I wish when started on the railroad back in the 90s that there was a person like you and railroad talk to guide me through the ups and downs of the industry I would have saved a lot of money may God bless you and your family
Hey I wanted to ask you since you been to Montana and worked bn side if I bump to bn or the Pacific Northwest will I be on the bottom of seniority like if I was new on the Santa Fe side I know they don’t go by the NH99 roster
I have done all 4. I was going to get furloughed and the railroad came out with a mercenary deal at my terminal. The hotel at the time was probably the most difficult. It had no refrigerator n the room and no laundry facilities. Plus I took the flight there and had no czr. I did the roommate sharing a 3 bedroom apartment with 8 other co-workers. I did a studio apartment that was nice till it came time to leave on a whim and having to load the truck. The best option was the camper. You pull in hook up and everything was right there.when it was time to leave pull the hoses and cords and highball.
Hello sir, I am wanting to know what work OTJ is like as a conductor. I received my final offer not to long ago and I am worried about being a female conductor and the physical requirements of the job. Don’t really know what I am getting myself into but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I’m looking forward to!
Go for it and don’t worry about it. If you can do yard work and such you can do this job. Lots of walking mostly. There are a lot of females out here that rock it just fine. Might have to lift differently and figure some things out but it’s nothing to worry about. I’ve worked with a 110lbs woman change a knuckle better than some guys out here
You forgot to mention that Santa Fe and bn have different contracts and sometimes you may work for free up to 2 weeks in another terminal doing familiarization. Example CBNQ compared to BNSF.
Having a supportive,empathetic and selfless significant partner will make chasing work a whole lot smoother as well!! Good luck ladies and fellas!! It’s going to get greater later! 😉
Where do I go to research about terminals and see if they adding spots or taking away spots? I start in June as a conductor trainee primary recall. If the job calls for a hiring bonus do you think it is a good idea to go with the bonus? @Rails Tails & Trails
There's not a specific spot to find that information. Have to learn the boards and how you carrier and union releases that information. Takes a bit of leg work but once you learn, it's not too hard to keep track
Does BNSF have system wide seniority? If you borrow out where they need employees, can you stay if other people get furloughed where you came from? Or can you swap seniority to that area?
Yes and know. There are essentially two seniority districts. We can move freely in either the south or north. However, if we cross that line we go to the very bottom of that districts seniority roster. Only exception is a borrow out. As for the borrow out, they typical offer those to furloughed employees or to make room for furloughed employees. Once you accept the contract you're there until they send you home or the contract is over. If you leave before then you have to pay back whatever bonus money was given to you
Either chasing or traveling by choice. It wasn't till this last year (2023) that we were able to travel by choice and not chasing. from 2018 all the way up to the covid furlough we were chasing consistently
Honest answer man... who knows. Seriously it seems like the last few years a furlough can happen at any moment. Not to mention that while one terminal may be furloughing people, another one 200 miles away or whatever may be hurting for people badly
@@shawnkelsea1763 I’m getting on with U.P… Just waiting on background check to come through… Passed all my medical and Physical… Just worried cause my background has been over a month and a half!!! But it’s probably cause of my common name
I wish when started on the railroad back in the 90s that there was a person like you and railroad talk to guide me through the ups and downs of the industry I would have saved a lot of money may God bless you and your family
Thank you brother. Those words mean more than you know
Hey I wanted to ask you since you been to Montana and worked bn side if I bump to bn or the Pacific Northwest will I be on the bottom of seniority like if I was new on the Santa Fe side I know they don’t go by the NH99 roster
Recently became a Conductor short of a week ago. Love your videos so far, hope to see more of your work
This really is some darn good life & work advice that even extends beyond railroading. Thanks for all you do for everyone in your outreach!
I have done all 4. I was going to get furloughed and the railroad came out with a mercenary deal at my terminal. The hotel at the time was probably the most difficult. It had no refrigerator n the room and no laundry facilities. Plus I took the flight there and had no czr. I did the roommate sharing a 3 bedroom apartment with 8 other co-workers. I did a studio apartment that was nice till it came time to leave on a whim and having to load the truck. The best option was the camper. You pull in hook up and everything was right there.when it was time to leave pull the hoses and cords and highball.
Hello sir, I am wanting to know what work OTJ is like as a conductor. I received my final offer not to long ago and I am worried about being a female conductor and the physical requirements of the job. Don’t really know what I am getting myself into but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I’m looking forward to!
Go for it and don’t worry about it. If you can do yard work and such you can do this job. Lots of walking mostly. There are a lot of females out here that rock it just fine. Might have to lift differently and figure some things out but it’s nothing to worry about. I’ve worked with a 110lbs woman change a knuckle better than some guys out here
Start doing push-ups. Some men at my terminal have trouble throwing some of the old switches. You'll be fine but just a heads up.
You forgot to mention that Santa Fe and bn have different contracts and sometimes you may work for free up to 2 weeks in another terminal doing familiarization. Example CBNQ compared to BNSF.
....isn't that illegal?
Having a supportive,empathetic and selfless significant partner will make chasing work a whole lot smoother as well!! Good luck ladies and fellas!! It’s going to get greater later! 😉
I’d like to see an episode about LETP. Another way to avoid furloughs or being forced out of town for 20 weeks.
If I become a conductor, will I still have time to go to the gym?
If you want to. Just gotta make time for it
Could they make cuts to where you cant hold anywhere in the system
Yes
How many years in do you need to be able to chase work for track maintenance for bnsf
Where do I go to research about terminals and see if they adding spots or taking away spots? I start in June as a conductor trainee primary recall. If the job calls for a hiring bonus do you think it is a good idea to go with the bonus? @Rails Tails & Trails
There's not a specific spot to find that information. Have to learn the boards and how you carrier and union releases that information. Takes a bit of leg work but once you learn, it's not too hard to keep track
Does BNSF have system wide seniority?
If you borrow out where they need employees, can you stay if other people get furloughed where you came from?
Or can you swap seniority to that area?
Yes and know. There are essentially two seniority districts. We can move freely in either the south or north. However, if we cross that line we go to the very bottom of that districts seniority roster. Only exception is a borrow out. As for the borrow out, they typical offer those to furloughed employees or to make room for furloughed employees. Once you accept the contract you're there until they send you home or the contract is over. If you leave before then you have to pay back whatever bonus money was given to you
Ok, that's pretty much the same way U.P. operates.
They don't let engineers from L.A. borrow out. Has to do with the old S.P. Western Lines agreement.
Small class 1 and only 1 terminL in our contract, furlough will hurt.
why Dont nobody talk about Conrail ???
You mean to tell me, for 5 years, you've been chasing work??
Either chasing or traveling by choice. It wasn't till this last year (2023) that we were able to travel by choice and not chasing. from 2018 all the way up to the covid furlough we were chasing consistently
GOT IT! BUYING AN XBOX!
Is a furlough in sight?
U.P. has put a freeze on hiring.
Honest answer man... who knows. Seriously it seems like the last few years a furlough can happen at any moment. Not to mention that while one terminal may be furloughing people, another one 200 miles away or whatever may be hurting for people badly
@@shawnkelsea1763 I’m getting on with U.P… Just waiting on background check to come through… Passed all my medical and Physical… Just worried cause my background has been over a month and a half!!! But it’s probably cause of my common name
Which location your going to? I'm at North Palette
@James Young mine took 4 months to get from interview to classroom, just takes time.