I'm now retired after a railroad career of 37.5 years with the Chicago & North Western and Soo Line railroads respectively. Most of those years in train service. When I was working my last few weeks for the RR, my co-workers asked me what I'm going to do upon retirement. My response with a smile was, "get a good night's sleep." When you work as a locomotive engineer with 12 hour days, you're generally suffering from perpetual "jet lag." Yeah, it was time to relax and enjoy my Railroad Retirement pension as I've been doing now.
Dan Uscian congrats. Enjoy retirement. I so much loved the weeks at a time on the extra board 35 out, with full pay. New hires don't get that anymore. Glad I'm retired.
Tommy Truth Yes, I`ve seen some of their employee`s comments on railroad blogs around the internet. There are some very bent people working for them these days.
2014: NS promotes being a conductor for the railroad. 2019: Railroads trying to eliminate the conductor position all together. The difference 5 years makes...
Bessemer & Lake Erie 902 Yeah, its crazy for us railfans. But even crazier for the actual people losing jobs and putting their families in a bad position. All this so that the RR’s can make a few extra bucks..
+Mpc97 Yeah, it’s quite sad to see. Unfortunately, I see this becoming an industry wide Penn Central situation in a few short years, and the government will have to bail them out again, just like they did for Penn Central and other ailing roads to form Conrail. To think this is all caused by short sighted management and corporate greed makes it even worse, and shows the true ignorance of the upper railroad management.
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I’ve been at BNSF here in Amarillo Texas for 6 years now (2 as an engineer) and this job is the only job I’ve ever had that I literally cannot explain to anyone but railroaders. People just don’t understand what it’s like to take a surprise phone call off the extra board at 3 in the morning to dog catch a local. We undergo stress people just don’t understand.
im from the amarillo area as well. without any intent to offend anyone, if on call or 12 hours scare a person, or being away from home 'a couple days', try being a longhaul truck driver. 14 hour days, gone weeks, sometimes months from home, and the stress of countless idiots on the roadways on a mission to cut you off. yes the pay is good and getting even better. i think i would much rather be a railroad conductor. sounds a lot less stressful. ben, shamrock, tx
That’s nothing, try being on call for Greyhound driving a bus with 50+ plus at 2am in the morning having to drive 400 plus miles. Stop bitchin, it’s life.
This appears to be actors promoting the NS, but I could be wrong. For one thing, their delivery is perfect. Too perfect. Having said that, I hired out as a brakeman for the SP in 1967. I and another newbie brakeman had to work in the hump yard in Houston because of some compromise between the union and SP. Anyway, an old head conductor also worked with us. The only training we received were hand signals. The rest was up to us to learn. Never mind the rule book, which was on your own time. Once those three months were completed, at a buck sixty an hour, I was assigned to the 'extra board', which means you work for someone with a regular job. I've lugged those knuckles for half a train length, air hoses and those gol' darned huge wrenches to tighten said air hoses, fire retardant material, even extinguishers filled with retardant, for hot boxes. That's back in the day when roller bearings were not that common on rolling stock. I've had to uncouple the engines from the train after we ran over two deer and their blood and guts were spattered all over the trailing engine and the first car of the train. I've been on the head end when crashing into a tractor trailer rig and a winch truck. As far as communication, forget it. All hand and lantern signals. No radios back in those days. No air conditioned cabs. During hot summer days, the windows were open and often I would put my foot against the door and hold it open just to get some air, however hot it was. Never mind the heat generated by the engine itself. Then there were those long wasted days when a train was scheduled to leave, at say 5 am, but often left a midnight. No cell phones in those days. I had to stay around the apartment and wait for the call, especially when I moved up to a regular job on the 'local'. Well, I could say more, but old head brakies like me are a relic of the past. We went the way of the caboose.
My uncle worked for NS for 26 years. Yea, he said it was tough, but the money was very good. He hasn't worked since he retired. Just sits back and relaxes. But yes, he'd be gone for 2 to 3 months at a time. But he did it, and he's living a good life now being retired.
when the lady said "my family adjusted and got use to me not being there" I thought the words that were going to scroll down after the "no drugs" was going to say "no family" lolollol
My early child hood was the same for my father. He was a multi state trucker, often hauling goods and such for 1-4 days at a time. But that wasn't a bad thing, he hard work kept a roof over our heads.
Would love to go back through conductor training in Atlanta, just to do it again. Had an awesome time. Hate that I gave it up, but family comes first always. This was always my dream job since I was a kid.
I worked for them 13 years till NS sent my job to downtown Atlanta in the new HQ. I was a dispatcher though. We still went through the conductor training though since everyone goes through the basic rules class. I enjoyed it, instructors were cool too. I'd still be there had my job not been consolidated into one facility but the big city life wasn't for me after trying it for three months there, glad I can say I did it.
I run a backhoe for a gang in track maintenance in savannah ga. We have the same standards when it comes to on duty and off duty activity. Be ready at a moments notice. It really helped me to develop structure in my life and to value my life. Just because you're at work doesn't mean you have to be miserable or anxious for time to get off. Learn to take things as they come be adaptable and focused at all times. What helped me the most is to be in prayer throughout the day. You'll notice a day without it soon turns into a pretty bad day. I love my job I love NS even though I'm a contractor I still feel like a step brother or cousin to you true Ns employees thanks. Ps the longest train I ever saw came down that Georgia line boxcar willie!
Truck driver MOW BNSF...back in 2005 getting my chops in LA California, I remember we only had a few backhoe ops and some of the guys would talk shit about how slow he was and how easy it was tamping pulling ties etc....So one day the operator got tired of this one crew takin shit so he got off the tractor and said, "you think you can do it.... then do it"!!! So, the first dumb ass tried to pull the ties FAIL!!! 2nd dude wasn't any better the third guy stepped up and the operator told him to get down and told all the rest "NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP"! It got pretty quit, and we went back to work.... that was my intro to MOW!
"Is it right for you?" A lot more videos like this is needed. Gives the younger generation a visual image and idea of the actual job at hand and it may really assist them in making their decision.
Before even reading the comments from actual NS employees, I can tell you that this video is bullshit and 100% not giving you the full scope of how shitty the job will be.
@@Bingo_Bango_69 Please give more info. I figured it has to be more than climbing on trains, holding on with one hand , walking on ballert and picking up 80lb items
I spent 5 years in college and teach high school with disrespectful, demanding and unappreciative people, wake up at ass o'clock in the morning and NS conductors STILL make more money than I do starting out. To hell with the snow days and summers off, I'll work on the railroad.
tachikoma747 Until you meet your first NS trainmaster. Then you will learn what a real "disrespectful, demanding and unappreciative" person actually is...
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They VASTLY understate the schedule here. Do yourself a favor and go talk to a few conductor/engineers before you believe this video. I once pulled damn near 2 months straight with no more than 6 hours of sleep between runs. No days off. The runs were anywhere from 6 to 12 hours on the rail sometimes up to 16 hours on duty waiting to be dog-caught. Yeah the money was wonderful. I brought home 10k over 2 months after taxes, union dues, etc... But I was dead on my feet after the first 2 weeks. When you are turning and burning it's not safe... Or you'll sit on your ass for a week watching the boards on your computer waiting for a train while you're on call. You can't drink, you can't go out of cell phone coverage, your life effectively stops... This will be your life as a Railroad conductor...
You pretty much summed it up correct. I was a switchman for the chicago and northwestern. But the crazy part is that i knew guys who worked the proviso (chicago/milwaukee) pool and they absolutely could not get enough of the hardcore schedule you presented. I mean these guys could not work long enough. I'm thinking what the hell kind of financial situation are you in? Working those pool turns is a real meat grinder. Especially when they don't have enough guys in it. Turning and burning, going out on your rest. Yeah, us "normal" humans will get burnt out but those coin hungry pool hogs will just want more and more.
25mfd - Yeah I knew them as well. I didn't mind it occasionally but man. I knew guys who never marked off. They made extremely good money... But let me tell you it's not worth it in the long run. You end up hurt, sick, or dead.
