My dad worked for Santa Fe rail Road. and I am so glad I did not follow in his footsteps. He was always gone and when he was home he was sleeping. But I did have a very comfortable lifestyle because of his sacrifices. Thank you dad for everything you did. Rip.
I am a locomotive engineer on a class 1 railroad. I will say this. This video is a somewhat accurate representation of what we go thru. It is accurate on how we live on call and such. What it doesn’t tell you (obviously) is how unsafe the nations railroads really are. You will miss far more than your kids birthdays. You will constantly be threatened, written up, and they will try to fire you. You have no union representation. Even after you are there 20 years you don’t have any better quality of life as when you hire on. You are FORCED to come to work so tired you might as well be driving the locomotive drunk. The list goes on. Almost every major rail disaster you ever hear about is caused by something the railroads refuse to do anything about. Fatigue.
when I worked there people were fired and had their careers ruined for simply getting on or off moving equipment. I see the rules have changed and it's safe again. All the people that got fired for it will be so pleased to hear..
Absolutely correct. I retired after 40+ years as signalman then conductor. Its rough out there. Trains used to have engineer, conductor, trainman fireman and brakeman. Now its mostly engineer and conductor. If management had their way it would just be engineer. Every engineer is a qualified conductor, but almost no conductors are engineers . Glad i retired 10 years ago
Got hurt after 8 years. Been collecting RRB for 15 now. I liked it out there but all it took was 1 misstep and it was over. All cuz a piece of rail left there for years.
Does this go for all jobs in the business are just conductors? Do you recommend other positions that pay decent yet no travel, or at least limited travel?
Its a recruitment video, all companies do the same stuff! Could be the "employee" is not really a RR employee at all, he could be an actor hired by a marketing company doing the video for the RR.
He's diffidently telling you the truth when he says that it's not for everyone!!! I started working CSX on August 26 and i've already quit. And i'm not a weak minded person, nor do I mind working hard. I am a Army veteran. I served 21 years as an Infantryman. I've seen combat. So I know what it's like not being home. And missing important dates with my children. I quit because of certain things. Here are a few of them. NO set schedule, you have NO set schedule. As soon as your 10 hours of rest is over you can be called in. Also from my experiences they want to work you for your entire shift, all the way up to your last minute. The dispatchers are always trying to rush you to get your train moving ( so much for safety ). You also have to sleep in hotels. One time I spent my day off in a hotel because they forgot about me. Even though i constantly called them. Granted, i got my day off ( it got pushed back a day ). Another thing i didn't like was that the union took their dues out of my paycheck even though they don't represent you for 90 days!!! You get only one paid sick day. That makes NO sense in a job where you constantly are working out in the elements. The only good thing was the pay, you will make a lot of money. BUT, you will diffidently earn it ( try setting 30 brakes in the Philly summer or a blinding snow storm ). And for those of you who are thinking about working a few years as a conductor then becoming an Engineer, good luck with that!!! In my yard in Philly, There were 20-25 guys in front me that had been waiting for a slot. I was told that I'd be lucky to go to school in 7-8 years. These are the reasons why I decided to get another job ( I'm working for the state ). I hope my comments were helpful to you....
@@mikeflanary642 I worked for CSX this year and quit already as well. The pay now starts at a little over 75,000 a year for new hire Conductors. I do regret quitting, as I miss it a little because most jobs suck anyway these days. But the Baltimore subdivision, Philly Yardmasters and MTOs suck.
Everything is absolutely correct brother only good thing is the pay the lifestyle sucks 10 hour break never know when your going to be called you can watch the extra board you could be 5th out thinking you have time to take care is business next thing you know your 2nd out from other conductors, dropping their turn it’s just a nightmare, depending on how fluid your yard and subdivision is Amtrak is a little better, but not all that much at least with Amtrak. You have a schedule in your know when you’re going to be called somewhat but far as the hours of rest, you get a 8 hour break instead of 10 hours so I guess it’s what you make of it 🤷🏾♂️
Last year (2020), I retired as an engineer after 31 years, 4 months. It felt as if I was released from prison. Take my advice young people: If you want to enjoy railroading, volunteer with a railroad museum or tourist railroad, but STAY AWAY from class one railroads. This is nothing but pure propaganda puff. It's NOTHING like this in reality. The crap you have to put up with higher management and any FRA inspectors are not worth it. Make railroading enjoyable by keeping it as a hobby, not as a career.
@@tmbrwlf3295 Sorry you didn't get 5 years in, but I do know what you went through. Railroads are not like it was when I started. It only went downhill when the mega-mergers kicked into high gear which we all know was for the CEO's better benefit. Best to you, my friend.
@@Walkwith7 If I may suggest on that, you need to choose a shortline that is small and family run, not like a Omnitrax or Genessee Wyoming Industries. The more smaller, it's lesser pay, but lesser headaches as well. I wish you luck, my friend.
lol “ sometimes miss family events”. This is a single mans career. I worked the railroad for 2 months and my wife had a nervous breakdown pretty much. It’s a great job for a lone wolf or a drifter type
Totally agree. As a recently retired engineer, I watched quite a few fellow railroaders lose their marriages because of the long hours and time away. I can relate that it put a strain on my marriage at times, but I count myself fortunate my wife and I hung in together. It's definitely a single person's job.
Im a train driver in the UK. We work 4 day weeks, 34 hours per week, 8 weeks holiday, 10 days off every 2 months (which is rostered and not holiday). Great pay, superb pension and are in the strongest union in the country. I love my job, and im extremely grateful for it. The shifts can vary, but you can easily work your life around them. I recommend it anyday.
I can definitely believe that bro…..unfortunately,due to the railroads not having mandatory retirement and these old heads with 40-50 years of service STILL holding on(I don’t understand why) you’ll probably be extremely close to retirement age/time of service before you’ll hold a decent schedule and even then you’ll probably be working afternoon shifts with odds days of Tuesday and Wednesday off days.
@@TexasAlabamaBoi205 Yep. Worst thing ever. We've went back in time 40yrs. I guess I don't see the big picture to go from humping cars with multi million dollar technology to flat switching. Just doesn't make since to me.
@@muchogracious1557 I agree bro‼️ The biggest picture is GREED!! and whenever they need guys to comeback,90 percent of those cut off will not return. PSR is going to backfire on the railroads sooner than later!
These videos always make me laugh, 'cuz the guys in them always sound _way_ more positive than anyone who _actually_ works there, in my experience. You never meet the people in the videos, making you wonder if their even real, or just actors.
I'm not gonna lie bro i was checking the job reviews for the Florida Easy Coast Railway and half the employees said in their comments that you barely see your family barely get any rest the way they said it was like telling me "The job is fun but it's also hell".
@@dejacavu6259 Why don't the 5,000 homeless go live with a democrat. Or head to Ca. and L.A. Skidrow...where the loving democrats will spend 700k to buy a building to study the homeless problem ,the one they created. Here's a crazy though....they could all go to work in the DNC...
I used to do quite a bit of train filming in the Stockton area (near the tower) back in the early 90s. I once had the chance to chat for a bit with a Rio Grande engineer who had just stopped his loco nearby. I was pretty excited to be able to chat with a real engineer- and basically told him that I envied him, and wished I had the chance to do what he does for a living. Surprisingly at the time, he wasn’t very happy at all about working for the railroad, and in fact in that conversation actually offered to give me the watch he was wearing that he got from the railroad for his years of service, That really surprised me- he clearly was very unhappy about his work situation, and made it sound like these guys are worked to death. I remember him and that conversation to this day… I write this post for him and for all of the other RR workers like him.
A current day in the life of a CSX conductor......sitting at home, jobless from being “furloughed” thanks to PSR, four mile long trains and stockholders’ board members, whose sole interest is gutting the company to make quick cash, then leave it sitting in the dust. You couldn’t pay me enough to work for this railroad or the Nazi Southern.
NS ruined my next door neighbor.. he got an arm and shoulder separation on the job as a conductor and they had people staking him out all the time so they could find evidence so that they didn't have to pay for his shoulder surgeries. Fortunately, they didn't succeed, but he was ruined from railroading. That was sad too he loved his job.. like somebody's going to go along and get a shoulder separation on purpose that's going to require four surgeries.. sheesh.
I started my Railroad career 47 years ago. It was a great job then. Four and Five man crews . Train moved faster over the road . Customers had better service. The union did there best to sell us out on every contract , Gave jobs away for nothing in return . We couldn’t vote on our contracts at that time. Management at that time wasn’t that bad. They came through the ranks and knew the job well. . The Conductor now does the work of three . I’m not even talking about the workers personal lives. If you decide to choose this career . Good Luck !
The unions are an absolute disgrace now. They do basically nothing except deduct their dues from your paycheck. They let job after job be taken away. Paltry pay increases while the company works you to death and reaps record profits each quarter. The unions are an embarrassment and should be ashamed of themselves. But they're not because they probably get kickbacks from the railroads.
reading the comments for actual railroad employees... think ill stick with hanging TVs and installing sound systems for a living for past 35 yrs and buy more N scale trains for my model railroad layout..
Agreed. I’ll stick with watching trains go by and volunteering at my local rail museum. I’ve heard nothing positive about any company or really any job on a railroad.
