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Interested in a career in railroad? Contrary to the stereotype of railroad work as a dying or old-fashioned field, the industry is among the most advanced in its use of computer and IT technology. Here’s what you need to know to join its ranks.
Qualifications and Training
You don't necessarily need a high-school diploma to apply for a railroad job, but you must have a criminal record free of felonies and a willingness to submit to random alcohol and drug testing.
You may apply directly to any of the Class 1 railroads, which are the biggest railroads by financial size, or to the smaller regional railroads, because they offer their own training programs. You can find links to railroad Web sites on the Association of American Railroad (AAR). You can also search for railroad courses at various colleges or enroll at the Modoc Railroad Academy, a nonprofit training center for railroad careers in Sacramento, California.
Any training program will teach you about railroad regulations and operations, signaling systems, train characteristics, transportation security and computerized technology. AAR spokesman Tom White estimates most in-house railroad programs take about six months to complete.
Career Paths
If you forgo formal training, you will typically start off working in the rail yard, with opportunities to move up into any of the various following positions, as defined by the US Department of Labor:
• Locomotive engineers operate large trains between stations. They check the mechanical condition of their locomotive and make minor adjustments on the spot. Engineers receive starting instructions from conductors and drive the locomotive using controls such as throttles and air brakes. On the open rail and in the yard, they confer with conductors and traffic control-center personnel via two-way radio or mobile telephone. They must have a thorough knowledge of the signaling systems, yards and terminals on their routes.
• Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators and hostlers drive switching or small "dinkey" engines within railroad yards, industrial plants, mines and quarries or construction projects.
• Railroad conductors coordinate the activities of freight and passenger train crews. Conductors assigned to freight trains review schedules, switching orders, waybills and shipping records to get information about their cargo.
• Yardmasters coordinate the activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations. These include making up or breaking up trains and switching inbound or outbound traffic to a specific section. Yardmasters tell engineers where to move the cars to fit the planned train configuration.
• Railroad brake, signal and switch operators operate track switches to route cars to different sections of the yard, signal engineers and set warning signals, help to couple and uncouple rolling stock, or inspect couplings, air hoses and hand brakes.
Pay and Benefits
In 2002, median hourly wages for rail transportation workers were comparatively high. Hourly wages for these positions were:
• Locomotive engineers and locomotive firers: $23.26
• Subway and streetcar operators and all other rail transportation workers: $21.48
• Yardmasters and railroad conductors: $21.39
• Railroad signal, switch and brake operators: $20.93
Compensation for railroad workers is generally based on either hours worked or miles traveled, depending on which system yields higher wages. Most railroad workers belong to unions.
Pay rates may be less on a regional railroad, but industry veterans say the quality of life may also be a little easier. You probably won't be away from home as often or work as many weekends with a smaller railroad.
Paid holidays, vacations and a general benefits package sweeten the deal. If you're married, not only are you paid a certain amount per month after retirement, but your spouse also gets another 50 percent of that amount.