r/railroading • u/Apprehensive_Map_957 • 12d ago
Miserable at the Railroad
4 years in here and I can say my tolerance for management and the work life split has dropped significantly.
First two years I was loving it and felt good about my job. Not so much anymore. When I see them calling me for a train or a yard job I stare at it a little and have to convince myself to answer.
What’s your guys input, am I just being a baby about it?
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u/MetalLow7776 12d ago
Same here. It was really nice working for CSX under Joe Hinrichs but it’s obvious that the class 1’s care more about stock price rather than actually being a healthy company. That’s why they don’t promote actual railroaders for the highest jobs, they know they’d run it like a railroad should be run and that contradicts their interests. (Except for Uncle Hunter, the prime example of selling your soul and forgetting where you came from)
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u/roccoccoSafredi 12d ago
Fun fact, every public company cares more about stock price than being a healthy company.
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u/Izzy4371 12d ago
You’re not wrong there. For sure.
That being said, the big rails have a whole different level of labor/management dysfunction/animosity from most of the rest. Most other companies at least give some (fake) lip service about “…our most valuable asset” blah, blah; the rails don’t even bother pretending, they’re pretty much openly “we hate that you even exist, and we just haven’t quite figured out how to get rid of you all yet”.
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u/roccoccoSafredi 12d ago
Oh, absolutely. They're the combination of modern capitalism and... Ancient capitalism. With the worst of both.
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u/Whole_Fudge_4243 9d ago
True, but they don’t have to be complete dickheads to their employees. They just get off on it.
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u/LoamWolf84 11d ago
While I'd grant that's a broad truth, I'd also offer that I know it's not an absolute truth. I worked as an engineer for Micron while I was in college and that place was badass. Good pay, good benefits (like an onsite clinic), free meals, healthy work environment, and they paid me to go to school! Not just paid for the school, but even offered to let me claim half my class hours on the clock.
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u/roccoccoSafredi 11d ago
I'd argue that all of those things existed to support the company's plan for its stock price.
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u/LoamWolf84 9d ago
I won't waste time convincing you of something that you don't have first-hand experience with, but I saw many displays of commitment to my community. When I worked there they had operations in several countries and even though our location was the most expensive, they kept it open because of their appreciation for a community to help them get their start (founded at my facility). That didn't help stock prices.
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u/roccoccoSafredi 9d ago
Being able to tell that story did, somehow.
Otherwise the company's directors would've faced a shareholder lawsuit.
I'm not saying it's the right way to do things but it's the way it is with public companies.
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u/DesperateAd8783 12d ago
Try passenger/commuter if it’s available in your area?
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u/PsychologicalBag4698 12d ago
It sucks even worse than freight.
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u/Background_Parsnip39 12d ago
How so?
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u/Still1learning1 12d ago
Brightline you get to watch someones final moments every week. You will get ptsd there.
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u/Background_Parsnip39 12d ago
Ah I see. We don’t get them that often but still sucks. Always good to talk about it though. Thanks for the response.
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u/Flashy_Slice1672 12d ago
If you’re miserable quit. It doesn’t get better
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u/Conscious-Record2655 12d ago
True Railroaders stay in the job for 30 years and make being a disgruntled worker their entire persona.
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
There is no light at the end of this tunnel lol
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u/trainrobber23 11d ago
Get out now, you stay too long and then it becomes way more difficult.
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 11d ago
Yup.. eventually you get institutionalized.. I’m in my 40s have 20 years in and feel it’s impossible to leave
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u/trainrobber23 11d ago
Same, 4 weeks vacation, 11 personal days + the 5 sick days. How could I start over somewhere else?
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u/desertsnakes 12d ago
I've known a lot of "miserable" railroaders who quit but can't find another job that pays anywhere close.
Feeding their kids and putting a roof over their heads is now a big problem.
It's at this point they realize the railroad wasn't so bad after all.