Thank you to all the conductors and engineers and rail gang members. My dad was conrail rail gang, came to CSX in 96 and became a conductor, then he went to engineer school and he was away alot when I was a kid, i missed him alot but I was very proud of him and still am. Hence why im up at 3 in the morning watching this. He unfortunately passed away in 2009 but I want to thank all of you guys on the rail road, I meet you all and I feel like I'm meeting my dad's friends and second family. He use to tell me he worked the rail road so I didn't have to. I know he wasn't treated very nice by higher management but he had the biggest heart and never once complained and i am thankful i had a dad like him. Anyways Much love from Kentucky! To the ones doing this job and think your sons or daughters are angry at you because you're gone alot, just know we know you're putting food on the table, clothes on our backs, and keeping a roof over our heads and we know if you could be home, you would. My dad when he passed left me a letter apologizing for always being gone on the rail road and I just wanted him to know I never once was upset with him. I can't tell him what I wanted to but I can pass this on to you all now.
My dad was an IBEW electrician for over 30 years, started his career out of Jackson, TN and retired out of Owensboro, KY. This kinda hit home to me. There were times when he would be 200 miles or more away from home and maybe gone for 6 months or a year it seemed like, depending on where he worked at. Other times he worked close enough to be home daily, or at least on the weekends. It was kinda hard on me as a kid because I didn’t always get to do some of the things with my dad that others did with their dads. This may sound crazy, but I didn’t really realize it until I was in my early 20s. At least he is still living, he’s been retired 8 years now.
@@bluegrassman3040 spend the time you can with him never know when God will call another angel home. My dad is 62 I’m 33 I live and work across the country and haven’t seen my mom or dad in almost 7yrs
I’ve only done freight, well, for a leasing company, but on call, and at 3AM, a truck just had to be in some absurd place just then for break down swap. (Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring) mmmm? mmmm. Hmmhmmmhmm. Uggggghhhmmmmhmm? Mhm. Hmm. (Click)
I love this guy. An actor just waiting for a major action movie to happen. Homie, be honest you have never 'switched' a train in your life. Yet, I can dig your pitch it's believable and likable. Well played.
A John…… it’s sad that CSX paid this man a ton of money to fake the life of thousands of real under paid employees…. What a slap in the face as usual 😂💯
John P. you hear how he was out of breath from just stepping on one railcar, no way he does that for a living. We are constantly on and off the train, hand-brakes, hose, couplers and switches. We don't have time to HEAVE or BREATHE heavy. 😅
When he said “go ahead and shove back 50 car lengths”, I knew that this guy is paid actor. If you were to say that to an engineer, he would give you hell.
@@benmullins2443 oh OK.lol So I thought about applying to Norfolk Southern as a train conductor. Should I stop I my tracks ( no pun intended)? And if I get put on can I expect to be treated like royal trash??
@@atiashaunbaker3792 well I don’t know about Norfolk Southern because Im about to start with Union Pacific. But I’d say that if you like to travel and like trains and don’t mind working an irregular schedule, then I’d say go for it
And I thought my job as an airline pilot had it downsides…geez,,,I never seen so many videos of people so happy to live this kind of life. They’re probably mostly actors anyway.
They most certainly are actors reading a script written by management. That’s why they didn’t mention managers hiding in bushes, watching the crews work. No mention of Out of Service Insurance which isn’t a requirement but would be insane not to have.
An insurance that will compensate an employee most of the time when they are taken out of service for a rules violation. The medical field has something similar called malpractice insurance
I worked as a conductor and engineer for CSXT from 98 until 04. I'm glad I'm out of it. Wasn't bad, just tiring. I was treated okay, worked with good people and even the management were straight with me. It's a way of life, not everyone is made for this job.
@@negmawon9585 I never stayed out of town with CSX. Went home every day or night, depending on what I worked. But, yes if I would've worked the road, they paid for lodging.
@@mytube8194 Hey Ben, I've just seen your comment. All is well my friend! I'm retired, living the life. Since it's Thanksgiving, have a great one. Hope all is well with you and yours!! Be safe brother
Okay so I'm seeing an inability for CSX to schedule staff appropriately, requiring non-stop on-call service at the detriment of your staff. This looks like a prison
My best advice to give everyone here, skip over class one freight and do state owned passenger service. I’m a conductor in the states of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for New Jersey Transit and there’s no better feeling than going home after a lone 10-12 hour day. Sleeping in my own bed, sleeping with my wife, not missing family events, and getting two consecutive days off when it’s needed. All the guys I work with come from prior freight background, and they all say they wish they made the switch to passenger service or knew about it years prior. Don’t do Amtrak or else you’ll basically have the same schedule as a freight guy. Do state passenger work, or work a Class 2. That’s all I gotta say.
Sad that congressman should had lost his job after helping pass the camera law also the union should had stepped in on that they lied it has no reason for safety it’s to spy on crews to fire them not fair you can’t nap at a stop signal sometimes you sit for hours for other trains to pass especially when track crews are in charge of a track and it’s out of service like when replacing rail
@@bubblelvr1 I worked for 2 unions at CSX. I also worked for 3 other unions including one other RR union on UP. NOT ONE union did ONE thing to help ONE employee that I knew, including myself. They always sided with the company, or moved so slowly that the time limit on the required paperwork expired. But boy, if they thought you'd be late with one month's union dues, they were ON it... with threats! Don't know which is worse, government or union. Both use threats to push you around and take money from you.
Trout Fisherman, Hate to say this but I’ve been there & done that. That kind of move got so tedious for the time sensitive trains that kind of move took too much time so they hired a van company or another conductor position as herder, to give us rides in the yard.
@@railscenes4959 it was was the “go ahead” and “shove back” that he was referring to…. We use to make big deal out of guys that said those things together because going and head and then backing is two different directions. 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
@@sammylw7694 OK right. On our division it was almost normal to use the oxymoron to say “go ahead and back up” we made it a joke about it. Actually now that I recall once one of our coworkers made the joke about it we thought it was normal to state it that way. 🤪
I did 8 years there as a conductor takes a strong family or a single woman or man to take on the job. Very stressful always looking over you shoulder to see who’s watching you break the slightest rule to suspend you.
@@Trainfan1055Janathan you don't, you do like my brother that worked there 6 years, he quit even though he loved his job with those big locomotives! He now works on Tugboats at Moran Towing and will work on Container ships once he gets his AB Licence.
Knowing what I know now I wouldn’t have wasted 10 years of my life with the railroad….. had I still been with them I would have been at 14 years seniority and still furloughed.
Starts the video out by bragging, "regulated highly by the federal government". In today's corrupted government, this doesn't give me any comfort. CSX, your PR department definitely sucks. From a drafted disabled Republic of Vietnam combat veteran and 2 year government employee. My first meeting in DC was with a drunk democRAT senator named Talmadge '75. Eaglegards...
Well this guy is not a conductor. -Actually has a coherent conversation when getting woke up. -Clean vest -Go ahead and back up -A smile and positive attitude -Not furloughed
“Go ahead and shove back 50 car lengths?” Well, which is it young feller? You want me to Go Ahead, or do you want me to go backwards? Cause if I’m going forward, I can’t possibly go backward.
Haha.. I had a Cub with me about 6 months ago now.. We were flat switching, 1 engine facing south, with a old head Engineer under the throttle... So we stopped short to get a railer, then lined the switch walked to the cut. I told him to couple him up.. Done everything great, except when he said come back 5 to couple, My Engineer backed up. Needless to say he should of said come ahead because the engine was facing south, day before it was north.. 😂 Oh GOOD TIMES, We got a great laugh out of it the old head Engineer loved it. Got to make the best of it. I hired out at 19 I've mad it 18 years man things have changed. I pray Every night things will get better
Well... Look how clean the locos, cars and ballast were. Probably recorded in Jax. Our area in the B&O Sub got the dirtiest engines, probably because the Cumbarland engine shops were close by for the almost-due overhaul and paint jobs. I did like the job, though. The Navy prepared me for the hours.
It's not a CSX yard unless there is a recently derailed tanker sitting somewhere. I saw one derail in front of me working for a shuttle vna company on christmas eve at 7:49 PM. that was a fun night...
I'm enjoying the comments here from those who have worked in this field. This is great insight into what is obviously a grueling and demanding profession. Much respect to those who do it. Since childhood I've had a love affair with trains, and there was a time in my early 20s when I thought I would look into getting a job in this profession. I never did, though. Now at 62, my affection for trains continues. I live near railroad tracks, and a couple times daily trains rumble by. It makes me happy. The sound of the horns is very comforting.
So I am you currently 40 years ago, four years with a degree, where all the starting jobs are 50k or less, and same, I love trains and railway transport. But seeing all these comments are truly disturbing. It sounds like hell.
Oh, I love it when someone says, "Go ahead and back up!" Engineer Claw: "I need you to pick a direction, do you want me to 'Go ahead' or 'Back up?' I may be good but I can't do both!"
@@SD40Fan_Jason hell yea lol! Glad you guys were ok and it wasnt your leader that picked that bad joint, but outside of that an early quit is an early quit lol!