You sold your soul Eric. You're going to eat a lot of bad food, spend a lot of time away from home and family. Sleep in hotels.... You'll work in all kinds of weather from Lightning and rain, to extreme heat and cold. Depending on your "job" it can be very physical. Start walking as much as you can now if you are not in shape. Start training yourself to wake up to a phone call after about 6 hours of sleep. It's a bit different than when I was on since they passed the rail safety act in Congress, I believe now you have a mandatory 10 hours off, but keep in mind that time off is from the time you hit enter on the computer, to the time you're back on a train. Study your rules and your safety and study them hard. I think NS runs off the BNSF GCOR, there is a lot to learn!
I have a couple of friends and a family member that work for N & S. They all said the same thing, “If you love trains and railroads...DONT work for a Railroad”. It’s not uncommon for things to look better on the outside looking in with many occupations. And, I don’t doubt for a second that mgt. wants young, unskilled, physicallyvcapable employees for this position. Most are going to quit in a few years, and the cycle repeats itself, costs stay low and the BoD and stockholders are happy. A similar phenomena has gone on in the airline industry, of which I am familiar. For those that can hack it and make it to the RR retirement, it’s worth it I suppose. Life is a series of decisions and compromises and the benefit must outweigh the consequences, sacrifices and QOL. America relies upon its transportation system to drive our economy and the railroaders and truckers make that economy thrive or not.
Ha! These are all actors. This is by far the dirtiest corp I've ever worked for and have seen them do unscrupulous things to decent employees time and time again. Speak to a real NS employee and I guarantee 90% will tell you they hate the company. Management's main job is to write people up and keep the masses in fear. Divorce rates are astronomical and you'll be consistently missing birthdays, holidays etc. Cancer runs rampant from all the toxic chemicals your surrounded by daily and HUGE amounts of diesel smoke your constantly breathing. I quit after 15 years over a back pay disagreement and it was the best decision I've ever made. I'll wrap this up from a quote of a REAL conductor "NS is the only company I've worked for that hires people just to fire them".
That's the truth. I was 4 months in a week from mark up and basically laid off (suspended), left a good job for what I thought was going to be a good career and now struggling to find a job and pay bills. Why the hell did you even hire me NS?
I hear a lot of kids say I want to do this not realizing how truly physical and dangerous it can be if you screw up. More kids need to see something like this. A lot of people will not be able to do the job, I know for many years of my life I wanted to work a railroad but then I realized later on I had a disability that would prevent me from safely doing the job not that I couldn't get something within the railroad not crew related. You just have to look at yourself in the mirror and say can I truly do a job that doesn't care if it is pouring rain or so nasty outside that I still have to go to work.. Thanks so much for posting this.
Sheesh, do you ever go home?! Sounds like they live at work and sleep and eat when the railroad overlords are distracted from firing someone before they can be eligible for their pension!
best thing i ever did was leave the NS after 10 years and go to another railroad.... and all i hear is negative things and people leaving now a days...
@@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast - Just because a railroad has Heritage units doesn't make it a good company. I have friends that were conductors and were furloughed by the company and ended up needed to quit cause they were without a job and income for months.
Very interesting. My grandpa was a Frisco conductor, first on freights and later passenger service. The basics have not changed, just more technology and safer too. His caboose was his "rolling home". He died before I was born but Mom could share many stories about him and his life as brakeman and later conductor.
I was a career railroader and completely disagree, the turnover is very low. Most who get hired on retire 40 years later. There are employees who have 35 years and are 60 or 75 out on the seniority roster. I knew a car inspector who had 51 years and was number 4 on seniority list. It’s a great job if you’re not a conductor or engineer get into signal or track dept, regular days and hours
Norfolk Southern discriminates on the basis of age and race. If your under 30, a minority or military you're in. My cousin and I are the same age worked at the same company before applying but he has a military background and they selected him but he eventually quit, didn't like it after 3 months which I could have done it until retirement. We were both interviewed at the same time and they told me at the interview "Thanks but you're not needed, you should apply to another railroad instead". I was speechless as to how fast it was determined. I walked away from the table and heard my resume being torn up after waiting 4 hours for an interview. We both worked under harsh conditions for years and I am able to do this job. Hiring someone just because they're military or classified as a civil servant is wrong this company will always be hiring since they won't be able to keep anyone and the younger generation is only in it for the resume'. Apply to Union Pacific or others.
Union Man we send those guys off to war to fight for our freedom. Honestly they deserve a leg up on the competition when they come home. The railroads primarily run on a buddy and military hire system anyways. If you know someone or have military you stand a better chance.
Automotive runs on the "buddy/family" system as well. It keeps out good people who can keep the job and do it efficiently. I just feel if you're only looking for military, make sure to put that in the ad.
Worked for CSX as a conductor for 13 years. It was good job and it had its fun times but overall the job sucks. Management weren’t reasonable the attendance policy is ridiculous and the hours hahahah yeah everyday is 12+ hours. If you don’t love your wife and kids or don’t enjoy having any kind of quality of life this jobs for you! If you work for the railroad all you do is sleep watch the computer watch your phone and work constantly!
Thanks. I've always know it sucks and ppl keep telling me to go check it out. I need some money and I'd like to save up for something so I've been considering it. Reading this just makes me forget about it. not worth it but, I guess I can try for a while to just see how much can I save before quitting.
This dude is 100 percent a train master or dispatcher. I guess when you go in between equipment at NS to turn an angle cock you don't have to request red zone protection
The Railroad a lot of times only wants prior Military. They say they are or were disciplined being in the service. I say they are already programmed like a damn computer. That's why the railroad picks them. Nothing against the military. It's true though.
Not true at all. I have been employed by N.S. for about half a year now, and I have no military background. And they do not brain wash you. They teach you too do your job safely, which they should when you work around this heavy of equipment. But they do like to hire responsible people. That is for sure.
Well congrats to you. I know how hard it is to try to get in to the railroad. I been to like 4 hiring sessions. No luck. That was back in like 2006 to 2008. I got a friend who's a Conductor for Norfolk Southern and he say it's actually laid back once you learn everything.
+DipSetNY I've been to two with no luck-they were two months apart. I'm not discouraged yet only because I haven't really applied to them since the two rejections. I decided to finish my last 2 years of college before reapplying. I did however quit applying to CSX. I've been trying to get in with them for the last 10 years and still have not had a simple callback from them,
Thank you to all of the hard working Men and Women of Norfolk Southern, for delivering the goods. Thanks to NS for showing some insight into what the work entails. Until I become a diesel electrician, I am just a railfan who enjoys a look at the inside.
ffairlane57 I am Not sure why you think I hate CSX. I actually like seeing the CSX Engines around town in their Blue and Yellow. We get Mostly U.P, and B.N.S.F. here in town, so when I see a CSX or NS or CN loco rolling around, its a treat.
Michael McKinley ITS A TREAT FOR ME SEEING UP AND BNSF ALSO NS AND CSX WE GOT CN(CANADIAN NATIONAL) UP HERE IN WISCONSIN IK HOW IT FEELS BUT YEAH MAN TRULEY A TREAT FOR ME
Yes. This is the same damn script that they used in their first one. I couldn't finish the video. I doubt any of these people have ever made an actual run before. It's nothing like they say.
allen davis They have hired here three times just this year. No one will work weekends or holidays. Most resign within a year or so. NS is going to have to fundamentally change the way they interact with people if they expect to retain anyone for any length of time.
+777fuzzypeach I currently work in security, and have a strong interest in railroading. I'm accustomed to working nights, weekends, and holidays. Are there any other issues I should be aware of ahead of time as I consider this path?Thanks!
Yes it is except they changed the sequence. In the older one, it's all men doing the talking and they have one dude in the older video who looks like he's too blind to pass a vision test with them thick glasses of his let alone work for the railroad and the sequence is different. It's the same script though and it is updated.
I spent 9 years on the rail gangs, both on Southern RR and NS...10-12 hour shifts, outdoors, in all kinds of weather including tornadoes...I believe a conductor's job would be a great job...you might consider it easy, after slinging a 12 pound spike maul all day and tossing tie plates and breaking anchors and lining rail.
-Turd trainmasters who don’t know what they’re talking about.always trying to fire you - Get laid off 34 times a year Awesome place to work lol Guaranteed 95% of the people in the video (including the CTs) have all been laid off
This was the video they showed us at a hiring session I attended years ago. I ended up turning it down because I didn't want to be away from my wife and young son at the time. Looking back I'm glad I decided against it, I know someone who's had their entire career at Norfolk and is retiring soon, and they have said to me on multiple occasions how downhill the company has gone in recent years.