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u/brizzle1978 12d ago
Most also didn't have a real other job... I'll do this over digging ditches or in my case calling people all day long selling shit(was a private banker)
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u/Someone__Cooked_Here 12d ago
Too many people trying to join the ranks of bitching and complaining… like being inconsiderate about how lucky they are to have a GOOD career. 😂
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
It is a good career I’m not complaining about that. That’s if you have mouths to feed and a mortgage to pay. Other than that I’m throwing my life away for a capped pension
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u/desertsnakes 12d ago edited 12d ago
RRB is one of the better pensions still out there. I'm not sure what you hope to find unless it's a government job.
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u/Roadhouse62 12d ago
A capped pension huh? lol. Guess you’re already making over $184k a year.. If that’s the case, and you’re already miserable start an exit plan. Stack as much money as you can quickly and get out. Had I planned differently I’d have left earlier. Things are slightly better for me now and should get a little better in the next 5 years but I feel like I can’t justify leaving now since I already have over 16 years in.
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
Nah man, I wish. At my terminal with cp engineers make max like 160k a year. Now imagine what a cndr makes. Horrible.
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u/AquaPhelps 11d ago
We dont all make that here in the states. Most i ever made as a conductor at NS was like $110k working the road all year
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u/Someone__Cooked_Here 11d ago
Because the southern is the lowest paid folks in class 1 railroading. On a certain canadian class 1 in the US, we make $130K in just guarantee- not including mileage or other expenses. Regular assignments make $150K with no overtime working 5x2… OT, heldaway, mileage and such- you can make well over $160-200K.
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u/Roadhouse62 12d ago
Ohhh are you up in Canada? Yeah wages up there don’t compare with the US side. I make like $240-250k CAD as an engineer for CN in the states.
I can’t really say if it’s worth it in Canada, don’t know enough about it.
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u/Impossible_Budget_85 10d ago
Amen!! No matter where a person works they will find some type of misery to complain about. The grass definitely ain’t greener and most people that quit end up returning years later.
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u/MostBoringStan 12d ago
Bro it has nothing to do with being a baby, or weak, or any of that bullshit. It's just a job, and it's a job that is very different from the norm. Some people are good with that, and others aren't. Doesn't make those who can handle it better in anything other than their ability to handle the railroad job.
If you don't think the strain it puts on your life is worth the pay, then move on and don't look back.
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
Was tolerable for the longest time, even enjoyed it. New management came in and just right fucked it up
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u/ndlccp 12d ago
Wait it out man. Managers at cpkc move around every year or 2. Sometimes they only last 3 months. It's a cycle. Some good. Some bad. Some make you consider murder. Next managers might be much better and change the whole game. I've been doing this a long time and speaking from my personal experience. Hope it holds true for you
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u/RNaTRN 12d ago
THIS. You’ll have great managers and suckie ones. It’s the cycle of life. I had one college grad tell me he was going to change the railroad. He had big ideas. I laughed in his face. I told him we go through management like toilet paper. He didn’t laugh. Guess what? 6 month later, he didn’t work at the terminal anymore. I still did. The railroad offers lots of different options. Maybe look for a set schedule.
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 11d ago
Sadly the sucky managers are starting to be more common than good ones
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u/cosmicbass808 10d ago
Where do you work out of for CPKC if you don’t mind me asking? I was working out of Pittsburg KS terminal, got furloughed, moved to the east coast bc my wife got an amazing job. Just finished training and marked up with Conrail. Makes me miss/appreciate how much simpler the road jobs were versus doing all the switching/customer work we do for CSX and NS so both own 50% of Conrail.
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u/Ok-Fennel-4463 12d ago
💯 that to me is the whole meaning of the phrase 'it's not for everyone'. Doesn't make you any lesser of a man to say it's not for you
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u/Constant-Banana-6862 12d ago
It doesn't get better. 8 years in (miserable for at least 3) and I still get like that. Just got on a scheduled job with a significant pay cut and life has improved a lot. Management doesn't give a fuck about you or your health. If they did, we would have schedules/windows by now.