The video is honest in that no one with his seniority will be going to work in the daylight. But for anyone with a high school education and no interest in going to college, working on the railroad can be a job with very good pay and benefits; as long as you can tolerate the variable hours and drug and alcohol rules.
Not just that the harassment from the college brat burger flipper recruit train masters and road formen that don’t know how a train operates or how to operate one themselves all they know is book rules safety rules and how to have investigations on hard working engineers and conductors that do a great job without incidents
@@KutWrite yep Csx did have that military theme just look at how the road forman and train masters looked boxed haircuts beige pants lite blue button up shirts shades and the white company suburban blazer trucks lolol funny
Yeah buddy lets wake up at 2 AM and miss my kids birthday LOL. At least CSX is honest man, this is the most honest media I have ever seen. Props for that
Not sure how bad CSX is with their weed weasels but NS was notorious for it. They're not even managers, they're more like cops hiding on the interstate looking to write as much tickets as they could. As much as you need to keep your head on a swivel for your own safety was as much as you needed to keep an eye out for those assholes trying to fire you constantly.
He said, “go ahead and shove it back”. I’ve never even been employed by a railroad and know that’s not how you tell the engineer to make a train movement.
You are absolutely right! I worked here and exactly as you said the Engineer would talk stupid with you if you said that! " WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT LAST ONE AGAIN?' " WHICH WAY ARE WE GOING?" LMAO
I work in IT but worked for a railroad company years ago. It takes 5 years to be vested into the railroad retirement which meant that there was a lot of backstabbing to fire you until then. Once I was let go (right before vesting into the retirement) I had to use unemployment through the railroad retirement which was half of what the state would have paid.
Worked as a conductor for Union Pacific. It was a blessing being laid off, after being on call 247 for 3 years I felt free actually going to work with a set schedule I didn't care what shift it was I came home to my bed or could have a beer on my off time. At least the military you get sleep besides hell week, the railroad is hell week 247 never knowing when to sleep or stay awake having to answer a phone.
This is me when I went to apply for a truck driver position with Schwan's. It looks good with the bells and whistles, but there's a ton of cons that are hiding and it can stress you out big time
I worked for CSXT for five years in Car Management. I was really good at my job and it included long hours at work. I resigned my position at CSXT after coming to work on a Monday morning and watching the company fire eight hundred managers and railroad employees in one day. The process was so cruel because the individuals that were being fired were escorted to their desk by local law enforcement and once their ID badges were taken the employees were then escorted to the buildings exit doors. This event was kept secret by executive managers so it caught everyone off guard. Imagine coming to work and being immediately fired with no future income to pay your bills so that is what happen to alot of people. I was fortunate that I was not one of those employees that were fired but after observing what happen that day I lost all trust in CSXT and three months later I resign my position and immediately was hired by the Federal Government. That was the best decision I ever made. Tens years after I left the company CSXT had a second major firing that was identical to the first firing. I thank the Lord for opening up a better employment opportunity for me.
It’s funny how CSX is “so desperate” for employees but won’t give those that don’t have prior RR experience the chance to even have an interview. When I was still working retail back in August 2021 I applied to CSX as a conductor trainee in Chicago. I applied to two other RR’s and got into one of them before CSX replied about 6 weeks later saying they wouldn’t give me an interview since I had no railroad experience. I’m thankful for the railroad I work for since they have me the chance an interviewed me. My advice for CSX, even if someone doesn’t have any prior railroad experience, please just give them the chance before you judge the book by it’s cover and turn them down
11 years as a Conductor. Close to engine school. Road/Pool jobs suck, the extra boards suck. We tell the new hires (yes, they actually hired in my terminal (cause they furloughed a LOT last couple years, no one came back) that they fucked up, some have left already. Only good PSR has done for my terminal is the flat switching, which caused local management to put on a yard extra list. 11 years and a yard extra list is the best job I can hold. Most of us enjoy our actual job, it's everything else that comes along with it, especially after PSR came into effect. Don't forget the onboard cameras, PTC, and Energy Management (sodomizer). No fun left in running trains. Can't test your skills with the air brakes anymore. Can't do anything really. PTC is nothing but a nanny designed to get you fired, an excuse to cut jobs. Just wait till the Class 1s get there way with crew consist. Never mind the expired contracts that they won't negotiate, or make absolutely absurd offers on (yes, the unions are a part of the problem here too).
Part of this reminds me of my life at the airlines. I flew the worst trips when I got hired, missed every holiday for the first 6 years, away from home 4-6 days a week. One day I’m flying early morning flights and the next day I’m flying all-nighters.
I use to want to work for the railroad but after talking to an employee he was very unhappy. So I have had more fun driving and owning 18 wheelers and owning my own company. Now I own a small fleet with 15 trucks and take off when I want to and take 5 vacations are year at least a week long.
One of the biggest peeves I have had during my 21 years on the job is the safety violations quota. Apparently if a division or sub is operating safely, meaning no Human factor incidents, no reports of damage or injuries, then it can't possibly be that the division is being safe! It just means that division managers, trainmasters, road foremen, superintendents and all other titles are not doing a good enough effort of catching the HFIs and they need to be more vigilant about their duties. This era of overemphasis on safety has created an atmosphere of paranoia and frustration within the workplace which has traditionally been enforced by a "brother's keeper" rule. A brother's keeper not only meant that one looked out for the other and shared in the responsibilities of safety, but also they weighed the consequences of their actions heavily against themselves and their fellow crewmates. Today crews look out for number one and are terrified of taking on a new employee because they will be forced to share the risk and the consequences for them. Additionally when a company justifies the need to punish their employees for something as simple as not wearing all their PPE during a heavy downpour for a period ofless than 60 seconds, with a 2-month unpaid suspension, it sends a message to the rest of the employees that they are expected to be perfect or they will be severely punished.
He did forget to mention that ten hours off means ten hours off. You get home at nine o click in the morning means you're going to work at seven o clock that night. It's brutal at times.
All facts❗ Most people outside of the railroad think because you get off at 9 am Saturday morning that you're off for the entire Saturday❗ NEGATIVE ❗❗❗Like you stated,at 19:00 hours you better have your bags packed,lunch packed and showered because you're going right back to work for another 12 hours❗
At the end of the video he said he was gone 48 hours. So it's 2am,he'll be rested at 12pm for call at 2 pm. Where will your quality time start? When you wake up at 11am and not know what day it is. Years ago you would work like crazy,7 days a week before the HOS law. There were no assigned day off on the list. But if you wanted to you could mark off sick for a few days and mark back up no questions asked.
Seems like railroad management could do a better job and making work schedules more solid. If you have enough conductors to fill 24/7 shift why not have them schedule to work set hours instead of being on call. I know nothing about the railroad business but it seems like a little better time management could make that happen.
This guy is a actor!!!!! I’m a railroad worker in the mechanical department. None of my coworkers would ever volunteer to make a laughable video like this!
I hired out on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1967 (now the CSX ) and retired as an Engineer in 2010 and I would have to say I saw the best time to work on the railroad. Nobody bothered me. Just give me the train and leave me alone. I could not work on that railroad with all the crap this guy says you have to do we had less injuries then they have today.They pay you good but they want your life too.!Think about it !
CSX and other railroad companies how about providing a better life for these men and women and give them more personal days off and better incentives.I bet all the high brass celebrate their events.Major respect for all those who work the rails everywhere.
I’m a truck driver. A lot of this is relatable on a different plane. But shit. The reason you can go to Target or Walmart and just “pick up something” is because of people like this dude and people like me who actually pull their truck up and deliver it. Logistics is insane.
Amazing video. I live in New york and I'm getting ready to take the test for Port Authority Train Conductor. I'm coming from the security field and I know this is talking about freight Conductor but just the thought of switching fields to railroad career, is pretty exciting.
My old man ran Locomotives starting with L&N, then Seaboard System and retired with CSXT after 36 years. He worked the extra board into my mid teens, gone all the time.
After working for CSX for 30 years I can state that you will miss many family birthdays, and don't miss a call either. You will receive discipline extracted from a rule book governing every conceivable movement that you make while on duty. Don't be surprised if some of your paycheck is withheld pending further research by the carrier, and that happens constantly, and by the way if you somehow perform magic and complete what would normally be 2 days pf work then you better be ready to do it all over again tomorrow or else. If I had a son working for CSX, and a son in jail I would remove the one from CSX property first. Also, they treat their non-contract employees (supervisors) worse
Thinking it might be cool to give railroading a try yet I come upon so many comments like, "if I had one son at CSX and one son in jail I would try to free my CSX son first." Omg..
Back in 2018 I worked for a company contracted through Union Pacific. Was there for about 6 months as a trailer mechanic. An alright job, left because I was working third shift though. I hate third. But, if you're working in a shop or an intermodal facility, you should have some type of life. Theoretically.
Ive met many CSX engineers and conductors they are not this jolly there drunk 24/7 and pretty pissed off usually ...but they love hobos! And Atlanta ? Didn't csx pull up the tracks in Atlanta?
Railroad people are really unpleasant. Even people on the periphery like railroad museum guides and railfans. Maybe it's the crap they have to put up with, or they're just so miserable to begin with that they have immunity to the hardships.
