Where and how does one learn to be a Train conducter?

Question

And is the Train conducters life similer to a long road trucker's???Gone for days and even weeks at a time?

Answer 1

It is mostly "on the job" training, althought there are some railroad academies that offer a short cut.
You would hire on in the operating department, most likely starting out as a switchman (person?) working in a yard or perhaps on local runs and handling train cars in and out of industries and making up trains.
Depending on manpower requirements, you will be offered a promostion to conductor, usually within 3 to 5 years, perhpas much shorter.
This is where tranining to conductor begins in earnest, you will be required to learn train placement procedures, safety rules, radio communication basics, operating rules, haz-mat handling rules.
On almost all railroads the jobs of engine service (engineers) and train service (conductors) have been merged into one career track so you will be offered a promotion to engineer eventually also.
the job is similar to long haul turcker but to be honest it is much better.
We have several people that used to be long haul truckers, they usually stay railroading, very few ever go back.
You can expect to be gone from 24 to 36 hours at a time, very seldom longer and then home again.
Also there are jobs that work in yards and local runs that never leave home, you are off duty in your own terminal at the end of each shift.
In addition, these local and yard jobs have assigned start times and work about 40 hours a week, on the railroad we call this part time work.
Expect to be on call 24/7, you will miss weekends, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, etc.
Hard on a family life, it is a good living but a poor life at tiems.
However, if you enjoy being outside, being trusted to do your job without constant supervision, and having a different scene every day and not being stuck in an office or cubicle it is a darn good job.
I have been doing it since 1972 and wouldnt change for anything excpet retirement, or maybe my own fishing show!!
Good luck

Answer 2

Railroad conductors make a living on railroad trains. Typically, the train to which a conductor is assigned is on a set route and the conductor will work only that route.

One learns the trade by getting hired by a railroad company and following the advancement track to conductor.

Answer 3

i was hired 2 years ago as conductor for norfolk and i went to a hiring session then got hired then went for 10 days in ga or trainin and 4 weeks on job trainin then back 2 ga 4 10 days and then on job for 3 months and became certfied as conductor look around

Answer 4

Get on the Internet and go to different railroad websites and they can tell you how to get hired. I'll give you some right off the top of my head:

www.bnsf.com-Burlington Northern Santa Fe's site
www.nscorp.com-Norfolk Southern's site
www.uprr.com-Union Pacific's site

Answer 5

you can get paid training at the Metro North, NJ Transit any of the rr will pay you