Every person that goes in this conductor job or engineer job knows up front that the work and life balance is bad. I can't believe that people bitch about the hours..you were told up front at the hiring session..
My uncle works for ns. When he wakes up he blows into his breathalyzer to determine if he needs to take a sick day or not. Oh and my aunt and cousins now live in a double wide. RR career for life I guess.
my father was a conductor on the old frisco railroad. back in the 80s he could even take me with him. what great times. they even still had cabooses back then.
Only time I've seen a caboose is on a work train. They use them when the absolutely have to have someone on the back end. If there is no caboose you have FRED.
they forgot about the terminal mgrs hiding in the weeds, waving fusees in the curve and you better stop your train if you see this... efficiency test... or here's my fav, they come up to you while you are switching in the yard and tell you to tell the engr to back up 5 cars and then don't say anything else... the engr is supposed to stop after a few car lengths if he doesn't hear from you... if the engr keeps moving he fails his efficiency test... there's a reason why the NS stands for N-azi S-outhern
I spent 9 1/2 years working as a brakeman on two different roads..In '84 my "job security" was replace by FRED.. Today railroads is pushing for one man road crews. They are already using one man yard jobs in some areas.
It was a fun job, Only did it for a short while it wasn't for me but I'm still glad I did it. You will flip flop hours a lot day nights weekends. I was always bouncing around it makes it hard on the family.
Michael Morgan: “you all commets are so stupid” That’s exactly what you posted......bashing other people’s comments? So, what does that make you? A special new kind of stupid?
The days of railroading are long-gone. Today it's all about acting. You have to be an actor to do your job correctly. You wear a costume, (Hi vis "safety" vest, glasses, earplugs, sometimes a hard hat,) you carry your props, (brake stick, lantern, radio,) but most importantly, you have to remember ALL your lines. ("Yes sir," "No sir," "After stopping, Train XXX Northbound, with engine YYYY has permission to pass a signal displaying stop indication at North end Buck St. ovahhhhh!") It's become a song and a dance for the pure entertainment of the management team. If they are not impressed with your ability to dance then they will fire you and find someone else who can do a song and a dance. I have actually had a NS road super tell me they can hire a street performer to do this job better than me. The fact is they were probably right because I don't do a song and a dance, I railroad. I guess it's time to retire! However I did chuckle at 3:47 because I always told the cubs, "If you can't hang on to the side of a boxcar in the rain, at night, while shoving into spiderwebs, for a mile or more, you can't hack this job!"
I would love to have had the opportunity to be a train conductor, or engineer. It's what I wanted to do since I was a little girl. I'm 52 now. I never got to see my dream or the ones that followed it, because I've was born legally blind. I can see some, but not enough to have been a train conductor, nor a police officer, nor a Marine in the Corps. Those were my dreams since I was little. I still love trains, but oddly enough, I've never even been on one. Not even Amtrak. The only train I've ever been on was the one at Disney World, lol.
I was a conductor. The pay was amazing.the health insurance was awful the rares were so high you were actually better off saying you were unisured. Er visit was $300 and constantly got bills from drs that united health care would not pay. I was maried 17 yrs who left me becouse my 1st year on the rr i spent 180 nights in a hotel a 100 miles away. And she took our children. I felt as though i was a prisoner. You cant do anything becouse you have to go home sleep and go back to work 10 hrs after you clock out . For the first at least 5 years you wont get a normal shift job youll be on the extra board which means you will fill in job vacancies. every day you will work dif hours today might be 11am to 11pm then 9 to 8 then 3 am to 3pm and every day is like this with NO day off guarentee. Its marriage suicide. I wish i never worked here i destoyed my family
WHAT A COMEDY VIDEO!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 she says she’s not home a lot of times because it’s a horrible work schedule but that’s OK because her family doesn’t like her anyway😂😂😂
I’ve worked for NS and beside the legal dismount while the train was in motion the propaganda here is somewhat true. I’ve never worked anywhere where the company works hard to hire you and does everything to fire you after you’re hired
I live 10 minutes away from a station and it seemed in the interview I was a good choice (they did lead me on) but I too like many got the dreaded no thanks e-mail because i am near middle aged, non military. I worked outside and on rough surfaces for 20 years and it didn't mean shit. After applying for the last 18 years I finally got an interview, showed up on time and much to my surprise I wasn't qualified. Oh well maybe it saved my life since so many people are dying and getting injured due to carelessness by newbies calling the shots. If you were never in the military you don't stand a chance unless you're right out of high school and the younger the better for them because the generation now only wants the job for a year or so.
My dad was an apprentice fireman for the NYC on Hudson's and Niagara's. Then a fireman and then became an engineer. Know how he got promoted off the extra board each time? Someone got hurt or killed. The foreman told him that is the fastest way to get promoted. Like when a fireman dumped the ashes and lost his balance and got badly burned. Or when a fireman fell off a tender in January and was killed when his head hit the rail. Always has been a dangerous job. My friends dad was a conductor and was hit by a rock thrown by a kid. Engineer didn't even hear him go down. Luckily he didn't call back the signal and the engineer looked over. He was okay but needed a bunch of stitches. Said it was all part of the job. Trains get broken in half when going slow and they would bust open box cars... Go run back with the Trainman and try to stop them and get the train back together. Never a slow day. He was glad to retire when his time came.
+jesterd14 I thank you for this nice write-up about your dad's career, it is very kind on your part to upload such kind write-up about his job, I hope that he is enjoying a peaceful and happy retirement. Thank him for making railroad movement safer, Ciao, L
I drive a truck for a living currently but have always wanted to be a conductor. I love being out and about and adapt well to changing environments, I'm also 6"3 185 lbs and am in good shape and don't smoke or drink, how do I go about applying for conductor school with Norfolk Southern?
This is like being a truck driver but worse because there's no bed or rest stops. They can at least get some McDonald's or see a movie during breaks. Trains gotta hammer to the finish whether its 7 or 10hrs per trip and no real amount of sleep.
i've done both of the jobs you mentioned... if given a choice i'd pick railroading anyday over long haul trucking... the PAY alone is worth picking railroading over trucking... truckers also have all those freakn' dot regs to deal with, plus law enforcement/dot enforcement weigh stations, possible overweight tickets/fines, being stuck at shippers/receivers who jerk you around and turn your truck into their private portable warehouse on wheels while you rot waiting for them to unload you, breaking down loads... (i could go on...)...so yeah neither is a walk in the park but trucking is WAY WAY worse than railroading
A lot of people outside of the railroad don't realize that the railroad is not like a kush office job where you can go to work off of 3 hours of sleep chugging gallons of coffee!
My grandfather gave southern railway 46 years. Eastern division. Wash dc to greensboro nc. Started as a roundhouse laboer then loco fireman and finally last 20 years as a engineer. He would be appauled today. No more caboose. No more brakeman or flagman. Radio controlled yard engines. When he was on the road 4 and 5 man crew on trains. Passenger and freights.Its ashame to abolish jobs on men and now women who support their families.
For the number of times I've seen this job come up in my area they must be desperate. Only thing is, I applied for it multiple times and never heard a word back from them. Then I was squeaky clean and I never understood why they wouldn't give me a chance. I knew how life was on the road because I drove OTR for about a year and I knew what hard work was because I delivered beer for about six years. I suspected nepotism maybe, since I have no family that works for N & S. Now being forty and having the shady area in my past between then and now, I'm quite sure they wouldn't even look my way.
One way to know if this job is right for you, is if say you are in the car and it's super cold and rainy outside, could you stand being out there on a train?
I applied when I got out of the navy but my dad was sick at the time and he was a 30 year rail roader with Penn Central, Conrail, CSX, he finished as a engineer. But I got a call back but decided not to because I wanted to take care of him. Now at 36, I'm thinking about doing it. I'm single, no kids, and live in Cincinnati. I may reapply.
In the "See these rocks? This is ballast" part she should have said "Sometimes you'll have to eat this.....Just kidding!" a little humor goes a long way.