PSR killed any chances of me wanting to work for any Class 1 railroad in America. All about profits over safety for train crews when you look at the impact of it.
Did 12 years on shortline/industrial jobs as engineer. Life was good. When the last one ended and shut down with the closing of our major customer, a friend told me I should go to CSX or NS. "No thanks!" Tried truck driving for the next 7 years which turned into a real horror show. Doing my own thing now and don't think I missed out on the class 1's. And I've known A LOT of former B&O guys who have nothing good to say about CSX.
@@hectorfernandez6748 It’s just as bad as some of these guys’ times on the rail. You’re overworked, underpaid, tied to a truck (may as well be literally with the amount of time you get to spend with your family). They claim you’re your own boss and the corporate/admin side is “hands off”, but call a dispatcher and tell them you’re not feeling well and the load may have to be late cause it’s affecting your driving and that’s when the excuses as to why you should keep going come in. That, and some dispatchers are known to try and coax drivers into breaking the law, mostly by driving longer than what is legally allowed. I bet you if they suffered the same consequences as the drivers they told to break the law, they wouldn’t do it. I remember I was stopped for my mandatory 10-hour break and had a dispatcher message me on the hardwired tablet in my rig asking why I’m stopped. I silenced my tablet and ignored every message from that specific person after they asked me how it’d be illegal for me to continue driving. If I’m being honest with you, they may as well replace the name your parents gave you with the truck # printed on the rig they assign you, because that’s how you’re treated.
@@WhopperJrNoCheese if you know they will never do it. you should do the same and never let anyone pressure you into it i'm very new to this field and i've learned from my previous career if you let them get away with it they will never stop.
I work for CSX, ignore the part where he said shove back 50 cars. The most you can start a movement is 20 cars and keep repeating it until you get to a lower number then 20. Good luck to you guys and stay safe.
We can't say anything bad about you guys you're the greatest hardworking crew I've ever seen. When I talk to the workers about the gates acting wonky they listen patiently & are very polite & respectful. YOU GUYS GREAT! If you ever see us we live in Marietta Ga blow the horn I carry a pink & blue backpack. Gypsy & Taz
What a great recruitment video. The First 2 minutes, Woke up at 2am and misses his child's birthday. I wanna work for a company like this.
All for "nice things" you'll never have the time to enjoy. Or retire too old and broken to enjoy them either.. alone. Fun!!
Lol freight sucks passenger rail is better
At least they're upfront about it though lol
Wants a poor sap to come in already and take over his shift, so he can take the better one.
Look at all the people they weed out in the first two minutes, though. Actually it's brilliant.
My dad worked for Santa Fe rail Road. and I am so glad I did not follow in his footsteps. He was always gone and when he was home he was sleeping. But I did have a very comfortable lifestyle because of his sacrifices. Thank you dad for everything you did. Rip.
Yes!! Your father is very much appreciated
Sounds like your Dad was like mine, from my view our Dads loved us alot to deal with all that
😢
My pops was a truck driver I feel you
Sounds like my kind of life, bitches in every city
I am a locomotive engineer on a class 1 railroad. I will say this. This video is a somewhat accurate representation of what we go thru. It is accurate on how we live on call and such. What it doesn’t tell you (obviously) is how unsafe the nations railroads really are. You will miss far more than your kids birthdays. You will constantly be threatened, written up, and they will try to fire you. You have no union representation. Even after you are there 20 years you don’t have any better quality of life as when you hire on. You are FORCED to come to work so tired you might as well be driving the locomotive drunk. The list goes on. Almost every major rail disaster you ever hear about is caused by something the railroads refuse to do anything about. Fatigue.
when I worked there people were fired and had their careers ruined for simply getting on or off moving equipment. I see the rules have changed and it's safe again. All the people that got fired for it will be so pleased to hear..
Absolutely correct. I retired after 40+ years as signalman then conductor. Its rough out there. Trains used to have engineer, conductor, trainman fireman and brakeman. Now its mostly engineer and conductor. If management had their way it would just be engineer. Every engineer is a qualified conductor, but almost no conductors are engineers . Glad i retired 10 years ago
Got hurt after 8 years. Been collecting RRB for 15 now. I liked it out there but all it took was 1 misstep and it was over. All cuz a piece of rail left there for years.
Absolutely correct. Almost every crash is caused by engineer fatigue. As a retired career railroader , i agree
Does this go for all jobs in the business are just conductors? Do you recommend other positions that pay decent yet no travel, or at least limited travel?
Comments section is way more informative and honest than this video is
Facts!
Agreed. It's basically what the the video omitted on purpose
Its a recruitment video, all companies do the same stuff! Could be the "employee" is not really a RR employee at all, he could be an actor hired by a marketing company doing the video for the RR.
Yk he actually hates the job just doesn’t like new so he stays
@@minerranwe know😂
He's diffidently telling you the truth when he says that it's not for everyone!!! I started working CSX on August 26 and i've already quit. And i'm not a weak minded person, nor do I mind working hard. I am a Army veteran. I served 21 years as an Infantryman. I've seen combat. So I know what it's like not being home. And missing important dates with my children. I quit because of certain things. Here are a few of them. NO set schedule, you have NO set schedule. As soon as your 10 hours of rest is over you can be called in. Also from my experiences they want to work you for your entire shift, all the way up to your last minute. The dispatchers are always trying to rush you to get your train moving ( so much for safety ). You also have to sleep in hotels. One time I spent my day off in a hotel because they forgot about me. Even though i constantly called them. Granted, i got my day off ( it got pushed back a day ). Another thing i didn't like was that the union took their dues out of my paycheck even though they don't represent you for 90 days!!! You get only one paid sick day. That makes NO sense in a job where you constantly are working out in the elements. The only good thing was the pay, you will make a lot of money. BUT, you will diffidently earn it ( try setting 30 brakes in the Philly summer or a blinding snow storm ). And for those of you who are thinking about working a few years as a conductor then becoming an Engineer, good luck with that!!! In my yard in Philly, There were 20-25 guys in front me that had been waiting for a slot. I was told that I'd be lucky to go to school in 7-8 years. These are the reasons why I decided to get another job ( I'm working for the state ). I hope my comments were helpful to you....
If you don't mind me asking, what was the pay?
@@mikeflanary642 I worked for CSX this year and quit already as well. The pay now starts at a little over 75,000 a year for new hire Conductors. I do regret quitting, as I miss it a little because most jobs suck anyway these days. But the Baltimore subdivision, Philly Yardmasters and MTOs suck.
Idk, he didn't really seem to have a lack of self confidence to me.. but that's just my opinion.
They tell you about all of this prior to being hired, to be fair. You don't have to get hired to figure out They aren't lying about the lifestyle
Everything is absolutely correct brother only good thing is the pay the lifestyle sucks 10 hour break never know when your going to be called you can watch the extra board you could be 5th out thinking you have time to take care is business next thing you know your 2nd out from other conductors, dropping their turn it’s just a nightmare, depending on how fluid your yard and subdivision is Amtrak is a little better, but not all that much at least with Amtrak. You have a schedule in your know when you’re going to be called somewhat but far as the hours of rest, you get a 8 hour break instead of 10 hours so I guess it’s what you make of it 🤷🏾♂️
Last year (2020), I retired as an engineer after 31 years, 4 months. It felt as if I was released from prison.
Take my advice young people: If you want to enjoy railroading, volunteer with a railroad museum or tourist railroad, but STAY AWAY from class one railroads. This is nothing but pure propaganda puff. It's NOTHING like this in reality. The crap you have to put up with higher management and any FRA inspectors are not worth it. Make railroading enjoyable by keeping it as a hobby, not as a career.
Amen, I did 4 years at CSX and got out.
Shortline are the best
@@tmbrwlf3295 Sorry you didn't get 5 years in, but I do know what you went through. Railroads are not like it was when I started. It only went downhill when the mega-mergers kicked into high gear which we all know was for the CEO's better benefit. Best to you, my friend.
@@Walkwith7 If I may suggest on that, you need to choose a shortline that is small and family run, not like a Omnitrax or Genessee Wyoming Industries. The more smaller, it's lesser pay, but lesser headaches as well. I wish you luck, my friend.
Thats true. But at least omni watco and g and wyoming still get RR retirement
As an engineer. No ones this happy to go to work.
TRUTH!!!!!!!
Happiness doesn't exist at work, cause it's work but you can have a good attitude it will take you a long way...
As an engineer as well I have to agree
As a engineer I disagree with come to CP railways it’s fun here.
@@calebmanuel17 it sure is lol
lol “ sometimes miss family events”. This is a single mans career. I worked the railroad for 2 months and my wife had a nervous breakdown pretty much. It’s a great job for a lone wolf or a drifter type
Same for an OTR trucker.
I had a family member that was a CSX engineer and he said the exact thing.
@@ericzerkle5214 no. Not the same. Not even in the same universe. Truckers are nothing compared to railroaders.
Totally agree. As a recently retired engineer, I watched quite a few fellow railroaders lose their marriages because of the long hours and time away. I can relate that it put a strain on my marriage at times, but I count myself fortunate my wife and I hung in together. It's definitely a single person's job.
