more fun that having to walk your two-mile-long train when it's -50 degrees outside in the middle of no where while a mountain lion wonders if it can cull you from the herd.
If CPKC pays Conductors 38-46 an hour how much does Union Pacific pay Conductors?
My dad worked for Grand Trunk from 1989-2002
I got a 5 dollar bet says, she isn't an employee anymore.
Maybe so, i would assume she’s in management if she is lol
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors H.R. for sure. They have no soul.
Another user said they had worked with her in Winnipeg during their time. The update is, she is no longer with CN; left to become a city cop in Winnipeg.
Just a few thoughts: I worked at CP for a few years as a dispatcher. The railway is not a job, its a lifestyle. Forget the 9 to 5. If they have a way of replacing human worker with technology, they will do it in a heartbeat. Railways are ALWAYS looking for ways to cut costs. That said, you can learn much about rail transport. intermodal ops and transportation and logistics in general.
Railroading is in the blood. It’s not for everyone. It’s not a place to go because “YOU NEED A JOB”.
27 years in the industry and I’ve seen many people come and go.
Got a interview for cn upcoming. Canada west. Im down to be away for months doenst bother me. Any tips?
if a glad hand locks too easy, it didn't lock and it'll leak. at least that's what i tell my trainees as a double/triple trailer truck driver trainer. it seems like there's a lot of similarities between trucking and railroad work. but railroad people work harder and rightfully get paid more, credit where credit is due. thanks for the upload
You're right, working around trailers now. If that glad hand isn't snug you can hear it leaking. There are a lot of glad hands that have smaller leaks on a train but as long as that pressure gets to the required pressure they will let it roll
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors let it roll in the summer not now … car man on shift changing a ton of gaskets today
@@pulkpuller oh yeah i bet they’re a lot more vital than down here. I can’t imagine how long it takes to get that flow down 🤣
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors I just walked a 119 car stretch all t box. A couple dozen gaskets and a few shoes. A hundred or so cable ties through glad hands for peaking prevention since were around -10. We will keep yard air on as long as the air is within 10 cars of the head end because transportation won’t walk more then that 😆
Also on the hose, what was the point of hooking the hose and not open the tab?
Dad worked for Illinois Central starting in 59', he worked passenger as conductor and freight until IC stopped passenger service in 71' he worked out of E StL/Madison/Venice then the Sauget hump as a brakeman switchman when cabooses were still being used, he mentioned many times that cooks could cook you up everything from biscuits and gravy to pork steaks, and of course back then, and I'm not condoning it but RR workers liked to drink a few, and it was nothing back then. Dad eventually got the seniority to bid on the Fulton Ky coal run hauling the coal from the Powder River Basin, 2nd best bid job for his seniority, it was almost a 3 day round trip but hauling coal is the best job because you're only hauling 1 thing, then he got the Ballwin Lake Power plant job hauling the same WY coal there 2 loads a day.
Great video.
Could anyone tell me if it is possible for a shortsighted person to be a train conductor in Canada ?
yes
From all I've seen on this channel and stories I've read on Reddit: the shift work changing daily, being on call and terrible managers trying to get you fired all the time lead me to turn down my offer to be hired. What's the point of having money if you have no life, no wife, no time with your kids, no friends, no free time, no sleep, no nothing? Sure, it might be good for some people -but holy shit this sounds fucking terrible. I know I can do this job with training, I know I can put up with awful managers, I know I can learn and comply with all regulations, I know I'm physically fit -it's the shitty schedule that I'm saying no to. Why is it so bad? I thought their shift work was like nights for a few months and then switches... There's no way in hell this is a safe way to work being that tired all the time.
The main perks I can see just doing it temporarily, 1. Pay off debt quickly or create a large nest egg before leaving and looking for a new job. 2. Experience and looks good on a resume. That’s really about it. It’s not for everybody that’s for sure. It’s a crazy lifestyle
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors I feel mixed about having to say no to the offer I recieved. The money is lucrative. The work looks enjoyable and I think I'd be great at it. I can't justify the schedule though -and I don't see why it's like that and nobody's fixed it. Maybe if you're interested in teaching that part it would be good content? Anyways, I'm not going to be a railroader and put up with that lifestyle. I could do graveyards every day and swap it throughout the year but I can't handle on call everyday with changing times.
I'm looking at switching careers. I've been a postie the last 8 years. Job is good but money is mediocre. Job has similarities as your outside in all weather conditions so CN intrigues me. I'm currently living in southern Ontario, Canada. I've applied for many CN conductor positions. I also see that there are lots of opportunities that will pay you to relocate. I just want to know if that is enough to get the ball rolling from start. Doing the training and getting incentivized, will I be ok financially if I look out west for a conductor job ? Just want some thoughts. Thank You :)
It's cheaper to live in Saskatchewan as a whole and some parts of Alberta
CN conductor training wage is $180 every time you go to work. Generally you will only go to work 10 times in 14 days (could complete those 10 shifts in 7 days with quick turnarounds) you'll take home roughly $1300 every 2 weeks for approx 8 months (until you are fully qualified) then the sky is the limit. Like someone else said, move to the praries and you'll make big $$$ and cost of living is cheaper. Come out westt where it's slower track and shorter runs (less $$) but the views are incredible.
