Well took all my promotion tests and got all the paperwork done, so im going to make a few more trips as a conductor trainee then im ready to be marked up and get out there on my own. Pretty nervous about that but i think it'll be alright. Anyways just thought id let everyone know since i was pretty excited/nervous about that.

 

Congratulations!

 

Maybe you ought to consider watching this before you go in...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822849/

It's sad, but it's a true fact of a conductor's life.

 

Rock on man! Congrats! Any idea where you'll be running?

What do you know about railroading?

Yes, collisions happen, it can be bad, but there is nothing a conductor can do to prevent it. A loaded train can take well over a mile to stop in an emergency situation.

- NCSU

 

manual, accidents happen. i've heard more stories than i care to hear already. Its a part of railroading and im ok with that. Actually if you wanna go by stats working for the NS is safer than working at walmart... chew on that one lol...

Thanks NCSU!! I'll be running from Henneppin Illinois to Elkhart Indiana and some runs around up in Chicago. If your line of work ever brings you up this way let me know man.

I'm excited. Workin on gettin in a few more runs and then its go time. Make that money lol.

 

Hey buddy I forgot to ask you what you do? I know ME and all but I think I remember seeing one of your pics you said was your new office. Looked like it was at a train yard or something.


..

 

Hey congrats, directing music is harder then it looks

 

The safest railroad around!

Excellent! I just googled that run, looks like a nice little jump, won't keep you too far from home. I've never been to Chicago, but I've got a few friends who moved out there and are loving it!

We've been doing some work with NS, mostly track and crossing work here in NC and also VA. We might break into KY with a quiet zone project, we'll just have to see how that goes.

If you ever hear of any issues that a good engineering firm could help with, gimme a hollar!

I work for in the rail department of an engineering consulting firm. We do everything from track designs, crossing designs (at-grade or grade separated), yard designs, station designs, crossing inventory inspections, quiet zones, etc. Pretty much anything relating to rail.

Last year I worked at the NC DOT's Maintenance Facility, where they did general maintenance and light repairs on the 3 State owned locomotives (they ran two F59 PHI's and one GP-40, what are you guys running scottbigred?) and all the State owned rail cars (about a dozen cars or so). I was down there for about 7 months as their ME on-site.

Now that I'm back in the regular office I'm also continuing my role as an Underwater Inspection Supervisor where I lead teams to perform inspections of waterfront structures. Piers, wharves, bulkheads etc. Right now alot of that work is inspecting the mooring facilities at oil refineries on the West Coast.

F59


GP-40

- NCSU

 

Dude that's awesome!!! Hope I land something that sweet. I take it you enjoy what you do.

 

I know some... I used to do a lot of model train collecting and building when I was younger. I've talked to many real life conductors... it's a very interesting life.


I know... for example, a fully loaded semi will take a long time to stop just on brakes alone... now add a couple more tons... it will take a longggg time.

 

Congrats on getting marked up. I worked for NS in the Lake Division in Detroit for about 3yrs. Have fun working the extra board. Good money to be made but the extra board sucks!
Nothing to be nervous about because you wouldn't be marked up if you didn't know what you were doing. And also "most" engineers aren't going to let you screw up right after you get marked up either.
Its a fun job but it does get old after awhile. I got tired of working holidays, weekends, and every other time all my friends were off.

You going to work the road or the yard?
Good luck and enjoy railroading!

 

I always thought that would be a fun job. Are you gonna be conducting passenger trains or freight?

 

congrats..i am jealous.. i always imagined being one in a scenic route in the north..

 

NS (Norfolk Southern) is a freight railroad.

That'd be one huge yard!

A couple more tons? Do you have any idea what even a single locomotive weighs?

Yeah man, I dig it. Some parts are pretty boring, but most engineering jobs are. Other parts are awesome! I love going out into the field and doing Dive work and now we're starting to get more field work on the rail side too. I'm going to spend the next 2 weeks doing surveys at about 120 at-grade crossings in NC. Best part is right now, field work = overtime

- NCSU

PS: Don't mean to steal your thunder or anything, just figured I could provide a few answers.

 

Yeah I've heard field work is where it's at. I'm hoping to land a job at the place I'm co-oping for several years after I graduate. I've been looking into Taylormade and Trek but both positions require several years of experience before being considered. Nice deal on the overtime...now you can save up for that lift.