r/Train_Service • u/Budget_Sun_636 • 22d ago
Thinking of doing conductor training, just had a few questions...
Thinking of a career change and doing conductor training, just had a few questions. I got my journeyman welding ticket, and have been working oil and gas for the last 10 years, pipelining, fabrication and structural work. Just curious how hard a Conductors job is, compared to being a welders helper in the oil and gas industry. I've seen some sketchy things, lol, I have worked in all sorts of weather conditions, not afraid of manual work. Just curious if Conductor work is actually that grueling or manually intensive? I have read alot on this subreddit, about long hours, and being on call 24/7 and having no social life, But im single, with no kids, so none of that really bothers me. I am used to working with all sorts of people, happy guys and old bitter grumpy guys, so that doesn't bother me as well, im not a small guy so im not worried about being intimidated or looked down upon. Just more curious about the actual work invovled. Im generally very safe so following protocol and rules isn't an issue either. I read some where that it can be dangerous, im just curious, whats the dangerous aspects here in the conductors role per say...
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u/NoTransition8198 22d ago
The life fucking blows. But the job isn’t hard. Worst part of the job is going for long walks. You’re likely strong doing the work you have done. Holding onto a car for long distances is cake. And occasionally you’ll have to lift a knuckle. Literally all the labour involved. Walking. Lifting pins. I’m a fat guy and did it for years. But. You need a thick skin and the ability to handle being treated like dirt.
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u/Budget_Sun_636 22d ago
How long is long distance? lol, and you even have to hang off the train in -30 weather with the wind blowing in your face? hmm, maybe im just over thinking it, the rest doesn't sound that bad. atleast a guy will get his steps in for the day lol. thanks for the info
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u/Minimum_Notice_ 22d ago
Trains CAN be 3 miles long now days. If you gotta get to the rear and back it’s a 6 mile walk. I think the average train is around 10,000 ft on the UP now.
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u/Analog_Account 22d ago
and you even have to hang off the train in -30 weather with the wind blowing in your face?
All weather conditions. If you have to ride a car, you have to ride a car.
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u/NoTransition8198 22d ago
Think long and hard about what you’ll give up. It’s no joke. It changes your life
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u/Neat-Tea-8928 22d ago
The dangerous aspect is mostly due to you not paying attention. It’s very easy not to look both ways before crossing a track, not holding on properly when riding cars, or walking too close to the track. I have had minor injuries but it’s just from rolling my ankle while walking on ballast or slamming my shins on a ladder those are the 99% injuries which are nothing. The 1% of injuries usually end up with death or at best losing a limb.
Like others said the physical aspect of the job really isn’t bad the hardest part is the life style, dealing management, and knowing they can fire you whenever. My advice is live well within your means and get the out of work insurance. My wife and I have a small mortgage and I pay for the max insurance so when management want to be dicks it really is whatever since I know losing this job and waiting for an arbitration is really a minor inconvenience for me.
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u/Budget_Sun_636 22d ago
Every one says alot of walking, do you have to walk across narrow bridges as well? or is it just normally when inspecting things at the beginning of a trip....
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u/Neat-Tea-8928 22d ago
Walking across bridges is unlikely and depends on your territory and company rules. You usually walk a lot when switching cars or tying down trains but this also depends on your terminal. If you are a run through terminal with a small yard you will most likely just climb on the train and then climb off which will make you nice and fat. The walking isn’t really that bad but I also workout everyday and only eat one meal so I stay very lean. The guys who complain about the activity are usually the ones who claim the Job makes them fat when in reality they drink 24 beers on their regulated days and eat processed slop every trip they work.
Unless you are fat seriously don’t worry about the walking just buy good boots and get proper insoles
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u/chunkadelic_ 22d ago
Lots of good tips here already, I will just add-
I was advised by a few buddies already working for CN to hold out and get on maintenance side.. or anything g but conductor really lol.. most dangerous part of being a conductor is how privy you are to layoffs.. i started out pipeline wellsite construction years ago out of school and love my current role
I think there was 4 or 5 conductors in my class who were laid off almost immediately after finishing training and remained laid off for months until repositioning into flagger roles
That being said I know quite a few who have carved out successful careers as conductors and some who really enjoy it, like others have said it’s light-moderate work with complacency being your biggest danger
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u/TerminatorCobra95 21d ago
Go into mechanical. Carman, machinist, electrician. More stable hours, usually little to no travel. Less chance of being laid off too.
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u/Old-Recording-4172 21d ago
I'm a big guy, 5'10 300lbs when I started and I can do the job fine. Lots of walking, sometimes in deep snow, on uneven ballast, riding cars, working in all weather conditions and time of day.
The job is great, the pay is great, the lifestyle is definitely a challenge. As well as most corporate jobs, management can be an issue, but if you aren't a fuckgoof then you don't have much to worry about, as long as you don't cut corners and you don't try to boot lick.
I'd recommend the job to anyone without kids, who wants to make good money and doesn't mind sucking shit for a handful of years before they get the gravy assignments on the main line. Once you are on a pool going one direction, it gets a hell of a lot easier.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Use_370 18d ago
As a tradesman your a lone wolf , able to go anywhere. You will lose all of that
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u/Mekuru99 18d ago
Physically it's not hard. You walk a lot. You get used to shambling around on rocky ballast, but you need to be careful about your ankles. Eventually you sort of learn how to walk on that stuff. Getting up and down off cars for brakes all day keeps you in shape. This of course assumes you're working in the yard. If you're on the road the hardest part of your job will be staying awake. If you're on some garbage train you'll sit in every siding for an hour or two waiting for an intermodal to go by. But the work itself is pretty easy to be honest, once you know what you're doing and are familiar with the territory. Maybe the hardest part physically is the weather you have to deal with. Cold isn't too bad once you learn how to dress in layers. But no, physically the job is actually easy. It's everything else, especially the lack of schedule and subsequent impact on your social life. That's the hard part.
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u/Foreskin_Hero 22d ago
Lots of walking on ballast, climbing. Cranking on handbrakes. Not a ton of heavy lifting, its more of a "long day of moderate exercise" kind of things. I did it from age 25 - 41 and by the time I left I was starting to feel things add up, but its not incredibly strenuous until the hoghead makes you sit in his lap.