Yep, I had an interview with NS and the first thing they told me was that if I’m hired, I’m married to the railroad. Forget about family life
Im a train driver in the UK. We work 4 day weeks, 34 hours per week, 8 weeks holiday, 10 days off every 2 months (which is rostered and not holiday). Great pay, superb pension and are in the strongest union in the country. I love my job, and im extremely grateful for it. The shifts can vary, but you can easily work your life around them. I recommend it anyday.
Meanwhile in the US...
Dont even sound like the same job!
You aren't in America. The "greatest" country in the world. Lol. I've been considering moving to Europe.
@@jeaholland Or you know. Start advocating for better policy in a train unions?
@@bonda_racing3579 Nah. I don't work in the rail industry lol.
21 years and counting and I still work nights, weekends, holidays. Still can't bid on the shifts I "want".
I can definitely believe that bro…..unfortunately,due to the railroads not having mandatory retirement and these old heads with 40-50 years of service STILL holding on(I don’t understand why) you’ll probably be extremely close to retirement age/time of service before you’ll hold a decent schedule and even then you’ll probably be working afternoon shifts with odds days of Tuesday and Wednesday off days.
@@TexasAlabamaBoi205 biggest reason is because of all the jobs being cut off
@@muchogracious1557 that’s true bro!! Are y’all doing that PSR bull sh!t as well!?
@@TexasAlabamaBoi205 Yep. Worst thing ever. We've went back in time 40yrs. I guess I don't see the big picture to go from humping cars with multi million dollar technology to flat switching. Just doesn't make since to me.
@@muchogracious1557 I agree bro‼️ The biggest picture is GREED!! and whenever they need guys to comeback,90 percent of those cut off will not return. PSR is going to backfire on the railroads sooner than later!
These videos always make me laugh, 'cuz the guys in them always sound _way_ more positive than anyone who _actually_ works there, in my experience. You never meet the people in the videos, making you wonder if their even real, or just actors.
I'm not gonna lie bro i was checking the job reviews for the Florida Easy Coast Railway and half the employees said in their comments that you barely see your family barely get any rest the way they said it was like telling me "The job is fun but it's also hell".
This is media, always a facade! But if there are cars not needed why not allow some of the 5,000 homeless in Utah to live in them?
@@dejacavu6259 Why don't the 5,000 homeless go live with a democrat. Or head to Ca. and L.A. Skidrow...where the loving democrats will spend 700k to buy a building to study the homeless problem ,the one they
created. Here's a crazy though....they could all go to work in the DNC...
There should be a parody of how people actually talk offcamera
I used to do quite a bit of train filming in the Stockton area (near the tower) back in the early 90s. I once had the chance to chat for a bit with a Rio Grande engineer who had just stopped his loco nearby. I was pretty excited to be able to chat with a real engineer- and basically told him that I envied him, and wished I had the chance to do what he does for a living. Surprisingly at the time, he wasn’t very happy at all about working for the railroad, and in fact in that conversation actually offered to give me the watch he was wearing that he got from the railroad for his years of service, That really surprised me- he clearly was very unhappy about his work situation, and made it sound like these guys are worked to death. I remember him and that conversation to this day… I write this post for him and for all of the other RR workers like him.
If you show up to work that happy you’ll be getting a piss test. At least csx is only the 5th worst company to work for
I laughed so hard at this
What does it say for the railroad industry that 3 of the top 5 worst companies to work for are railroad (#1, 2 and 5).
🤣🤣🤣
Looks like the guy in the video needs one then 😂😂😂😂
A current day in the life of a CSX conductor......sitting at home, jobless from being “furloughed” thanks to PSR, four mile long trains and stockholders’ board members, whose sole interest is gutting the company to make quick cash, then leave it sitting in the dust. You couldn’t pay me enough to work for this railroad or the Nazi Southern.
NS ruined my next door neighbor.. he got an arm and shoulder separation on the job as a conductor and they had people staking him out all the time so they could find evidence so that they didn't have to pay for his shoulder surgeries.
Fortunately, they didn't succeed, but he was ruined from railroading. That was sad too he loved his job.. like somebody's going to go along and get a shoulder separation on purpose that's going to require four surgeries.. sheesh.
@@nancyoffenhiser4916 they have people who spy on these posts also watch n see if this stuff isn't erased off here in a few days
Happened to me at up in proviso laidoff from uprr after25yrs due to that damn psr, thanks h.harrison!!! Now I'm just an hallcon driver for csx! Smh
I started my Railroad career 47 years ago. It was a great job then. Four and Five man crews . Train moved faster over the road . Customers had better service. The union did there best to sell us out on every contract , Gave jobs away for nothing in return . We couldn’t vote on our contracts at that time. Management at that time wasn’t that bad. They came through the ranks and knew the job well. . The Conductor now does the work of three . I’m not even talking about the workers personal lives. If you decide to choose this career . Good Luck !
The unions are an absolute disgrace now. They do basically nothing except deduct their dues from your paycheck. They let job after job be taken away. Paltry pay increases while the company works you to death and reaps record profits each quarter. The unions are an embarrassment and should be ashamed of themselves. But they're not because they probably get kickbacks from the railroads.
@@TreasureHuntingSWPA412 kickbacks have been going on for years ! It’s a known fact !
Yes, the Unions gave away so many jobs that they eventually went out of business.........its true....Look up United Transportation Union (UTU)
Thank you so much for help and the more information and trips
reading the comments for actual railroad employees... think ill stick with hanging TVs and installing sound systems for a living for past 35 yrs and buy more N scale trains for my model railroad layout..
Good plan. Seriously.
Hehe thats a good one. I'd set up my ho scale if I had room and didn't have 200+ arcade games
At least you'll have more time for your N scale layout.
Agreed. I’ll stick with watching trains go by and volunteering at my local rail museum. I’ve heard nothing positive about any company or really any job on a railroad.
@@allendavis8392 I'm sure it's a tough business fueled by greed.
I was 15 yrs as a conductor/engineer. Dont miss it one bit! Ur kids will be 20 yrs old and you'll miss most of it.
Thank you to all the conductors and engineers and rail gang members. My dad was conrail rail gang, came to CSX in 96 and became a conductor, then he went to engineer school and he was away alot when I was a kid, i missed him alot but I was very proud of him and still am. Hence why im up at 3 in the morning watching this. He unfortunately passed away in 2009 but I want to thank all of you guys on the rail road, I meet you all and I feel like I'm meeting my dad's friends and second family. He use to tell me he worked the rail road so I didn't have to. I know he wasn't treated very nice by higher management but he had the biggest heart and never once complained and i am thankful i had a dad like him. Anyways Much love from Kentucky! To the ones doing this job and think your sons or daughters are angry at you because you're gone alot, just know we know you're putting food on the table, clothes on our backs, and keeping a roof over our heads and we know if you could be home, you would. My dad when he passed left me a letter apologizing for always being gone on the rail road and I just wanted him to know I never once was upset with him. I can't tell him what I wanted to but I can pass this on to you all now.
Too long
So would you rather have him around and less money growing up or would you be ok with keeping life the same?
My dad was an IBEW electrician for over 30 years, started his career out of Jackson, TN and retired out of Owensboro, KY. This kinda hit home to me. There were times when he would be 200 miles or more away from home and maybe gone for 6 months or a year it seemed like, depending on where he worked at. Other times he worked close enough to be home daily, or at least on the weekends. It was kinda hard on me as a kid because I didn’t always get to do some of the things with my dad that others did with their dads. This may sound crazy, but I didn’t really realize it until I was in my early 20s. At least he is still living, he’s been retired 8 years now.
@@bluegrassman3040 spend the time you can with him never know when God will call another angel home. My dad is 62 I’m 33 I live and work across the country and haven’t seen my mom or dad in almost 7yrs
@@BobbyB910 I’m sorry to hear that man. I’m 36 and my dad is 70. Fortunately we only live less than 10 miles apart.
I could tell by his vest and how he wears his radio he's not a real conductor, and nobody talks to the call office like that at 4 am
I’ve only done freight, well, for a leasing company, but on call, and at 3AM, a truck just had to be in some absurd place just then for break down swap. (Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Ring, ring) mmmm? mmmm. Hmmhmmmhmm. Uggggghhhmmmmhmm? Mhm. Hmm. (Click)
Aren't the calls automated now?
oh thats a good engineer....... ya ok buddy pssssh
@@KutWrite some are but it just depends if they need you to step up because the extra board is exhausted
@@jonnyutah9630 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
your managers won’t remember all the nights you worked late but your kids will.
They’ll understand the sacrifice you made to make their life easy and good and respect you it’s just apart of being a man
Nope @@tyartez1972
@@tyartez1972we don’t have the problem in the UK. Our railroads are aafer
I love this guy. An actor just waiting for a major action movie to happen. Homie, be honest you have never 'switched' a train in your life. Yet, I can dig your pitch it's believable and likable. Well played.