I was at a recent recruitment and everything they tell you about the schedule is true they don't leave anything out. Benefits are great as well. If you can't handle it don't apply. Now for the deception, they will lead you on at the interview making you think you have a chance but if you aren't military, under 30 or police or firefighter you have ZERO chance of getting in. Do not apply if you were NOT in the military or are under 30. they want people right out of high school because that age group will quit as soon as they get in, they want to work force to rotate they don't want long term folk because a workforce that rotates is cheaper in the long run. Hiring military is a tax advantage for them. They killed about 20 people some years back and they said it at the interview, and it was due to human error, they let new people make decisions on the ground which explains the accidents and the OSHA violations. Very disappointed with the interview, thought I had a new career since I have over a decade of labor and outdoor work, rain and shine plus heat. Almost 50 people showed up and It took me 5 hours to get interviewed and I spent money staying the night at the hotel just so I could be there for sure. I was serious. Bottom line, don't bother if you aren't military or are around 40.
You literally have no knowledge... I am almost 20.. got hired at 18. Have been with the company ever since and still going. Changed my life forever and coming from a CSX RR family I would choose NS till retirement.. The interview was straight forward. They even offer you to leave at the lunch break and welcome you to apply again if you change your mind. Whoever stays gets an equal opportunity to interview. They want people who's resume match the job description is all. People who are used to working long hours in variable weather conditions or in transportation or warehouses. They want people who are reliable and not drug addicts. Who you present yourself as and it matches your resume well then at that point they'll offer you a job. I have a GED high school drop out went from making $12/hour as a mechanic to making $36/Hour as a conductor bringing in close to 6 figures a year I made $82,300 last year after taxes. The opportunity is there. Wether or not you choose to take advantage of it or not is up to you. Don't try to scare people away from a better life. Anyone who's true about being apart of the NS family will fight for it to change their lives dramatically forever without fear or struggle. It is a demanding job on your body and mind. But it's the best decision you could make. Idk any other jobs out here paying that for people my age with nothing but a GED.
@@smashmouthdipper5449 you made it to engineer school yet? I can't remember how many years it takes, but conductors eventually have to go to engineer school at NS. You will really be making the bucks then.
Must be interesting sitting inside of a cab of a huge locomotive for hours on end and it must be interesting seeing some of the stuff you see going down the rails as well as in the winter with all the snow it must look so nice
It gets boring after a while, it's like taking a road trip but you have to remain vigilant watching the tracks for broken rails, wrong switches and signals. No books, phone, music etc. Just radio chatter and a loud rattle filled engine cabin. Oh and a stinky bathroom if it hasn't been emptied in a while.
I have been told it's very similar to a prison cell. You get put inside this little box with a bunk mate. From there you cannot leave it for 12 hours and you are forbidden from doing anything but sit there and look out your window. You can talk to your bunk mate, to pass the time. I have experienced this for going on 20 years now and I can imagine this is what prison feels like too. Luckily I get paid to sit in my cell.
Until you have to get off in the rain, get soaked (or out in the blistering sun and heat of summer) to switch out cars while your engineer sits up there listening for your instructions for switch position, how far to back up or pull forward, etc. That takes a unique person to do that for sure.
I work for a class 1 plus have a side business. It’s not all bad as one would seem. You just gotta know how to work things in your favor.....some guys know what I mean.
I had interview today with NS and thats exactly what I said on what I know about Safety = Alertness Know your Surroundings, those are the 2 main things.... Hopefully I get signed ON
I'm now retired after a railroad career of 37.5 years with the Chicago & North Western and Soo Line railroads respectively. Most of those years in train service. When I was working my last few weeks for the RR, my co-workers asked me what I'm going to do upon retirement. My response with a smile was, "get a good night's sleep." When you work as a locomotive engineer with 12 hour days, you're generally suffering from perpetual "jet lag." Yeah, it was time to relax and enjoy my Railroad Retirement pension as I've been doing now.
Dan Uscian congrats. Enjoy retirement. I so much loved the weeks at a time on the extra board 35 out, with full pay. New hires don't get that anymore. Glad I'm retired.
they popped him......one day before retirement....it always ends like this....
Thank you, for being a railroader!
Enjoy fishing, kicking back and getting some well deserved rest.
Pension thinking about getting into it
Damn, just watching this video made me feel like I was going to get fired from my job.
For real 😳 it does have that feel to it
@@marylandsworld3428 can’t wait to hire you can’t wait to fire you
@@marylandsworld3428 They are really trying to drill in the point to make anyone considering becoming a railroad worker to think carefully
@@lorimullins8149 ain’t that the truth.
@@alexanderwade6937 yeah they better think carefully...very, very carefully.
This sounds like an army recruitment add lol
That's because its the same damn life style. IT SUCKS!
The only difference between the railroad life and the military life is there's less guns on the railroad...
@Army men Green FUCK YOU ASSWIPE
Army men Green Norfolk southern*
Condor_4 Ad*
A day in the life of a lot of Norfolk Southern conductors today involves looking for a job and filing for unemployment benefits.
+1960gambit They are lucky in a way. NS treats their people like dirt.
Tommy Truth Yes, I`ve seen some of their employee`s comments on railroad blogs around the internet. There are some very bent people working for them these days.
All the class 1's treat their people like dirt. Every single one of them.
Ben Dover Have heard that myself
Regional RRs aren't any better
2014: NS promotes being a conductor for the railroad.
2019: Railroads trying to eliminate the conductor position all together.
The difference 5 years makes...
It has been my dream job since I was a kid, fuck me I guess
Almost 2020 Nj transit can’t even afford drivers, and runs out of rolling stock
+Mpc97 It’s crazy to see how things have changed since this video.
Bessemer & Lake Erie 902 Yeah, its crazy for us railfans. But even crazier for the actual people losing jobs and putting their families in a bad position. All this so that the RR’s can make a few extra bucks..
+Mpc97 Yeah, it’s quite sad to see. Unfortunately, I see this becoming an industry wide Penn Central situation in a few short years, and the government will have to bail them out again, just like they did for Penn Central and other ailing roads to form Conrail. To think this is all caused by short sighted management and corporate greed makes it even worse, and shows the true ignorance of the upper railroad management.
It isn't often you get to see a corporate video where they are brutally honest. Congratulations.
Good to know if my beach runs out of sand I can lay down some ballast...since they feel the same under your feet and all.
I am really happy after see this video. The video is related with Corbandy simple railroad crusher. Just see this video for know much thing about Corbandy simple railroad crusher.
Yes
I sense sarcasm in the force...lmao. sand, ballast, same underfoot. 😂😂
That would be nice in the yard for a ground cover!
@@knowledgeispowermediaprodu7094 as long as you have thick boots on the feet.
I've never seen train service employees with such white gloves!
+Daniel Coy Lol It's just actors. They're not real Railroaders.
Mine are always like this... When they come straight out of the ppe machine 😂😂😂
😂
actors
They are all actors, Aaron.
I’ve been at BNSF here in Amarillo Texas for 6 years now (2 as an engineer) and this job is the only job I’ve ever had that I literally cannot explain to anyone but railroaders.
People just don’t understand what it’s like to take a surprise phone call off the extra board at 3 in the morning to dog catch a local.
We undergo stress people just don’t understand.
im from the amarillo area as well. without any intent to offend anyone, if on call or 12 hours scare a person, or being away from home 'a couple days', try being a longhaul truck driver. 14 hour days, gone weeks, sometimes months from home, and the stress of countless idiots on the roadways on a mission to cut you off. yes the pay is good and getting even better. i think i would much rather be a railroad conductor. sounds a lot less stressful. ben, shamrock, tx
That’s nothing, try being on call for Greyhound driving a bus with 50+ plus at 2am in the morning having to drive 400 plus miles. Stop bitchin, it’s life.
Do they really randomly drug test?
@@bailbondsga I would rather work for the railroad. Props to you for your hard work.
@@Prizepickemunderdog yep. Never know when the FRA man is gonna be in the terminal and your name just randomly gets picked.
