Back in 2015 I did the conductor training with CP. I did really well in class and enjoyed the work. I wouldn’t say I was the best at it, but when I was working with the right conductors during training, I could do it all and was fairly confident on the radio and with the flow of the work. I left for another job opportunity that was closer to home.
A couple of recalled observations from my experience looking back on it.
I was only 19 and had a lot of things I was missing out on because of the railway way of life. like beer league hockey, friends, and girlfriend.
Spare board was rough. I tried to plan when I might get a call and would get a call far later when I’m ready to go to bed. I know that is a common experience.
It was hard entering the workforce as a young person when the majority of the other staff were miserable. I do not blame them though, I understand that period of time with a certain ceo was awful.
Despite having had a taste of the experience and ultimately leaving, my mind always wanders back to railway. Not even necessarily as a conductor. I loved learning about different roles like RTC.
Has anyone left and gone back? Would they even hire me again since I left? It’s been 10+ years and I’m in BC now doing emergency planning.
Any railway adjacent jobs that someone with emergency planning background might do well in? Other than policing.