@@79random appreciate the reply. And from your experience is on-call just in the beginning when your seniority is low or is it on call always? I heard some say that after 3-4 years you can bid on jobs that have a better work life balance.
@@stevenov4843 if you chose to work the road, you will always be on call....forever lol. If you have the seniority and can hold a yard job, you'll have a schedule for the week. (At cn schedules are subject to change every friday)
@@79random good to know ahead of time. On call all the time sucks
The bits on the end of the air hoses are the “gladhand”
That’s it, idk why that didn’t come to me 🤣. I have literally broke all of this down before in an older video. Thank you.
If she had put enough pressure on the gladhands when she put them together, they literally would have come back apart, I always try to slam them down into place so if they’re improperly connected they’ll fall apart while I’m working with them.
@@ralfie8801 After 26 years I can tell a bad joint before I let go…and it’s probably loose enough I can undo it and redo it.
Might get a job at CN I’m curious about the hang test? Length and helping hints?
It's 5 mins long and other things as well
Thumbnail is a little clickbaity, don't you think?
That’s the goal of a thumbnail. One of the main metrics RUclips looks at is CTR (click through rate) the higher the more they push your content to new viewers.
It’s not a job it’s a way of life. Be prepared to work crazy hours and having to be on call to make the top dollar. 36 years as a conductor and happily retired.
Thank you for this video!
I have been considering changing my career to conductor. I got CPKC 2nd interview soon and wondering if anyone here has worked with them before, specifically Port Coquitlam yard? I have 2 grown kids now and I have warned my wife regarding the crazy shift work. I do like going on vacations for long period of time so im wondering if this is for me and my family??
They don't tell you start at 75% takes your 5 years to get a 100%
csx is starting conductors at 100%
idk where you worked but as soon as you qualify your 100%
Csx only did the100% if you were currently working their when the contract negotiations were settled. NS starts you off at 80%. I'm currently a conductor
@@jeremygriffith3357 csx is still doing the 100%
100% after your training at cn
There’s no doubt that less traditional jobs than the 9-to-5 ones have become commonplace. That said, it’s important for railway companies to give anyone higher to do a safety-critical job, if shift work is involved, more notice than just 3-5 hours or so. Working in rail yards, not just driving trains, involves a lot of danger.
Difficult jobs but important for our economy. Thanks to all of the railroaders out there.
As a former CN employee who quit recently I can assure you that they laid off/re-hired all the time. And the company being around for 100 years+ just means they have been around awhile but also means a lot of “old school” mentality and “this is how things are done at CN because it worked in the past”. Money was good but even as an office worker my schedule was days/nights/evenings/weekends and only a couple of holidays actually off. Combine that with an environment that’s short staffed and always buys makes for a snotty work life balance.
Interesting. Thank you.
Or, I should say "post office". Retired a couple years ago after mourning the loss of my dream job railroading. But more and more lately, it has become clear to me that the dream job never existed. I really feel sorry for the people putting their health and lives at risk by railroading with 4 or 5 hours sleep between tours, the god-awful noise and discomfort inherent with the job. You all have my sympathy.
The air hose thing she messed up is called a gladhand
Also they got a green vest to do this video. They've been with the company less then 2 years, she knows nothing.
My son is in training right now, this is not what he says about trainers lol. And training in general is “shut up and do what I tell you too”
In this day of age I don’t even know why anyone would wanna work for the railroad anymore
Yup. Sad what it's become. I was one of those dumb kids that always wanted to work for the railroad. I got to learn the hard way last year.
Mostly for benefits and retirement if I had to guess
I love it. It’s not hard work
Get paid great benefits I'm going to be working for the railroad sometime soon
@@railroadfan-io7ns not trying to be an asshole by saying this, but your name and pic give you away as a foamer. I was once a foamer myself, until I got every foamer's wet dream of getting to work for the railroad. I promise you that love of trains and the railroad is gonna die real quick if you get hired on. If you do though, don't ever give any hint that you're into trains. Most railroaders despise foamers and they will bust your balls and pick on you mercilessly.
As a truck driver who hauled rail maintenance equipment all over Canada I have no idea how people want to work for these companies. Everyone I know who works for the rail is miserable, always trying to figure out when the company is going to lay them off or screw them over or call them to comeback to work after walking in the door 10 minutes before. Brutal.
Hi great video yes working for the railroad is a life decision it can't be rewarding and the pay is very well however it is grueling I know quite a few people who work on the railroad and have said that
How do you feel about the contract?
👎🏻. But things could get dicey… I’ll
Have a video on it once the voting results come available.
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors ok great, looking forward to that
@@emiddlebrooks7183 i think they have until the 19th the turn all of their votes in. From what I have been hearing, looks like a no. Only speculating time will tell
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors at ns maybe things wil be better for us with Cindy Sanborn being let go.