This appears to be actors promoting the NS, but I could be wrong. For one thing, their delivery is perfect. Too perfect. Having said that, I hired out as a brakeman for the SP in 1967. I and another newbie brakeman had to work in the hump yard in Houston because of some compromise between the union and SP. Anyway, an old head conductor also worked with us. The only training we received were hand signals. The rest was up to us to learn. Never mind the rule book, which was on your own time. Once those three months were completed, at a buck sixty an hour, I was assigned to the 'extra board', which means you work for someone with a regular job. I've lugged those knuckles for half a train length, air hoses and those gol' darned huge wrenches to tighten said air hoses, fire retardant material, even extinguishers filled with retardant, for hot boxes. That's back in the day when roller bearings were not that common on rolling stock. I've had to uncouple the engines from the train after we ran over two deer and their blood and guts were spattered all over the trailing engine and the first car of the train. I've been on the head end when crashing into a tractor trailer rig and a winch truck. As far as communication, forget it. All hand and lantern signals. No radios back in those days. No air conditioned cabs. During hot summer days, the windows were open and often I would put my foot against the door and hold it open just to get some air, however hot it was. Never mind the heat generated by the engine itself. Then there were those long wasted days when a train was scheduled to leave, at say 5 am, but often left a midnight. No cell phones in those days. I had to stay around the apartment and wait for the call, especially when I moved up to a regular job on the 'local'. Well, I could say more, but old head brakies like me are a relic of the past. We went the way of the caboose.
David Barnett cool story. technology makes shit so easy that's why idiots get hired these days
And a lot of idiots there are
thank you for sharing part of your story, very interesting.
They are actors, David.
David Barnett .
Seems good for a single man. Except the on call BS.
My uncle worked for NS for 26 years. Yea, he said it was tough, but the money was very good. He hasn't worked since he retired. Just sits back and relaxes. But yes, he'd be gone for 2 to 3 months at a time. But he did it, and he's living a good life now being retired.
when the lady said "my family adjusted and got use to me not being there" I thought the words that were going to scroll down after the "no drugs" was going to say "no family" lolollol
Josh Garnsey If you live a clean (no drugs & alcohol), solo life, & need extra money for self support.... THIS JOB CAN BE FOR YOU.
My early child hood was the same for my father. He was a multi state trucker, often hauling goods and such for 1-4 days at a time. But that wasn't a bad thing, he hard work kept a roof over our heads.
"Alcohol? Zero"
"Drugs? Zero!"
"Family? *zero* "
All of these railroad career videos seem to be prepping you for how much it sucks.
And it’s does suck
I mean to be fair, if that's the goal, then at least they aren't being dishonest about it.
Would love to go back through conductor training in Atlanta, just to do it again. Had an awesome time. Hate that I gave it up, but family comes first always. This was always my dream job since I was a kid.
Yeah same here, the reality is far different than the childhood dream 💯
How long did you do it?
@@TheGreyGhost_of43rd care to enlighten me? will be training in GA.
@@dredre2235 yes. McDonough, GA south of Atlanta on I-75.
I worked for them 13 years till NS sent my job to downtown Atlanta in the new HQ. I was a dispatcher though. We still went through the conductor training though since everyone goes through the basic rules class. I enjoyed it, instructors were cool too. I'd still be there had my job not been consolidated into one facility but the big city life wasn't for me after trying it for three months there, glad I can say I did it.
I run a backhoe for a gang in track maintenance in savannah ga. We have the same standards when it comes to on duty and off duty activity. Be ready at a moments notice. It really helped me to develop structure in my life and to value my life. Just because you're at work doesn't mean you have to be miserable or anxious for time to get off. Learn to take things as they come be adaptable and focused at all times. What helped me the most is to be in prayer throughout the day. You'll notice a day without it soon turns into a pretty bad day. I love my job I love NS even though I'm a contractor I still feel like a step brother or cousin to you true Ns employees thanks. Ps the longest train I ever saw came down that Georgia line boxcar willie!
Truck driver MOW BNSF...back in 2005 getting my chops in LA California, I remember we only had a few backhoe ops and some of the guys would talk shit about how slow he was and how easy it was tamping pulling ties etc....So one day the operator got tired of this one crew takin shit so he got off the tractor and said, "you think you can do it.... then do it"!!! So, the first dumb ass tried to pull the ties FAIL!!! 2nd dude wasn't any better the third guy stepped up and the operator told him to get down and told all the rest "NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP"! It got pretty quit, and we went back to work.... that was my intro to MOW!
The only standards a union pays attention to is the pay grade. Greedy. Lazy. Blame Game Union.
"Is it right for you?"
A lot more videos like this is needed. Gives the younger generation a visual image and idea of the actual job at hand and it may really assist them in making their decision.
Before even reading the comments from actual NS employees, I can tell you that this video is bullshit and 100% not giving you the full scope of how shitty the job will be.
@@Bingo_Bango_69 Please give more info. I figured it has to be more than climbing on trains, holding on with one hand , walking on ballert and picking up 80lb items
Never trust a guy who’s gloves are clean.
🤣
Very true
I spent 5 years in college and teach high school with disrespectful, demanding and unappreciative people, wake up at ass o'clock in the morning and NS conductors STILL make more money than I do starting out. To hell with the snow days and summers off, I'll work on the railroad.
tachikoma747 Until you meet your first NS trainmaster. Then you will learn what a real "disrespectful, demanding and unappreciative" person actually is...
777fuzzypeach What do you mean by that?
tachikoma747 The video is awesome... If you are really searching for railroad job then i find the product very helpful.
Search on google about 'Corbandy simple railroad crusher'. You will get lots of information..
tachikoma747 I have to say that i loved this video, particularly your advice concerning how to get a railroad job in california
. Another resource I also found useful for kcs railroad jobs
is Corbandy Simple Railroad Crusher - it will be on google if you need it
tachikoma747 Hey I love your video, especially the advice for working for the railroad jobs
. A product I also found useful for railroad driver jobs
was Corbandy Simple Railroad Crusher - find it on google if you like
Yeah her husbands cheating on her
Yeah, you're his bottom bunk buddy!
Especially with that spare tire around her stomach.
That really looks like Shelton Benjamin!!
that's alright, because her AFHT husband will take care of her while she sorts it all out at home.
@@jordanroberts7931 she has to have that on the job just in case of a flat
They VASTLY understate the schedule here. Do yourself a favor and go talk to a few conductor/engineers before you believe this video. I once pulled damn near 2 months straight with no more than 6 hours of sleep between runs. No days off. The runs were anywhere from 6 to 12 hours on the rail sometimes up to 16 hours on duty waiting to be dog-caught. Yeah the money was wonderful. I brought home 10k over 2 months after taxes, union dues, etc... But I was dead on my feet after the first 2 weeks. When you are turning and burning it's not safe... Or you'll sit on your ass for a week watching the boards on your computer waiting for a train while you're on call. You can't drink, you can't go out of cell phone coverage, your life effectively stops... This will be your life as a Railroad conductor...
You pretty much summed it up correct. I was a switchman for the chicago and northwestern. But the crazy part is that i knew guys who worked the proviso (chicago/milwaukee) pool and they absolutely could not get enough of the hardcore schedule you presented. I mean these guys could not work long enough. I'm thinking what the hell kind of financial situation are you in? Working those pool turns is a real meat grinder. Especially when they don't have enough guys in it. Turning and burning, going out on your rest. Yeah, us "normal" humans will get burnt out but those coin hungry pool hogs will just want more and more.
25mfd - Yeah I knew them as well. I didn't mind it occasionally but man. I knew guys who never marked off. They made extremely good money... But let me tell you it's not worth it in the long run. You end up hurt, sick, or dead.
Ben Dover
I just got hired for conductor for Norfolk southern, I start training next week, What can I expect as a conductor.
You sold your soul Eric. You're going to eat a lot of bad food, spend a lot of time away from home and family. Sleep in hotels.... You'll work in all kinds of weather from Lightning and rain, to extreme heat and cold. Depending on your "job" it can be very physical. Start walking as much as you can now if you are not in shape. Start training yourself to wake up to a phone call after about 6 hours of sleep. It's a bit different than when I was on since they passed the rail safety act in Congress, I believe now you have a mandatory 10 hours off, but keep in mind that time off is from the time you hit enter on the computer, to the time you're back on a train. Study your rules and your safety and study them hard. I think NS runs off the BNSF GCOR, there is a lot to learn!
I have a couple of friends and a family member that work for N & S. They all said the same thing, “If you love trains and railroads...DONT work for a Railroad”. It’s not uncommon for things to look better on the outside looking in with many occupations. And, I don’t doubt for a second that mgt. wants young, unskilled, physicallyvcapable employees for this position. Most are going to quit in a few years, and the cycle repeats itself, costs stay low and the BoD and stockholders are happy. A similar phenomena has gone on in the airline industry, of which I am familiar. For those that can hack it and make it to the RR retirement, it’s worth it I suppose. Life is a series of decisions and compromises and the benefit must outweigh the consequences, sacrifices and QOL. America relies upon its transportation system to drive our economy and the railroaders and truckers make that economy thrive or not.
