Railroad
 

Conductor. Most railroads send you to engineer school after a year. Then you wait to upgrade. Typically that same year or within three. You work a lot harder and outside in all condition getting the trains ready when you're not on a trip. Pay is much better than working your way up in the pilot industry. Most trips are out and back the next day, if not the same day. Still have the on call and have to live within 90 minutes of the rail yard. Run one red light though and you're pretty much out of the industry for good. That's why they love guys who are familiar with safety, federal regs, and company policy. Plus all the benefits while you're working for them. You're set almost as good as congress once you retire too.

Railroad
 

I have applied many, many times. No luck.

I have always loved the railroads and wish I had made the choice when I graduated from High School. I interviewed with Union Pacific right after 9/11 but the company felt I would be better suited in Management so I kept flying and finished my degree. I did apply a couple of times afterwards but primarily in management positions. I am from the West Coast so that part of the country is heavy with railroads because of all the ports on the West Coast. I have a couple of cousins at UP in which I will tell you to apply for any position you are qualified for in order to get your foot in the door. I would say continue to pursue those businesses because those companies are the best ran companies outside of the tech companies. Stock at UP was 149.00 a share last I checked. Good Luck!

Orientation with Amtrak for engineer on May 13th in DC. Will keep you all posted. Also doing a phone interview with Wiggins later today for C208 run from EWR to BOS. My heart is leaning more towards Amtrak.

Congrats on AMTRAK! I spent sometime working in the railroads as an engineer (locomotive design engineer) and it is VERY stable. I woulda stayed but the commercial aerospace world called me back.

I interviewed with Norfolk Southern for a conductor position last week. 150 people applied, thirteen were invited to the hiring session of which I was one of the lucky. Out of those the number who got to go onwards to the interview were seven, of which again I was among the lucky. No dice, I blew it badly; was not chosen. I emphasized familiarization with safety and regulations with my aviation experience, apparently H.R. liked that.

My dad has worked as a railroad engineer for the last 30+ years. He has worked both freight and passenger service. I know there are a lot of similarities between working for the airlines and railroads. Right now the railroads are doing well, but that hasn't always been the case. Early in my dad's career he went through several furloughs. It also took him a very long time before he was able to hold a decent schedule. I remember him being gone for long periods of time when I was young, especially when he was working freight. I actually wanted to be a railroad engineer growing up, but he talked me out of it. So instead I became an airline pilot. :eek:

I know there are some positives to it. He'll be able to collect a full pension when he turns 60. The pay is pretty good and he has some of the best health insurance I've ever seen. But just like in the airlines a railroad career isn't as stable as some people make it sound. Some guys may be lucky and have a perfect career, while others may go through lay-offs, mergers, etc. Just wanted to share what I've seen.

This is an interesting thread for me. My grandfather was going to be a railroad engineer, but when Pearl Harbor happened he went into the Army and he was sent to flight school, had no interest in aviation. The man ended up retiring from Continental Airlines in '79, but sometimes he wished he could've stuck it out with the RR business. I apologize for the weird reply, but it seems aviation and railroading are very similar.

Always been an interest of mine. I hear they fulrough and have senority systems similar to the airlines...due to being union I think. That was news to me.

Having done ample research into what railroad HR departments like to see in their conductor trainees, all that I can say to help anyone interested is to emphasize concentration on safety and compliance with rules, and if you happen to have a military background, you will have covered all of their preferences. It's a very competitive process. I've applied to seven openings and have gotten a "thanks, no thanks" reply for a few of them, been invited to one hiring session, but still no word from the rest.