@@emiddlebrooks7183 that’s right. That’s big news and a video coming on that soon lol
cutting? CN appears to be hiring, not scaling back
which company would you recommend, and why? CP or CN.
I live in BNSF territory and 2 years ago they were offering bonuses to new hires, they then turned around and laid them off.
Do CN conductors get a signing bonus for completing the training?
They can depending on where you are training
The talk is 2 engineers in Canada, they’ll never be a one man crew here due to lac magantic
I came out looking for a second retirement. I'll retire in 3 after 10 years at 60 years old and my second retirement that will replace social security and do a little better. I would never recommend that a young person like her ever hire on. I believe in 10 years the conductor will be off the train, I also believe that in 15 years the engineer will be working in a ground based booth similar to a simulator, while a ground based conductor will be doing the work, either way the job will not be the same and I believe they will find a way to make the money not the same as well. The companies will do their best to contract out the work and make our jobs go away. I firmly believe that we are in the same boat as the last generation of stage coach drivers.
How are the people called that drive the trains?
Engineers operate the locomotives. Conductors conduct the movement of the train. Another way to remember it is the Engineers own the locomotives but the train belongs to the conductor.
Okay, thank you for the crazy fast answer :).
I am right now looking for a job as Locomotice Engineer, but sadly I can only find jobs as conductor, do you have any idea what to search on google? Needs to be in Canada :) Would be cool if you could maybe help me to find the right thing for me.@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors
I wonder if they tell you in class about one person crews they want to go to
She laced the hose just fine. It will work just fine
How safe is it to work with CN?
What's the average salary for a job like this?
on the DM&E part of CP the conductors make about 42 an hour now i'm sure the SOO line will be making like 52 an Hour I miss the job but i don't miss the CP managers they're Aggressive in testing
I am a train conductor in India can I apply for Canadian train conductor
I live in NY, our state mandated 2 man crews so it doesn't matter what the Class 1s want, NY will always have conductors on trains.
I wish more states would follow..
Vision i wear glasses so i have any issue in medical
No you’ll just have to be sure and wear them while at work. I wear contact lenses and i had the same rules
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors thanks for your reply. Can i ask other thing like in medical knock knees cause issue?
Those brake pipe glad hands were definitely not locked together as you specified. I guess attention to details in recruitment videos is completely unnecessary.
It’s an honest mistake I guess lol. I have mentioned glad hands on my channel for years and that slipped right out of my head and i went with flange lol.
@@Railroad_TalkNOutdoors All good. At least you definitely know what you're talking about, especially when it comes to the consequences of cutting in that particular trainline.
They could sum up the entire video by saying: “if you are a railroad conductor, your life will suck 24/7!”
A recruitment video with horses can't believe it's not a NS video
Touché lol.. 🤣
I began railroading as a yard clerk in 1972, took promotion to engineer in 1977, and resigned in 1990. I understand the miserable life one lives being on call 24/7. Missed family events, lack of sleep due to short calls (I worked 8 on 8 off continuously for four months at one point). I put up with that nonsense because I liked the work in spite of the conditions.
I was furloughed more days than I actually worked, being on the street for nearly three full years at one point. This was all because the senior engineers were too greedy to accept a five day work week, essentially telling the younger engineers "We have seniority, so screw you, kids".
Just short of my 18th year with the company reality finally broke through and I quit. Got a job at the pist office
I was wondering if Freight Conductor was as intense as Ironwork but the fact that she can do her job in mittens is a dead give away Conductor is much easier!
Do you have railway experience
Man the gp9rm in the begging looks very clean wow!
"Block of cars", 94 pin pulls out of 100 car train.
I don’t miss those days working down in the bowl lol. I use to catch myself saying “what the hell is the hump for if i gotta make all these cuts” lol
Apply at CP before CN, better wages better benefits, especially after the KC merger. I don't work for either.
As a usa citizen can we work in cn as a conductor in Canada?? What is the route if this???
LOL let me hear that when she's had to go out in -50 with wind chill, it isn't nice and lol been there done that now retired.
Man I couldn’t imagine.. this Alabama boy is spoiled lol 🤣
i am a conductor for Mont-joli hahaha you clicked that at 23 secondes
Can you do a reaction on vintage railroad.
That video was hilarious 😂
The rail road is always hiring conductors for more than one reason it’s a good job if your single and not much of a family institution like any company you only get to see what they want you to see I know how cn and cp run there companies and I believe that it is t the safest way or environmentally friendly look up how many derailments happen a year and double it not all are reported they put less money into track structure and wait for derailments to fix up there track so please don’t let anyone blow smoke up your buts
It's interesting to see a North American 'conductor' role. I will be starting as a conductor here in the UK next month. Our job roles are mainly customer facing, checking tickets, operating passenger doors and train dispatch. Unions here are fighting to keep conductors... or guards as they're also known, on trains as companies are fighting to make trains driver operated only. (DOO.) This obviously takes away from the customer service and potentially safety side of services.