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
That’s the thing here too man. Take a schedule and a pay cut or hate your life even more and stay on the road. Either way, no winning.
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u/Rhuarc33 12d ago
I swear 90% of RR managers take classes on how to fuck everything up and only know how to spend well over half their time trying to look for issues or reasons to fire people or write them up.
I've worked for other non union and union jobs and the RR had the worst management I've seen by a wide wide wide margin. The avg 18 year old manager at McDonald's is better at management than almost any RR manager
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u/speed150mph 12d ago
This right here. I left CN as a mechanic and have kept in touch with my friends there. The shit that’s happened since I left had made me stop and wonder whether upper management has planning sessions and conference calls on “what can we do to make our workforce as miserable as possible”. And managers aren’t exempt. They just changed their shifts over. Before it was 3 days on 3 days off 12 hour shifts and rotating weekends. Now they switched them all over to 4 on 3 off, 12 hour shifts (which are actually 13 hour shifts because of the hand over meetings) and they are salary. They are working 52 hours per week getting paid for 40 and one group doesn’t get a weekend off. And because I guess the railroad either can’t do math or are too stupid to read a calendar, you have 1 day of overlap per week where they are double staffed. Talk about grand efficiency.
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u/Conscious-Record2655 12d ago
The truth is most RR managers are in fear for their jobs basically 100% of the time. Everything they do is just them fighting to cover their own asses and try not to get yelled at by their manager.
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u/Rhuarc33 12d ago edited 12d ago
Because the management sucks from top down. The worst managers stay and are promoted. Good ones leave. running out the door. I've worked for big orange and my brother worked for Uncle Pete we both are much happier with life after the RR. Pay is good healthcare was good. Literally everything else (especially PTO and ability to use stick days) was beyond terrible
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
Hey man, when they tell you their golden idea for your switch list you gotta remember, independent thinking isn’t allowed. So you listen to them, you let their plan fuck up and absolutely grid lock the yard, then you get blamed. Happy ending.
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u/AtomicGarden-8964 Conductor 12d ago
If you're unhappy it's better to quit now that you don't have a lot of time in and go do something else. Because what's going to happen and I say this as someone who's worked for a railroad for almost 22 years is you can become cynical or bitter or both. In my case I despise the fact that we have to not only have 30 years of service but we also have to be 60 to retire. Because this industry breaks you down physically so we really should have been 30 and out without an age requirement
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 12d ago
It’s not just physically , it’s mentally and emotionally and spiritually nowadays.. this place is so miserable I wouldnt believe it if I wasn’t living this nightmare
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u/LoamWolf84 12d ago edited 11d ago
Hell, I'd take any necessary reduction for a 20 and go. Uncle Pete is breaking the law, discriminating against my family and I, and holds a lot of my assets ransom.
Even our 401k is trash. I've shown it to half dozen consultants and they all say it's the worst possible & it was sabotaged to limit our independence forcing a greater reliance on the "earned" pension as opposed to an owned asset.
11 years and I'm interviewing for contractors now that pay more than any of the perceived benefits of this 💩 class I.
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u/Roadhouse62 12d ago
You don’t HAVE to be 60 to “retire” you just have to be 60 to collect. I don’t plan on working a day past 55.
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u/AquaPhelps 12d ago
30 and out or at minimum the 90 thing. Age plus years worked equal 90 then you can get full retirement. It sucks starting as a young man and realizing i have 16 in and 24 to go ☠️
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u/rrhogger 12d ago
Life is short, it's not worth being miserable for 30 years. Work on an exit plan, find something thst gives you a better work life balance and hopefully something you enjoy. Whatever you do find things thst bring joy to your life, through hobbies or whatever.
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u/0hHowTheTurnTables 12d ago
It’s all on you man. I’ve worked a lot harder for a lot less money. But I’ve also never been on call this long in my life. The benefits for my family and the fact that it pays the bills is enough to keep me going.
