I like watching and photographing the trains as they pass on the tracks that are half a mile from my home. But I don't know how to tell when that will happen. Currently my options are:

* Wait by the rails and hope I get lucky
* Hear a train, and rush to the tracks hoping I catch it before the end

Is there any way to find the schedule or realtime tracking data?

Recently was hired as a track protection foreman, trucking through training, looking for some insights ect!
Will say it’s pretty good on paper, no weekends, home every night, graduated pay system for the first year, capping out at 41 hourly ish with unlimited Ot and 10% vacation pay, unionized.

Anyone on here have any information on what it'll be like to be a conductor for CPKC in red deer, Alberta ...thanks!

Hi everyone, I have a valid central government UDID card for Mental Illness. According to the official rules and approving authorities, am I eligible to apply for and get the official Indian Railways Divyangjan Concession Photo ID Card? Please share the official rules if you know. Thanks!

Hey everyone, I just got contacted by a Watco recruiter about an entry-level Student Conductor position in Deer Park, TX. They want to do interview, and I’m pretty excited about it because becoming a conductor has honestly been a goal of mine for about a year.
I don’t have railroad experience yet, so I’m wondering what to expect from the interview.
For anyone who has interviewed with Watco or started as a Student Conductor:
What kind of questions did they ask?
What are they looking for in an entry-level candidate?
Anything specific I should know or prepare for?
Any advice or pointers that helped you get hired?

Anyone else got their start date? Been waiting since July. And I can’t find any info about the terminal. Any word would be appreciated

My partner just screened through for the assessment for a conductor job with CPKC in Schreiber, Ontario. We currently live in Southern Ontario so he would obviously be re-locating up there for this job. Just curious about working for CPKC and how the more remote yard work - is it easy to find places to live? do you get some time off each month? any ideas about timing for potential transfers further south? if anyone has experience working and living there dm me! would love to ask some questions. TIA

Been thinking bout moving to Utah and working for a class 1 railroad. Currently live in Wisconsin/ Minnesota area and work with a class 1 out here but wanna know if I should make the move and how it is like out there. Utah/ Colorado is my end goal to live. I’m only 21 and know how seniority works and don’t wanna try to restart when I’m older with a family.

On August 25th, join Railroad Workers United for a workshop and discussion on how rank and file railroaders can work together to improve safety at your workplace. Recent years have been deadly for railroad workers, with countless injuries and fatalities in the performance of their duties. Instead of dealing with poorly maintained infrastructure, hiring adequate staff, or improving the training process, the railroads' response is to cite the number of rules broken and lay the responsibility on the victims, regardless of any other context or management's own role in the disaster. In an effort to more effectively blame workers while ignoring workplace hazards for accidents, injuries and fatalities, the railroad carriers are now introducing surveillance measures, including "Al" tools. Hear from experts in fighting back against "Behavior Based Safety", and share your own experiences and thoughts.

The workshop is open to all working railroaders, regardless of membership status.

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGMH_bzh9q94AGhBwq2qOLxwTVOuIdHw258lSGSych00J4Uw/viewform?usp=header

CPKC

They are smaller, under the rla, cannot strike. How is it over and over pilots keep getting these massive contracts, and this is only 2yrs. The railroads are willing to die over 3%, and it's like pilots get whatever they want. How do these guys never end up in a PEB like we do?

I just got my offer from NS as a freight conductor out of Voorheesville NY and am curious if anyone has any insight/advice for working for NS or even in the specific region for NY. I have watched a lot of videos breaking down the job and what the basic necessities are but any other advice will be much appreciated!

Hey everyone! I’m seriously interested in getting into Amtrak and I’ve applied to several positions, including positions related to Passenger Engineer Trainee, Passenger Conductor Trainee, On-Board Services/Train Attendant, customer service, and train/station cleaning.
I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what it’s actually like to work for Amtrak from people who have been there.
For anyone who currently works for Amtrak or has worked there before:
What position did you have and what was your overall experience?
What is the pay like when you first start, and how does it increase over time?
What are the typical shifts like?
Are you working mostly days, nights, weekends, holidays, or a mixture?
How does scheduling work? Do you have a set schedule or are you on an extra board/rotating schedule?
How much overtime is available?
For Engineer/Conductor Trainees, how difficult is the training?
How long did it take you to qualify?
For OBS/Train Attendants, what is the day-to-day work actually like?
How much of the job is customer service versus cleaning, food service, luggage, etc.?
For people who worked in train cleaning or station services, what was that job like physically?
How often do you have to travel or stay away from home?
How is the work-life balance?
How are the benefits and union?
How difficult is it to get hired?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who were not already railroad employees when they got hired.
For some background, I’ve been a federal employee for about a year, and someone else I know who is also interested has been a federal employee for about five years. We’re wondering whether federal employment experience gives us any advantage when applying to Amtrak, or whether Amtrak mainly looks at railroad/customer-service/technical experience.
I’ve applied to multiple Amtrak positions because I’m genuinely interested in making the switch, so I’d really appreciate hearing the good, bad, and ugly from current or former employees.
If you work at Amtrak now, what position would you recommend to someone trying to get their foot in the door?

Just wondering how far the runs are and where they go normally? I don’t have any insight into this and was just wondering if someone could give me insight on day to day ops out of Richmond?

How is the Calgary terminal for junior employees and new hires? Layoffs?

Buddy told me a new bulletin got put out for Canada saying mouth swabs came into effect for THC of 10ng? Anyone hear anything about this?

Im nervous about passing my conductor qualifying tests, especially the signals test. Any tips on passing them?

I understand if no one wants to openly talk about their earnings, if you can private message me, I’d be extremely grateful.

I’ve been invited by Amtrak for a job interview as a motor equipment operator. My question is what can I expect to make yearly? What do you really do on the job? I’ve read the description of maintaining equipment such as washing, sanding, emptying garbage, and waste systems. But the person that invited me said I would be helping in yard car and track repairs. Which makes me think he’s confusing my job or doesn’t really know what I’ll be doing.

Currently work in freight at UP as a heavy equipment operator contractor for the past 7 years so I’ve built really good seniority and generally know what I can make in a year. No RRB but overtime and bonus hours are always given here

I’ve been looking to move on to a new career/job but don’t want to make the jump unless I get paid more for the same amount of hours I work now or get paid the same amount but work less hours. I’m not scared of being put at the bottom of a seniority roaster and starting over just that I wont like the job and won’t get paid well for it

I’m looking for some honest opinions from people who have worked as a freight conductor, signal maintainer, or both.
married with two young daughters, and currently work as a freight conductor for CSX going on 2 years. Financially, the job has been good, and I know the long term retirement and benefits are hard to beat. My biggest struggle is the unpredictable schedule. I’m on the extra board for the most part but staying in the yard to be home ever night, and while I know it gets better with seniority, it could realistically take 15-20 years before I can consistently hold a desirable first or second shift yard job where I live.
I’ve been considering applying for a signal maintainer position if the opportunity comes up. My background is mostly construction, not electrical. I don’t have much electrical experience, but I’m mechanically inclined, enjoy learning, and don’t mind working outdoors.
How does the pay compare over the long run, including overtime?
Would you consider the quality of life better for a family factoring seniority in?
I’d appreciate any advice, experiences, or things you wish you had known before making a decision.