U had me until u said no alcohol
TheSmokinApples only when you're on call lol
F alcohol
FoxBoy 1983 as much as I agree most railroaders and truckers are heavy drinkers in their off time.
🤣🤣🤣
No illegal drugs
No alcohol
Is this the railroad or the fucking Vatican?
Ha! These are all actors. This is by far the dirtiest corp I've ever worked for and have seen them do unscrupulous things to decent employees time and time again. Speak to a real NS employee and I guarantee 90% will tell you they hate the company. Management's main job is to write people up and keep the masses in fear. Divorce rates are astronomical and you'll be consistently missing birthdays, holidays etc. Cancer runs rampant from all the toxic chemicals your surrounded by daily and HUGE amounts of diesel smoke your constantly breathing. I quit after 15 years over a back pay disagreement and it was the best decision I've ever made. I'll wrap this up from a quote of a REAL conductor "NS is the only company I've worked for that hires people just to fire them".
That's the truth.
I was 4 months in a week from mark up and basically laid off (suspended), left a good job for what I thought was going to be a good career and now struggling to find a job and pay bills.
Why the hell did you even hire me NS?
Not just me either, every CT in my area about 15 of us.
"The only company I've worked for that hires people just to fire them."
Every Class I railway in a nutshell.
I have heard this same thing also
I quit February of this year after 6 years as a conductor. By far the best decision I’ve ever made in my life
I hear a lot of kids say I want to do this not realizing how truly physical and dangerous it can be if you screw up. More kids need to see something like this. A lot of people will not be able to do the job, I know for many years of my life I wanted to work a railroad but then I realized later on I had a disability that would prevent me from safely doing the job not that I couldn't get something within the railroad not crew related. You just have to look at yourself in the mirror and say can I truly do a job that doesn't care if it is pouring rain or so nasty outside that I still have to go to work.. Thanks so much for posting this.
What they are not mentioning you don't have a social life as well.
Gerry Coppola yeah, non railroaders have no idea what an extra board is like at a big terminal
Sheesh, do you ever go home?! Sounds like they live at work and sleep and eat when the railroad overlords are distracted from firing someone before they can be eligible for their pension!
I don't have one now so..
@@100016 you pretty much described working for the railroad
@@100016 at least in trucking I can have a few beers on my off day and not worry about being called in !
best thing i ever did was leave the NS after 10 years and go to another railroad.... and all i hear is negative things and people leaving now a days...
jackal monkey why? NS is the best railroad ever. They have awesome locomotives, great engineers and heritage units!
@@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast - Just because a railroad has Heritage units doesn't make it a good company. I have friends that were conductors and were furloughed by the company and ended up needed to quit cause they were without a job and income for months.
@@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast Sounds LIKE MANAGEMENT SPEAKING !
Very interesting. My grandpa was a Frisco conductor, first on freights and later passenger service. The basics have not changed, just more technology and safer too. His caboose was his "rolling home". He died before I was born but Mom could share many stories about him and his life as brakeman and later conductor.
Funny everyone says NS treats their employees like dirt. It's like that at every Class 1 railroad these days thats why the turnover rate is so high.
FACTS!!
I was a career railroader and completely disagree, the turnover is very low. Most who get hired on retire 40 years later. There are employees who have 35 years and are 60 or 75 out on the seniority roster. I knew a car inspector who had 51 years and was number 4 on seniority list. It’s a great job if you’re not a conductor or engineer get into signal or track dept, regular days and hours
*CSX has entered the chat*
THEY DO IT IN TRUCKING TOO AND MOST LIKELY ANY MAJOR CORPORATION
I’ve never had a job that I wasn’t treated like shit.
Norfolk Southern discriminates on the basis of age and race. If your under 30, a minority or military you're in. My cousin and I are the same age worked at the same company before applying but he has a military background and they selected him but he eventually quit, didn't like it after 3 months which I could have done it until retirement. We were both interviewed at the same time and they told me at the interview "Thanks but you're not needed, you should apply to another railroad instead". I was speechless as to how fast it was determined. I walked away from the table and heard my resume being torn up after waiting 4 hours for an interview. We both worked under harsh conditions for years and I am able to do this job. Hiring someone just because they're military or classified as a civil servant is wrong this company will always be hiring since they won't be able to keep anyone and the younger generation is only in it for the resume'. Apply to Union Pacific or others.
Union Man we send those guys off to war to fight for our freedom. Honestly they deserve a leg up on the competition when they come home. The railroads primarily run on a buddy and military hire system anyways. If you know someone or have military you stand a better chance.
Automotive runs on the "buddy/family" system as well. It keeps out good people who can keep the job and do it efficiently. I just feel if you're only looking for military, make sure to put that in the ad.
@@redrock717 I concur. #Armyofone.
Sheeeeet we have 20yr olds at my railyard. Marked up and giving me advice on how to do the job better. They must be desperate now
Worked for CSX as a conductor for 13 years. It was good job and it had its fun times but overall the job sucks. Management weren’t reasonable the attendance policy is ridiculous and the hours hahahah yeah everyday is 12+ hours. If you don’t love your wife and kids or don’t enjoy having any kind of quality of life this jobs for you! If you work for the railroad all you do is sleep watch the computer watch your phone and work constantly!
Thanks. I've always know it sucks and ppl keep telling me to go check it out. I need some money and I'd like to save up for something so I've been considering it. Reading this just makes me forget about it. not worth it but, I guess I can try for a while to just see how much can I save before quitting.
This dude is 100 percent a train master or dispatcher. I guess when you go in between equipment at NS to turn an angle cock you don't have to request red zone protection
The Railroad a lot of times only wants prior Military. They say they are or were disciplined being in the service. I say they are already programmed like a damn computer. That's why the railroad picks them. Nothing against the military. It's true though.
Not true at all. I have been employed by N.S. for about half a year now, and I have no military background. And they do not brain wash you. They teach you too do your job safely, which they should when you work around this heavy of equipment. But they do like to hire responsible people. That is for sure.
Well congrats to you. I know how hard it is to try to get in to the railroad. I been to like 4 hiring sessions. No luck. That was back in like 2006 to 2008. I got a friend who's a Conductor for Norfolk Southern and he say it's actually laid back once you learn everything.
Lol I went to 15 with NS, went to my first with CSX and got hired the next day :)
DipSetNY
+DipSetNY I've been to two with no luck-they were two months apart. I'm not discouraged yet only because I haven't really applied to them since the two rejections. I decided to finish my last 2 years of college before reapplying. I did however quit applying to CSX. I've been trying to get in with them for the last 10 years and still have not had a simple callback from them,
Thank you to all of the hard working Men and Women of Norfolk Southern, for delivering the goods. Thanks to NS for showing some insight into what the work entails. Until I become a diesel electrician, I am just a railfan who enjoys a look at the inside.
ffairlane57 I am Not sure why you think I hate CSX. I actually like seeing the CSX Engines around town in their Blue and Yellow. We get Mostly U.P, and B.N.S.F. here in town, so when I see a CSX or NS or CN loco rolling around, its a treat.
Michael McKinley ITS A TREAT FOR ME SEEING UP AND BNSF ALSO NS AND CSX WE GOT CN(CANADIAN NATIONAL) UP HERE IN WISCONSIN IK HOW IT FEELS BUT YEAH MAN TRULEY A TREAT FOR ME
Anyone else notice the script is about the same as there older Conductor video?
its pretty much exactly the same. I liked the old one better.
Yes. This is the same damn script that they used in their first one. I couldn't finish the video. I doubt any of these people have ever made an actual run before. It's nothing like they say.
allen davis They have hired here three times just this year. No one will work weekends or holidays. Most resign within a year or so.
NS is going to have to fundamentally change the way they interact with people if they expect to retain anyone for any length of time.
+777fuzzypeach I currently work in security, and have a strong interest in railroading. I'm accustomed to working nights, weekends, and holidays. Are there any other issues I should be aware of ahead of time as I consider this path?Thanks!
Yes it is except they changed the sequence. In the older one, it's all men doing the talking and they have one dude in the older video who looks like he's too blind to pass a vision test with them thick glasses of his let alone work for the railroad and the sequence is different. It's the same script though and it is updated.