A John…… it’s sad that CSX paid this man a ton of money to fake the life of thousands of real under paid employees…. What a slap in the face as usual 😂💯
Hahaha I said the same thing. Probably just an actor lol
Yeah he is definitely an actor great voice for voice overs 😀
John P. you hear how he was out of breath from just stepping on one railcar, no way he does that for a living. We are constantly on and off the train, hand-brakes, hose, couplers and switches. We don't have time to HEAVE or BREATHE heavy. 😅
When he said “go ahead and shove back 50 car lengths”, I knew that this guy is paid actor. If you were to say that to an engineer, he would give you hell.
What was wrong? I'm not sure what that means. I'm guessing he was referring to the car load on that train.
@@atiashaunbaker3792 go ahead and back up is giving two different directions. Go ahead and back up. It’s a good way for your engineer to give you shit
@@benmullins2443 oh OK.lol So I thought about applying to Norfolk Southern as a train conductor. Should I stop I my tracks ( no pun intended)? And if I get put on can I expect to be treated like royal trash??
@@atiashaunbaker3792 well I don’t know about Norfolk Southern because Im about to start with Union Pacific. But I’d say that if you like to travel and like trains and don’t mind working an irregular schedule, then I’d say go for it
@@benmullins2443 the odd schedule doesn't bother me. Its the furloughs and micro managing I'm reading about in this comment section
And I thought my job as an airline pilot had it downsides…geez,,,I never seen so many videos of people so happy to live this kind of life. They’re probably mostly actors anyway.
They most certainly are actors reading a script written by management. That’s why they didn’t mention managers hiding in bushes, watching the crews work. No mention of Out of Service Insurance which isn’t a requirement but would be insane not to have.
@@THR33STEP Could you please explain what out of service insurance is?
An insurance that will compensate an employee most of the time when they are taken out of service for a rules violation. The medical field has something similar called malpractice insurance
Most likely Bosses. In the proganda videos they used to produce they used managers.
As a truck driver, this vid makes my job alot easier lol. F this.
I worked as a conductor and engineer for CSXT from 98 until 04. I'm glad I'm out of it. Wasn't bad, just tiring. I was treated okay, worked with good people and even the management were straight with me. It's a way of life, not everyone is made for this job.
Does Csx pay for hotel?
@@negmawon9585 I never stayed out of town with CSX. Went home every day or night, depending on what I worked. But, yes if I would've worked the road, they paid for lodging.
What's up Rick? I hope you're doing well brother!!!
@@mytube8194 Hey Ben, I've just seen your comment. All is well my friend! I'm retired, living the life. Since it's Thanksgiving, have a great one. Hope all is well with you and yours!! Be safe brother
Likewise Brother. That's great to hear. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Enjoy your retirement. You definitely deserve it.
Okay so I'm seeing an inability for CSX to schedule staff appropriately, requiring non-stop on-call service at the detriment of your staff.
This looks like a prison
My best advice to give everyone here, skip over class one freight and do state owned passenger service. I’m a conductor in the states of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for New Jersey Transit and there’s no better feeling than going home after a lone 10-12 hour day. Sleeping in my own bed, sleeping with my wife, not missing family events, and getting two consecutive days off when it’s needed. All the guys I work with come from prior freight background, and they all say they wish they made the switch to passenger service or knew about it years prior. Don’t do Amtrak or else you’ll basically have the same schedule as a freight guy. Do state passenger work, or work a Class 2. That’s all I gotta say.
What companys are like this in Indiana? Anyone knows?
Or volunteer at a railroad museum or tourist railroad.
@@lovem9234I'm working in Lafayette for csx idk bro
@@lovem9234 south shore railroad
@@lovem9234metra but in Illinois
Him: ‘it can be challenging’
Also every conductor an a train: **napping intensifies**
Can't do that now with the inward cameras that Jacksonville also randomly pulls. They are live feed also.
Sad that congressman should had lost his job after helping pass the camera law also the union should had stepped in on that they lied it has no reason for safety it’s to spy on crews to fire them not fair you can’t nap at a stop signal sometimes you sit for hours for other trains to pass especially when track crews are in charge of a track and it’s out of service like when replacing rail
@@bubblelvr1 I worked for 2 unions at CSX. I also worked for 3 other unions including one other RR union on UP. NOT ONE union did ONE thing to help ONE employee that I knew, including myself. They always sided with the company, or moved so slowly that the time limit on the required paperwork expired.
But boy, if they thought you'd be late with one month's union dues, they were ON it... with threats!
Don't know which is worse, government or union. Both use threats to push you around and take money from you.
@@KutWrite They're being bought that's why. A true union wouldn't do that.
“Go ahead and shove back 50 car lengths” Jesus Christ they could have at least tried to make this more believable lol
Trout Fisherman, Hate to say this but I’ve been there & done that. That kind of move got so tedious for the time sensitive trains that kind of move took too much time so they hired a van company or another conductor position as herder, to give us rides in the yard.
@@railscenes4959 it was was the “go ahead” and “shove back” that he was referring to…. We use to make big deal out of guys that said those things together because going and head and then backing is two different directions. 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
@@sammylw7694 OK right. On our division it was almost normal to use the oxymoron to say “go ahead and back up” we made it a joke about it. Actually now that I recall once one of our coworkers made the joke about it we thought it was normal to state it that way. 🤪
I just went through grounds school with Watco and that is exactly what they don’t want us to do is to say “go ahead and shove back”
Go ahead and shove back 😏
When a job has to sell you on working there, you know its probably not a very great place to work.
I did 8 years there as a conductor takes a strong family or a single woman or man to take on the job. Very stressful always looking over you shoulder to see who’s watching you break the slightest rule to suspend you.
I didn't properly look at switchpoints because I wasn't "close enough", Level S on the BNSF and sent him for the day.
You work in NC?
@@MDM1394 After working 60-70 hours a week plus time you're on call at home and away about 8.00 hour.
@@FiremanSVFD-cf1jn I did I resigned back in 2018
@@supra865 You made eight an hour? Which company was that?
"I work nights, weekends, and holidays, but I love having a rewarding career!"
What's the reward?
Getting fired
@@misterlove6225 🤣
"What's the reward?"... working nights, weekends, and holidays
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 exactly ‼️‼️ this video is funnier than a Katt Williams comedy special 🤦🏼♂️
no nagging ass wife when you get home, eventually
I love how this guy gives the engineer 2 commands at once. GO AHEAD and BACK EM UP 50 cars. If i was the engineer Id sit there.
fng
@@georgetompkins5438 and what does fng stand for
@@georgetompkins5438 sorry bonde moment lol
@@totalobliviondemolition effing new guy. and i was one also
It’s just part of the video script
This completely skips the part where you inevitably get furloughed.
I've heard that happens with a lot of railroads for newcomers. Would like to know how they pay their bills during that time.
@@Trainfan1055Janathan another engineer told me you just have to find other temporary jobs
@@Trainfan1055Janathan you don't, you do like my brother that worked there 6 years, he quit even though he loved his job with those big locomotives! He now works on Tugboats at Moran Towing and will work on Container ships once he gets his AB Licence.
Just work for a shortline that's the only way to go.
Knowing what I know now I wouldn’t have wasted 10 years of my life with the railroad….. had I still been with them I would have been at 14 years seniority and still furloughed.
They hire you to fire you. They will break your heart, write you up to cancel that bonus they promise you.
Bitter old man 🤣
No.... It's true!
@@dce21b59 sure angry Dan.
Sounds like the Boeing Company.
Starts the video out by bragging, "regulated highly by the federal government". In today's corrupted government, this doesn't give me any comfort. CSX, your PR department definitely sucks. From a drafted disabled Republic of Vietnam combat veteran and 2 year government employee. My first meeting in DC was with a drunk democRAT senator named Talmadge '75. Eaglegards...
Well this guy is not a conductor.
-Actually has a coherent conversation when getting woke up.
-Clean vest
-Go ahead and back up
-A smile and positive attitude
-Not furloughed
Thank you for letting me know I do not want to be a freight conductor - Much appreciated CSX!!
“Go ahead and shove back 50 car lengths?” Well, which is it young feller? You want me to Go Ahead, or do you want me to go backwards? Cause if I’m going forward, I can’t possibly go backward.
🤣
😂😂😂
Haha..
I had a Cub with me about 6 months ago now..
We were flat switching, 1 engine facing south, with a old head Engineer under the throttle... So we stopped short to get a railer, then lined the switch walked to the cut. I told him to couple him up..
Done everything great, except when he said come back 5 to couple, My Engineer backed up. Needless to say he should of said come ahead because the engine was facing south, day before it was north..
😂
Oh GOOD TIMES, We got a great laugh out of it the old head Engineer loved it. Got to make the best of it. I hired out at 19 I've mad it 18 years man things have changed. I pray Every night things will get better
This guy is a Trainmaster… his vest is way too clean.
MTO
I literally laughed out loud at this comment
Ain't that the truth
Well... Look how clean the locos, cars and ballast were. Probably recorded in Jax. Our area in the B&O Sub got the dirtiest engines, probably because the Cumbarland engine shops were close by for the almost-due overhaul and paint jobs.
I did like the job, though. The Navy prepared me for the hours.
Must be the new guy
3:20 as he talks about safety there is a derailed tanker in the background 🤔🤔🤔
That's a good sign a hazmat car on its side
Good for 10!!!!!