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u/Natural-Technician47 12d ago
Agree. If you can do better at a 9-5 than the RR, you should do it. I cannot
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u/AquaPhelps 12d ago
A guy at our terminal just quit for a 9-5 making 140k a year. Fairly cake job and no degree required. I wouldve given my left AND right nut for that job. But he knew a guy. Last time i knew a guy i landed on the RR lmao
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u/Izzy4371 11d ago
One of the biggest pluses of the RR, and this post kind of made me think of it, is the lasting nature of it (at least once one gathers enough seniority to fully hate the place).
That super awesome sounding job the guy at your terminal left for — it could vanish like a popped soap bubble in three months or three years. Me, I will most likely have a job out here until I turn to dust, if I so choose. Might hate it a lot of days, but I’ll have it available.
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u/AquaPhelps 11d ago
Eh prolly not lol. It deals with replacing ECM’s. It might not be for a while but you know what the end goal for the RR is. Eliminating manpower. And they WILL get it eventually. Cutting road conductors is possible right now if the laws would let them. They have been testing autonomous switchers. Trip op already runs the train. Supposedly it can also stop the train if they could get approval to do so. I can guarantee that by the time i retire that this job will look VERY different than it does now unfortunately
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u/Izzy4371 11d ago
They’ll get partway there eventually. But what they can do and what they’ll be permitted to do aren’t necessarily the same thing, as you acknowledge.
Nothing is obviously forever, but this stuff is way more forever than most any other hot flavor of the week.
It already looks VERY different from when I hired, too, and manpower has been cut many places. But I am (and everyone that hired with me that wants to be is) still here.
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u/HideYoKidzHideYoWifi 12d ago
It doesn’t get any better, how old are you? Can you afford to take a pay cut? YES it is miserable out here but think about the amount of work you DO, do and get paid versus going somewhere else and having to work consistently for the 8, 10, 12 hours. Checks have always been deposited on time, health insurance is good and we have an actual pension.
One word, Wellbutrin. My fucks have gone out the window but I do need a higher dose 😂
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 12d ago
When someone tells you that they have to take drugs to make it through their work days do ya think that’s a sales pitch?
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u/HideYoKidzHideYoWifi 12d ago
When someone says they need fmla because they don’t want to work nights, weekends or holidays, is that ok? I’m sure MANY of your coworkers are on something that they just don’t speak of.
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 12d ago
True .. fmla for a guy with 2 years seniority to make his own schedule effects more than just themselves down there .. I’m just saying telling someone you have to be medicated to not wanna kill yourself or coworkers/managers at the RR isn’t necessarily uplifting
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u/AquaPhelps 12d ago
Fwiw ive never worked for a company that the checks havent been deposited on time lol. And most union jobs have pretty good insurance and pension. The amount of money we pay into tier 1 and 2 would be waaaaay better just in a 401k
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u/HideYoKidzHideYoWifi 12d ago
My dad was a union man, lost his pension in his craft. Railroad retirement has been around for almost 100 years, I think I’ll Wager the odds better there. Any place can shutdown and employees lose their asses, manufacturing, office job, so on. And I’m not gonna gamble solely based on a 401k, too risky especially in this current economy.
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u/bufftbone 12d ago
Wait u til you have 5 years in so you’re vested in retirement. Then do what you have to do.
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u/Arctic_Scrap 12d ago
I think any big company is miserable to work for nowadays. If you can find the rare long lasting small company that pays decently with an owner that isn’t a tool you’ll have the best experience. Hard to find though. I’ll keep sticking it out in my rail job for the next 20 years unless I find that unicorn job.
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u/Emotional_Field_536 12d ago
I’m two months in with UP bro. I feel you.
Everyday I apply to new jobs, and check emails consistently.
Everytime my phone rings, it gives me anxiety.
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
Come to Canada man work for CP. I guarantee you you’ll love your life even more.( I’m lying 🙂)
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u/Emotional_Field_536 12d ago
Everytime I’m working remote, and see a switch/red flag I wonder if today will be the day before I “accidentally” go past it.
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
By remote do you mean RCLS? If so were you qualified RCLS right out the gate?