I spent 9 years on the rail gangs, both on Southern RR and NS...10-12 hour shifts, outdoors, in all kinds of weather including tornadoes...I believe a conductor's job would be a great job...you might consider it easy, after slinging a 12 pound spike maul all day and tossing tie plates and breaking anchors and lining rail.
-Turd trainmasters who don’t know what they’re talking about.always trying to fire you
- Get laid off 34 times a year
Awesome place to work lol
Guaranteed 95% of the people in the video (including the CTs) have all been laid off
Ain’t that the truth
God bless the hard working men and women of Norfolk southern!! 🚂
My husband been working on trains here in Kansas over 30yrs and he is 65yrs and loves his job still😀👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾💯
Anyone else notice no graffiti on the rail cars? They probably organized them like that so there’s no vandalism 😂
This was the video they showed us at a hiring session I attended years ago. I ended up turning it down because I didn't want to be away from my wife and young son at the time. Looking back I'm glad I decided against it, I know someone who's had their entire career at Norfolk and is retiring soon, and they have said to me on multiple occasions how downhill the company has gone in recent years.
I would agree. I've seen several conductors and engineers smoking meth blowing stop signals and derailing cars
5:08 I just live how a random high hood is just sitting there looking pretty.
Every person that goes in this conductor job or engineer job knows up front that the work and life balance is bad. I can't believe that people bitch about the hours..you were told up front at the hiring session..
Brad Couture They not hiring young people that's for sure. Just family members and veterans. That's it mostly.
Brad Couture I went through the same shit @ CONRAIL. New hires you thought were friends, were not! Nothing but snitches!!
My uncle works for ns. When he wakes up he blows into his breathalyzer to determine if he needs to take a sick day or not. Oh and my aunt and cousins now live in a double wide. RR career for life I guess.
my father was a conductor on the old frisco railroad. back in the 80s he could even take me with him. what great times. they even still had cabooses back then.
+Renaissance MarineTV Some jobs still use cabooses. I love riding up high and shoving back down a mainline to switch an industry.
that is great to hear. i thought they were all gone. yes, sitting up high in the cuppola was the best.
Only time I've seen a caboose is on a work train. They use them when the absolutely have to have someone on the back end. If there is no caboose you have FRED.
...why did he randomly close that anglecock like a minute in?
*actor trying to show he knows what's up cliché*
Jacob Fischer or he’s cutting his train off there.
B. Scott yes but he left the pin lol
Training purposes only
Just killed his crew
they forgot about the terminal mgrs hiding in the weeds, waving fusees in the curve and you better stop your train if you see this... efficiency test... or here's my fav, they come up to you while you are switching in the yard and tell you to tell the engr to back up 5 cars and then don't say anything else... the engr is supposed to stop after a few car lengths if he doesn't hear from you... if the engr keeps moving he fails his efficiency test... there's a reason why the NS stands for N-azi S-outhern
You'll never see a clean engine like that. I was a conductor for SP and CP. We dreaded NS equipment
I spent 9 1/2 years working as a brakeman on two different roads..In '84 my "job security" was replace by FRED.. Today railroads is pushing for one man road crews. They are already using one man yard jobs in some areas.
It was a fun job, Only did it for a short while it wasn't for me but I'm still glad I did it. You will flip flop hours a lot day nights weekends. I was always bouncing around it makes it hard on the family.
max dean that anywhere when you're the new guy. Get thirty years in and you can do what you want lol.
Some of you idiots probably fail the test..you all commets are so stupid.
Michael Morgan: “you all commets are so stupid”
That’s exactly what you posted......bashing other people’s comments? So, what does that make you? A special new kind of stupid?
The days of railroading are long-gone. Today it's all about acting. You have to be an actor to do your job correctly. You wear a costume, (Hi vis "safety" vest, glasses, earplugs, sometimes a hard hat,) you carry your props, (brake stick, lantern, radio,) but most importantly, you have to remember ALL your lines. ("Yes sir," "No sir," "After stopping, Train XXX Northbound, with engine YYYY has permission to pass a signal displaying stop indication at North end Buck St. ovahhhhh!") It's become a song and a dance for the pure entertainment of the management team. If they are not impressed with your ability to dance then they will fire you and find someone else who can do a song and a dance. I have actually had a NS road super tell me they can hire a street performer to do this job better than me. The fact is they were probably right because I don't do a song and a dance, I railroad. I guess it's time to retire!
However I did chuckle at 3:47 because I always told the cubs, "If you can't hang on to the side of a boxcar in the rain, at night, while shoving into spiderwebs, for a mile or more, you can't hack this job!"
well it still beats dealing with cops, the Dmv and an unappreciative general public. I hike in the winter time anyway so it`s no problem
4:15 "A knuckle is a coupler component, that is made from solid cast steel and weighs up to 80 pounds and needs to be replaced."
I'd re-title this. It's nothing like "A day in the life of a NS conductor".
I would love to have had the opportunity to be a train conductor, or engineer. It's what I wanted to do since I was a little girl. I'm 52 now. I never got to see my dream or the ones that followed it, because I've was born legally blind. I can see some, but not enough to have been a train conductor, nor a police officer, nor a Marine in the Corps. Those were my dreams since I was little. I still love trains, but oddly enough, I've never even been on one. Not even Amtrak. The only train I've ever been on was the one at Disney World, lol.
Those are manly jobs, don't worry about it. You didn't miss anything.
@@thetruthhurts131 😂😂
It's cute watching these folks act like no one else has to work 12 hour days
I really want to work on the railroad, I just don’t want to be working all day and being away from home. I would rather work on locals.
Don't forget the "hire you to fire you" part, and also that they'll be furloughed within a year due to Precision Scheduled Railroading. 😒
Amen
Precision railroading sucks ass
I was a conductor. The pay was amazing.the health insurance was awful the rares were so high you were actually better off saying you were unisured. Er visit was $300 and constantly got bills from drs that united health care would not pay. I was maried 17 yrs who left me becouse my 1st year on the rr i spent 180 nights in a hotel a 100 miles away. And she took our children. I felt as though i was a prisoner. You cant do anything becouse you have to go home sleep and go back to work 10 hrs after you clock out . For the first at least 5 years you wont get a normal shift job youll be on the extra board which means you will fill in job vacancies. every day you will work dif hours today might be 11am to 11pm then 9 to 8 then 3 am to 3pm and every day is like this with NO day off guarentee. Its marriage suicide. I wish i never worked here i destoyed my family
I have a second interview what should I expect?
Pros: Dumping Vinyl Chloride into communities.
Cons: Staying awake.
WHAT A COMEDY VIDEO!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 she says she’s not home a lot of times because it’s a horrible work schedule but that’s OK because her family doesn’t like her anyway😂😂😂
I’ve worked for NS and beside the legal dismount while the train was in motion the propaganda here is somewhat true. I’ve never worked anywhere where the company works hard to hire you and does everything to fire you after you’re hired
You have to have really good lungs. Must be able to inhale vinyl chloride for your to 12 hours a day!
At 3:42 she said Norfark southern lol
PRR Railfan27 😂
Nofart Southern...mmmmmm
IgnorFolk Southern.
nOrFaLk SOUTHERN
Lol yeah she did
I will keep working in Jcpenny(:
I live 10 minutes away from a station and it seemed in the interview I was a good choice (they did lead me on) but I too like many got the dreaded no thanks e-mail because i am near middle aged, non military. I worked outside and on rough surfaces for 20 years and it didn't mean shit. After applying for the last 18 years I finally got an interview, showed up on time and much to my surprise I wasn't qualified. Oh well maybe it saved my life since so many people are dying and getting injured due to carelessness by newbies calling the shots. If you were never in the military you don't stand a chance unless you're right out of high school and the younger the better for them because the generation now only wants the job for a year or so.
Sooooo what about now? Still a safe pace to work?
Just applied can't wait to hopefully get started with y'all.