Thats at REDI, the training center
Well it looks like the train car has been there for a while
It's not a CSX yard unless there is a recently derailed tanker sitting somewhere. I saw one derail in front of me working for a shuttle vna company on christmas eve at 7:49 PM. that was a fun night...
I'm enjoying the comments here from those who have worked in this field. This is great insight into what is obviously a grueling and demanding profession. Much respect to those who do it.
Since childhood I've had a love affair with trains, and there was a time in my early 20s when I thought I would look into getting a job in this profession. I never did, though. Now at 62, my affection for trains continues. I live near railroad tracks, and a couple times daily trains rumble by. It makes me happy. The sound of the horns is very comforting.
So I am you currently 40 years ago, four years with a degree, where all the starting jobs are 50k or less, and same, I love trains and railway transport. But seeing all these comments are truly disturbing. It sounds like hell.
Come work as a train conductor where you can get called in the middle of the night to work in the worst weather while missing family functions.
Crew Caller at 4am on Xmas day: “Yea we’re calling you for a Q…..”
I don't have family. Seems like a good job to do.
He lost me after stating that he had to miss his son's birthday. NO job is worth missing out on something that happens only ONCE a year.
@@SegaDisneyUniverse at least they're honest. Mostly.
@@SegaDisneyUniverse yea this video starts off terribly..
Safety is always number 1 until your behind schedule!
as an ex truck driver true that, the more they called me the slower i went
This is the realest job description video I’ve ever seen. No BS
Where’s the furlough part of the video?!
Or the cussing out from management over "perceived rule breaking"?
Hes not a real conductor. He said "GO AHEAD AND BACK UP"
😂😂😂😂😂
he is, he's just acting for this
I'd say something like "throw it in reverse and go notch 8 20 car lengths "
Oh, I love it when someone says, "Go ahead and back up!"
Engineer Claw: "I need you to pick a direction, do you want me to 'Go ahead' or 'Back up?' I may be good but I can't do both!"
Alright, you need to turn left right here
@@jt7250 Aww you would say that... My wife does that to me all the time. "Turn left right here," and then I jerk the steering wheel left, right, stop.
Bruh your profile pic lmao! I hope you didnt do that but at the same time please tell me that pic is in a big ass frame on your garage wall lmao!
@@em2attic it was 20 cars from the head and picked a bad joint in a curve. My engineer spotted it and we got to go home early. Definitely a good day.
@@SD40Fan_Jason hell yea lol! Glad you guys were ok and it wasnt your leader that picked that bad joint, but outside of that an early quit is an early quit lol!
The video is honest in that no one with his seniority will be going to work in the daylight. But for anyone with a high school education and no interest in going to college, working on the railroad can be a job with very good pay and benefits; as long as you can tolerate the variable hours and drug and alcohol rules.
Not just that the harassment from the college brat burger flipper recruit train masters and road formen that don’t know how a train operates or how to operate one themselves all they know is book rules safety rules and how to have investigations on hard working engineers and conductors that do a great job without incidents
...and the micro-managing and restating of rules to affix blame on the "low man."
My impression was, it's more like the Army than any other service.
@@KutWrite yep Csx did have that military theme just look at how the road forman and train masters looked boxed haircuts beige pants lite blue button up shirts shades and the white company suburban blazer trucks lolol funny
Yea nothing like a drone constantly watching you.
All this job makes people wanna do is drink 🤣
Yeah buddy lets wake up at 2 AM and miss my kids birthday LOL.
At least CSX is honest man, this is the most honest media I have ever seen. Props for that
4:16 that is the cleanest and most shiny consist I’ve ever seen. Wow.
it think it's CG
Agreed. Computer generated. Never see that many CSX owned cars much less those that are graffiti free.
Ikr
@@brianhickey5949 Filmed with Train Sim World 2 lmfao
That's marketing
My neighbor is an engineer and he's counting the days until he can run away from the circus
Family over any job any day of the week, the audacity you even have for producing this is mind-blowing.
He forgot to tell you how the managers hide in the weeds hoping to catch you breaking 1of the thousands of rules.
That's the honest to God truth.
Seriously??!! I'm taking this literal. Im thinking about applying to Norfolk southern.
@@rushmore120 does management really sneak and hide?? I'm getting turned off
@@atiashaunbaker3792 They have cameras everywhere now, but in the old days they would sneak around. At least at the U.P.
Not sure how bad CSX is with their weed weasels but NS was notorious for it. They're not even managers, they're more like cops hiding on the interstate looking to write as much tickets as they could. As much as you need to keep your head on a swivel for your own safety was as much as you needed to keep an eye out for those assholes trying to fire you constantly.
He said, “go ahead and shove it back”. I’ve never even been employed by a railroad and know that’s not how you tell the engineer to make a train movement.
You are absolutely right! I worked here and exactly as you said the Engineer would talk stupid with you if you said that! " WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT LAST ONE AGAIN?' " WHICH WAY ARE WE GOING?" LMAO
I work in IT but worked for a railroad company years ago. It takes 5 years to be vested into the railroad retirement which meant that there was a lot of backstabbing to fire you until then. Once I was let go (right before vesting into the retirement) I had to use unemployment through the railroad retirement which was half of what the state would have paid.
This feels like one of them retail store/fast food new hire welcome videos
Worked as a conductor for Union Pacific. It was a blessing being laid off, after being on call 247 for 3 years I felt free actually going to work with a set schedule I didn't care what shift it was I came home to my bed or could have a beer on my off time. At least the military you get sleep besides hell week, the railroad is hell week 247 never knowing when to sleep or stay awake having to answer a phone.
At 6:38, you have to love the CSX video with the NS car as the one they choose to film
Ikr
LMAO...I didn't pay attention to that the first time around
This is me when I went to apply for a truck driver position with Schwan's. It looks good with the bells and whistles, but there's a ton of cons that are hiding and it can stress you out big time
I worked for CSXT for five years in Car Management. I was really good at my job and it included long hours at work. I resigned my position at CSXT after coming to work on a Monday morning and watching the company fire eight hundred managers and railroad employees in one day. The process was so cruel because the individuals that were being fired were escorted to their desk by local law enforcement and once their ID badges were taken the employees were then escorted to the buildings exit doors. This event was kept secret by executive managers so it caught everyone off guard. Imagine coming to work and being immediately fired with no future income to pay your bills so that is what happen to alot of people. I was fortunate that I was not one of those employees that were fired but after observing what happen that day I lost all trust in CSXT and three months later I resign my position and immediately was hired by the Federal Government. That was the best decision I ever made. Tens years after I left the company CSXT had a second major firing that was identical to the first firing. I thank the Lord for opening up a better employment opportunity for me.
Man I hope a conducter doesn't miss their mother's funeral because of the job they just got called onto.
It’s funny how CSX is “so desperate” for employees but won’t give those that don’t have prior RR experience the chance to even have an interview. When I was still working retail back in August 2021 I applied to CSX as a conductor trainee in Chicago. I applied to two other RR’s and got into one of them before CSX replied about 6 weeks later saying they wouldn’t give me an interview since I had no railroad experience. I’m thankful for the railroad I work for since they have me the chance an interviewed me. My advice for CSX, even if someone doesn’t have any prior railroad experience, please just give them the chance before you judge the book by it’s cover and turn them down
Category should be Comedy. If anyone is seriously considering hiring out on any Class 1 Railroad. Don't do it. Run away
I’m 11 and I want to be a driver. This helped me a lot. Thanks csx😊
11 years as a Conductor. Close to engine school. Road/Pool jobs suck, the extra boards suck. We tell the new hires (yes, they actually hired in my terminal (cause they furloughed a LOT last couple years, no one came back) that they fucked up, some have left already. Only good PSR has done for my terminal is the flat switching, which caused local management to put on a yard extra list. 11 years and a yard extra list is the best job I can hold. Most of us enjoy our actual job, it's everything else that comes along with it, especially after PSR came into effect. Don't forget the onboard cameras, PTC, and Energy Management (sodomizer). No fun left in running trains. Can't test your skills with the air brakes anymore. Can't do anything really. PTC is nothing but a nanny designed to get you fired, an excuse to cut jobs. Just wait till the Class 1s get there way with crew consist. Never mind the expired contracts that they won't negotiate, or make absolutely absurd offers on (yes, the unions are a part of the problem here too).
You've told nothing but the truth!!! OS RR
Part of this reminds me of my life at the airlines. I flew the worst trips when I got hired, missed every holiday for the first 6 years, away from home 4-6 days a week. One day I’m flying early morning flights and the next day I’m flying all-nighters.
So I should stick to flying for fun
What did u do after airliens
I use to want to work for the railroad but after talking to an employee he was very unhappy. So I have had more fun driving and owning 18 wheelers and owning my own company. Now I own a small fleet with 15 trucks and take off when I want to and take 5 vacations are year at least a week long.
That’s awesome! I’m planning on getting my CDL before the end of the year🙏🏾
@@tinicoleofficial Do it, I'm a driver myself, great career overall.
Bummer you don't have any vids, sounds like quality content to be made.
@@JustCalMeBozeman I definitely agree!
@@tinicoleofficial congratulations and I wish you well onto your new endeavor!
