2007-05-15 10:53:49 · 14 answers · asked by dana s 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Rail
Yes Definitely, BNSF has great benefits & great retirement, both my grabdparents retired from the railroad & my best friend works for BNSF in AZ. & makes great money & never complains about work, I also have two friends that work at Florence prison in Az. & all they do is complain about the hours & the money & the boredom.
2007-05-15 11:01:16 · answer #1 · answered by otr_daddy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I had the opertunity I would say go for it. I worked for a Short line and interchanged with the BNSF all the time. I have went to the BNSF Conductor and Engineer school and they teach you a lot. BNSF in my opinion is a great railroad if not the best to work for. As far as should you quite you job, that is your decision. If you are single and willing to be gone a lot, then you should have not problem working for the railroad. So good luck to you either way you go. By the way you said you are working for a prison and you are with the feds, well, the railroad is federal also.
2007-05-16 02:25:20 · answer #2 · answered by railroadjj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends what kind of job or craft you're going after. I've been with CP Rail System for just a little over 12 years now and - although I've had a great love for the RR industry since I was a kid - the jobs in my field (clerical) are dwindling it seems. Plus the fact that CPRS is probably the sorriest excuse for a Class I railroad that I've ever seen. Personally, I would also look at some of the up and coming Regional railroads such as the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern and its sister company the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern.
2007-05-17 22:16:05 · answer #3 · answered by alexlarams 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say NO. I work for CSX and all the Class 1 railroads are pretty much the same. If you like being away from your family and riding on a stinky locomotive then I'd say go for it. The divorce rate for a railroader is double if not more than the national average. BNSF is trying to eliminate the Conductor's job also. They're speerheading the Positive Train Control system.
2007-05-17 02:15:41 · answer #4 · answered by Diesel 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Indeed, you receive excellent pay by working for one of the major Class I carriers, like BNSF. However, please be advised if you decide to hire on as a train crewmen/conductor, the hours are very long (12 hour days are normal) and all overtime is mandatory. It's truly a job you must love because it is honestly a lifestyle, you are away from home often as a crewmen of a Class I carrier. But again, if you do not mind this the pay, benefits, and retirement are all excellent. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
2007-05-15 19:14:15 · answer #5 · answered by Alco83 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Railroad retirements is not that good because you do not draw Soc.Sec.
If you retire from a private company and draw $1600 per mth retirement, you could also draw say $1600 mth Soc.Sec.
RR retirement you may only draw $2000 mth.
The pay is good, but depend on which department you are in, you could be on call 24 hr/ 7 day wk in all kind of weather.
If you work on the section gang and there a derailment, you could work 24 hrs or more straight till the track can run train.
It hard, dirty, and lot of rule, but it a job few people can do and everyone is family.
2007-05-15 21:23:41 · answer #6 · answered by bbj1776 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Santa Fe sucks, a thru freight conductor for the UP makes as much as an engineer for BNSF
2007-05-17 00:04:28 · answer #7 · answered by Cory Z 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, quit your job. The RR is the best place to be employed. Depending on what type of job you are interested in, it could be very rewarding. In 1955 I started at 15 years old as a Engine Crew Caller or commonly called "call boy", I worked as a Asst. Crew Dispatcher, Locomotive Fireman, Yardman, Brakeman in that order and retired at 60 years of age and never regretted working for the RR.
2007-05-15 20:53:56 · answer #8 · answered by Waalee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't work for the prison. I defiently wouldn't work for Burlington Northern Santa-Fe railroad.
Worked in track deparment for them for 24 years.
If you have a family plan on getting a divorce within
5years of service because you will always be away from home anywhere from 1wk/month or more. If you do, don't go in to track department. The railroad has more rules than the genral public will every realize.
2007-05-18 16:50:05 · answer #9 · answered by Seamsfit 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard BNSF is a good outfit to work for from talking to the guys at Klamath Falls, where we interchange with them.
However,if considering hiring out with the UP you need to realize you'll get much more respect from inmates than from that employer.
2007-05-15 19:42:17 · answer #10 · answered by Samurai Hoghead 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