My dad was an apprentice fireman for the NYC on Hudson's and Niagara's. Then a fireman and then became an engineer. Know how he got promoted off the extra board each time? Someone got hurt or killed. The foreman told him that is the fastest way to get promoted. Like when a fireman dumped the ashes and lost his balance and got badly burned. Or when a fireman fell off a tender in January and was killed when his head hit the rail. Always has been a dangerous job. My friends dad was a conductor and was hit by a rock thrown by a kid. Engineer didn't even hear him go down. Luckily he didn't call back the signal and the engineer looked over. He was okay but needed a bunch of stitches. Said it was all part of the job. Trains get broken in half when going slow and they would bust open box cars... Go run back with the Trainman and try to stop them and get the train back together. Never a slow day. He was glad to retire when his time came.
+jesterd14 I thank you for this nice write-up about your dad's career, it is very kind on your part to upload such kind write-up about his job, I hope that he is enjoying a peaceful and happy retirement. Thank him for making railroad movement safer, Ciao, L
I love the design of NS. Is on my list, what is still to be done ". Once to see the locomotives of Norfolk Southern in original. .
I drive a truck for a living currently but have always wanted to be a conductor. I love being out and about and adapt well to changing environments, I'm also 6"3 185 lbs and am in good shape and don't smoke or drink, how do I go about applying for conductor school with Norfolk Southern?
This is like being a truck driver but worse because there's no bed or rest stops. They can at least get some McDonald's or see a movie during breaks. Trains gotta hammer to the finish whether its 7 or 10hrs per trip and no real amount of sleep.
i've done both of the jobs you mentioned... if given a choice i'd pick railroading anyday over long haul trucking... the PAY alone is worth picking railroading over trucking... truckers also have all those freakn' dot regs to deal with, plus law enforcement/dot enforcement weigh stations, possible overweight tickets/fines, being stuck at shippers/receivers who jerk you around and turn your truck into their private portable warehouse on wheels while you rot waiting for them to unload you, breaking down loads... (i could go on...)...so yeah neither is a walk in the park but trucking is WAY WAY worse than railroading
Lost me at 12-15 hrs day
😂😂 almost similar to a truckers work day (legally 10-14hrs) once you do it, you’ll get used to being tired
A lot of people outside of the railroad don't realize that the railroad is not like a kush office job where you can go to work off of 3 hours of sleep chugging gallons of coffee!
Hi there good job! I am from Kazakhstan and work in locomotive like engineer I like my job
My grandfather gave southern railway 46 years. Eastern division. Wash dc to greensboro nc. Started as a roundhouse laboer then loco fireman and finally last 20 years as a engineer. He would be appauled today. No more caboose. No more brakeman or flagman. Radio controlled yard engines. When he was on the road 4 and 5 man crew on trains. Passenger and freights.Its ashame to abolish jobs on men and now women who support their families.
For the number of times I've seen this job come up in my area they must be desperate. Only thing is, I applied for it multiple times and never heard a word back from them. Then I was squeaky clean and I never understood why they wouldn't give me a chance. I knew how life was on the road because I drove OTR for about a year and I knew what hard work was because I delivered beer for about six years. I suspected nepotism maybe, since I have no family that works for N & S. Now being forty and having the shady area in my past between then and now, I'm quite sure they wouldn't even look my way.
One way to know if this job is right for you, is if say you are in the car and it's super cold and rainy outside, could you stand being out there on a train?
From a rider of the rails this is a enlistment to arms for the NS
Absolutely love trains. Taking the program next year
NS is going to have to fundamentally change the way they interact with people if they expect to retain anyone for any length of time.
The money is what keeps people around though. If you making $25.00 dollars a hour. You probably would put up with the bullshit to.
I applied when I got out of the navy but my dad was sick at the time and he was a 30 year rail roader with Penn Central, Conrail, CSX, he finished as a engineer. But I got a call back but decided not to because I wanted to take care of him. Now at 36, I'm thinking about doing it. I'm single, no kids, and live in Cincinnati. I may reapply.
Cincinnati is in DIRE need of conductors
In the "See these rocks? This is ballast" part she should have said "Sometimes you'll have to eat this.....Just kidding!" a little humor goes a long way.
Working for this company has been my dream since 1st Grade and still going now even in high school
Good for career vets who were military 24/7
The first thing an NS conductor will ask you, "Is BNSF hiring?"
Jeff Blue Lot better money but a lot of times that's to make up for the higher cost of living.
NS treats you like something the cat dragged in.
Id rather go to UP
BNSF so far is the best
I was at a recent recruitment and everything they tell you about the schedule is true they don't leave anything out. Benefits are great as well. If you can't handle it don't apply. Now for the deception, they will lead you on at the interview making you think you have a chance but if you aren't military, under 30 or police or firefighter you have ZERO chance of getting in. Do not apply if you were NOT in the military or are under 30. they want people right out of high school because that age group will quit as soon as they get in, they want to work force to rotate they don't want long term folk because a workforce that rotates is cheaper in the long run. Hiring military is a tax advantage for them. They killed about 20 people some years back and they said it at the interview, and it was due to human error, they let new people make decisions on the ground which explains the accidents and the OSHA violations. Very disappointed with the interview, thought I had a new career since I have over a decade of labor and outdoor work, rain and shine plus heat. Almost 50 people showed up and It took me 5 hours to get interviewed and I spent money staying the night at the hotel just so I could be there for sure. I was serious. Bottom line, don't bother if you aren't military or are around 40.
You literally have no knowledge... I am almost 20.. got hired at 18. Have been with the company ever since and still going. Changed my life forever and coming from a CSX RR family I would choose NS till retirement.. The interview was straight forward. They even offer you to leave at the lunch break and welcome you to apply again if you change your mind. Whoever stays gets an equal opportunity to interview. They want people who's resume match the job description is all. People who are used to working long hours in variable weather conditions or in transportation or warehouses. They want people who are reliable and not drug addicts. Who you present yourself as and it matches your resume well then at that point they'll offer you a job. I have a GED high school drop out went from making $12/hour as a mechanic to making $36/Hour as a conductor bringing in close to 6 figures a year I made $82,300 last year after taxes. The opportunity is there. Wether or not you choose to take advantage of it or not is up to you. Don't try to scare people away from a better life. Anyone who's true about being apart of the NS family will fight for it to change their lives dramatically forever without fear or struggle. It is a demanding job on your body and mind. But it's the best decision you could make. Idk any other jobs out here paying that for people my age with nothing but a GED.
So I’ll be 35 in a month no military in fair shape should I not apply
@@smashmouthdipper5449 you made it to engineer school yet? I can't remember how many years it takes, but conductors eventually have to go to engineer school at NS. You will really be making the bucks then.
My cousin works for NS. He's a track maintainer, and I plan to work for NS too.
Missing my favorite tv show
the guy lifting the coupler knuckle didn't lift it properly. He lifted with his back where as he should have used his legs.
Dude, it hurts my back just to watch him.
This is my life’s calling. I want this job.
At what point do they learn about chemical bombing a town, like East Palestine?
This isnt a day in the life this is a fucking recruitment
Must be interesting sitting inside of a cab of a huge locomotive for hours on end and it must be interesting seeing some of the stuff you see going down the rails as well as in the winter with all the snow it must look so nice
It gets boring after a while, it's like taking a road trip but you have to remain vigilant watching the tracks for broken rails, wrong switches and signals.
No books, phone, music etc. Just radio chatter and a loud rattle filled engine cabin. Oh and a stinky bathroom if it hasn't been emptied in a while.
I have been told it's very similar to a prison cell. You get put inside this little box with a bunk mate. From there you cannot leave it for 12 hours and you are forbidden from doing anything but sit there and look out your window. You can talk to your bunk mate, to pass the time. I have experienced this for going on 20 years now and I can imagine this is what prison feels like too. Luckily I get paid to sit in my cell.
Until you have to get off in the rain, get soaked (or out in the blistering sun and heat of summer) to switch out cars while your engineer sits up there listening for your instructions for switch position, how far to back up or pull forward, etc. That takes a unique person to do that for sure.
In applying in the Knoxville area. I’m praying I get this job.
I work for a class 1 plus have a side business. It’s not all bad as one would seem. You just gotta know how to work things in your favor.....some guys know what I mean.
Teach a young man what you mean by that.
I had interview today with NS and thats exactly what I said on what I know about Safety = Alertness Know your Surroundings, those are the 2 main things.... Hopefully I get signed ON
This is like a school puberty video or something....
Bruh facts that’s what they use to play in school on the projectors 😂😭
When I become an adult I’m definitely choosing this.
I want to be a conductor but the comments killing me