One of the biggest peeves I have had during my 21 years on the job is the safety violations quota. Apparently if a division or sub is operating safely, meaning no Human factor incidents, no reports of damage or injuries, then it can't possibly be that the division is being safe! It just means that division managers, trainmasters, road foremen, superintendents and all other titles are not doing a good enough effort of catching the HFIs and they need to be more vigilant about their duties. This era of overemphasis on safety has created an atmosphere of paranoia and frustration within the workplace which has traditionally been enforced by a "brother's keeper" rule. A brother's keeper not only meant that one looked out for the other and shared in the responsibilities of safety, but also they weighed the consequences of their actions heavily against themselves and their fellow crewmates. Today crews look out for number one and are terrified of taking on a new employee because they will be forced to share the risk and the consequences for them.
Additionally when a company justifies the need to punish their employees for something as simple as not wearing all their PPE during a heavy downpour for a period ofless than 60 seconds, with a 2-month unpaid suspension, it sends a message to the rest of the employees that they are expected to be perfect or they will be severely punished.
Their (supervisors) job performance is based on personal injuries, and nothing else
He did forget to mention that ten hours off means ten hours off. You get home at nine o click in the morning means you're going to work at seven o clock that night. It's brutal at times.
All facts❗ Most people outside of the railroad think because you get off at 9 am Saturday morning that you're off for the entire Saturday❗ NEGATIVE ❗❗❗Like you stated,at 19:00 hours you better have your bags packed,lunch packed and showered because you're going right back to work for another 12 hours❗
At the end of the video he said he was gone 48 hours. So it's 2am,he'll be rested at 12pm for call at 2 pm. Where will your quality time start? When you wake up at 11am and not know what day it is. Years ago you would work like crazy,7 days a week before the HOS law. There were no assigned day off on the list. But if you wanted to you could mark off sick for a few days and mark back up no questions asked.
Seems like railroad management could do a better job and making work schedules more solid. If you have enough conductors to fill 24/7 shift why not have them schedule to work set hours instead of being on call. I know nothing about the railroad business but it seems like a little better time management could make that happen.
This guy is a actor!!!!! I’m a railroad worker in the mechanical department. None of my coworkers would ever volunteer to make a laughable video like this!
They would if the price was right. But you're right in that this was probably a paid actor.
I hired out on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1967 (now the CSX ) and retired as an Engineer in 2010 and I would have to say I saw the best time to work on the railroad. Nobody bothered me. Just give me the train and leave me alone. I could not work on that railroad with all the crap this guy says you have to do we had less injuries then they have today.They pay you good but they want your life too.!Think about it !
This was a great video. I got hired and start training May 22nd, 2023.
Thanks CSX for the opportunity
How’s it going you still work there.
CSX and other railroad companies how about providing a better life for these men and women and give them more personal days off and better incentives.I bet all the high brass celebrate their events.Major respect for all those who work the rails everywhere.
Applied. Got the interview did some research & came across this video & respectfully turned down the job
My jaw was on the floor when it panned to the man's son's birthday stuff and he smiled through explaining he'd miss it.
😂😂😂
And the fact that this is a CSX video. I don't even know if that was supposed to be joke or what but I'm just blown away
I’m a truck driver. A lot of this is relatable on a different plane. But shit. The reason you can go to Target or Walmart and just “pick up something” is because of people like this dude and people like me who actually pull their truck up and deliver it.
Logistics is insane.
Amazing video. I live in New york and I'm getting ready to take the test for Port Authority Train Conductor. I'm coming from the security field and I know this is talking about freight Conductor but just the thought of switching fields to railroad career, is pretty exciting.
Watching the video then reading the comments reminds me of those old Xtra Normal videos from 10 years ago. "So you want to be a railroad conductor."
My old man ran Locomotives starting with L&N, then Seaboard System and retired with CSXT after 36 years. He worked the extra board into my mid teens, gone all the time.
I Would like to see a Day in the Life: CSX locomotive engineer video.
Quitting my job as a Union Pacific conductor was the best decision I've ever made in my life!
After working for CSX for 30 years I can state that you will miss many family birthdays, and don't miss a call either. You will receive discipline extracted from a rule book governing every conceivable movement that you make while on duty. Don't be surprised if some of your paycheck is withheld pending further research by the carrier, and that happens constantly, and by the way if you somehow perform magic and complete what would normally be 2 days pf work then you better be ready to do it all over again tomorrow or else. If I had a son working for CSX, and a son in jail I would remove the one from CSX property first. Also, they treat their non-contract employees (supervisors) worse
Thinking it might be cool to give railroading a try yet I come upon so many comments like, "if I had one son at CSX and one son in jail I would try to free my CSX son first." Omg..
Back in 2018 I worked for a company contracted through Union Pacific. Was there for about 6 months as a trailer mechanic. An alright job, left because I was working third shift though. I hate third. But, if you're working in a shop or an intermodal facility, you should have some type of life. Theoretically.
I like how his clock on his side table says 1:59 but his phone says 4:27 and is called for "0400". Big brains at CSX.
Ive met many CSX engineers and conductors they are not this jolly there drunk 24/7 and pretty pissed off usually ...but they love hobos!
And Atlanta ? Didn't csx pull up the tracks in Atlanta?
Railroad people are really unpleasant. Even people on the periphery like railroad museum guides and railfans. Maybe it's the crap they have to put up with, or they're just so miserable to begin with that they have immunity to the hardships.
"Tommorow is my sons birthday, and I'm gonna miss it because Ive got to work"... lol! Is this spoof video or what?! 🤣
Once he said go ahead and shove back i said yup hes mgmt. thats an engineer biggest pet peeve 😂😂
PSR killed any chances of me wanting to work for any Class 1 railroad in America. All about profits over safety for train crews when you look at the impact of it.
You had me at "I get to work with trains"
LOL i love how the first thing is. "I'm going to miss my sons birthday. ohh well."
🤣
I just applied for the Connellsville, PA location. I have 3 years experience at BNSF railway. I kinda miss the work i used to do. I hope i get it.
Did 12 years on shortline/industrial jobs as engineer. Life was good. When the last one ended and shut down with the closing of our major customer, a friend told me I should go to CSX or NS. "No thanks!" Tried truck driving for the next 7 years which turned into a real horror show. Doing my own thing now and don't think I missed out on the class 1's. And I've known A LOT of former B&O guys who have nothing good to say about CSX.
why was trucking a horror show?
@@hectorfernandez6748 too many reasons to count, I imagine.
Not just CSX... all of them!
@@hectorfernandez6748 It’s just as bad as some of these guys’ times on the rail. You’re overworked, underpaid, tied to a truck (may as well be literally with the amount of time you get to spend with your family). They claim you’re your own boss and the corporate/admin side is “hands off”, but call a dispatcher and tell them you’re not feeling well and the load may have to be late cause it’s affecting your driving and that’s when the excuses as to why you should keep going come in.
That, and some dispatchers are known to try and coax drivers into breaking the law, mostly by driving longer than what is legally allowed. I bet you if they suffered the same consequences as the drivers they told to break the law, they wouldn’t do it.
I remember I was stopped for my mandatory 10-hour break and had a dispatcher message me on the hardwired tablet in my rig asking why I’m stopped. I silenced my tablet and ignored every message from that specific person after they asked me how it’d be illegal for me to continue driving. If I’m being honest with you, they may as well replace the name your parents gave you with the truck # printed on the rig they assign you, because that’s how you’re treated.
@@WhopperJrNoCheese if you know they will never do it. you should do the same and never let anyone pressure you into it i'm very new to this field and i've learned from my previous career if you let them get away with it they will never stop.
Got it. If i ever want to totally start over and never speak to anyone I know again this is the job I’m getting 😂😂😂😂
Sheesh! I had to decide between becoming a train engineer or a pilot before college…. After reading the comments, I’m Glad I chose flying planes 😭😭😭😭
“Go ahead and shove back” got me cause as a conductor saying that will get you nicknames.
I wanted to apply once. But when I heard about the 80lb coupler, I need 3 years in the gym first.
I love when cargo train brands upload., and of course Amtrak I guess.
I was a BNSF engineer 15 years. This is hilarious
I’m on year 6. And I busted out laughing watching this video.
@C Cain and what was the reason? I'm just a regular man who like trains
You were furloughed because of PSR,Bro? U almost had your 20 and could've gotten a medical disability
More like bullshit 16 year conductor
@@nikkitrucking He gave two commands, "go ahead" and "shove back" are two different things.
Imagine that phone call with your agent,
Agent "I got a great gig for you, this could really jump start your acting career bud"
I work for CSX, ignore the part where he said shove back 50 cars. The most you can start a movement is 20 cars and keep repeating it until you get to a lower number then 20. Good luck to you guys and stay safe.
Sounds like CSX is hell on earth.
We can't say anything bad about you guys you're the greatest hardworking crew I've ever seen. When I talk to the workers about the gates acting wonky they listen patiently & are very polite & respectful. YOU GUYS GREAT! If you ever see us we live in Marietta Ga blow the horn I carry a pink & blue backpack. Gypsy & Taz
Which is it? Go ahead or shove back?