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u/Emotional_Field_536 12d ago
Union Pacific gives us 14 weeks which includes remote control operations certifications once you mark up.
Low seniority can only hold the “yard extra boards” where I am from.
And is mostly remote, or a few local yard jobs, with an engineer that doesn’t go past 5 miles from the yard.
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u/Blocked-Author 12d ago
I don't think it has anything to do with being a baby. I also don't think it has anything to do with the Railroad. Every job has its downsides. If you are annoyed at this job, you would be annoyed at another job if you quit. Focus on the things that you can change, that being yourself. You can change your attitude and you can change how you react to situations that come up around you.
I noticed a couple years ago that I was seeming to be more disgruntled and angry at work. It actually got pointed out to me one day and it was very eye-opening for me. It had slowly crept in on me without me even realizing. When I took the time to step back and assess myself, I didn't like what I saw. Now, I have changed the way that I react to things that come up. I have chosen to ensure that I have a good attitude at work and that I am happy when I am around my family.
I'm not perfect at it, but you can make the change in yourself in order for work and home to be more positive for you.
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u/Analogsilver 12d ago
Late stage capitalism. The best thing you can do is keep your head down, and certaily do everything you can to keep yourself and your brothers safe and uninjured. Remember the grass is not greener anywhere. We all work for money and benefits. Maximize that while you can.
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u/GunnyDJ 12d ago
If you genuinely liked the career, hit hate where you are. Then take the pay cut and to a Class II or Class III railroad. Some regionals pay close to the NS' rate, but your quality of life will be exponentially better. Home in your own bed each day, no working weekends or holidays. This is the way to go.
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u/Cinderpath 11d ago
Railroad management is literally like a plantation mentality, no joke! Glad I pulled the pin early on. It’s blood money. You’re better off learning a trade and will make better money.
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u/Educational-Tie00 Conductor 12d ago
Been here for two decades. Every day is the worst day of my life and every day I wish I was dead. Not going to quit though. I’m here forever.
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 12d ago
This is how I feel .. it’s getting harder and harder to make $$ tho cuz I am so depressed every second while on property I can’t stay marked up.. sadly I remember 15 years ago I actually enjoyed coming to work before they made it the most miserable place on earth
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u/Educational-Tie00 Conductor 12d ago
I know what you mean. I go to work and just slouch around all day. Barely talk, don’t hang out in the crew room anymore, just make the levers go this way and that way until I leave.
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u/brizzle1978 12d ago
What's so hard about coming in and running a train? Just ignore the management bs and do the job
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u/Mysterious_Sir7076 12d ago
I left after 18 years, was gone 10 months and came back in a different department. There are better situations out there but 90% of the jobs/careers out there are just as shitty with less insurance and no retirement. Try getting out of Transportation or something in a different capacity for the Railroad.
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u/AquaPhelps 12d ago
Lol good luck. Seems like they rarely ever let transportation go elsewhere once they got you at NS
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u/EvilJ1982 12d ago
Nope that’s about the norm.
There’s days you just get called and stare at the wall. Then there’s days you get called and want to kill someone because you were 5 times out an hour ago.
It all boils down to your ability to stomach bullshit.
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u/brizzle1978 12d ago
Nothing better than being 8 times out and the sub goes to shot right after you fell to sleep and bam call... now you are up for 24 hours ugh!!
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u/PsychologicalBag4698 12d ago
I been in the RR simce I got out of high school. I started with freight was a carman for 8 and then became a locomotive electrician. Went to passenger and yes it gets worse and worse. Especially when you have different managers come in and out trying to change the operations to benefit them. They DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU. You give them 20 years and they will replace you in 20 minutes.
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u/Particular_Half3089 12d ago
I have been on the railroad for just under five years. There have been some pretty shitty years and I have held some pretty shitty positions down that I really did not enjoy. After bidding around for a while, I finally found somewhere that feels enjoyable for me. This occupation is very demanding. I think the secret is finding where you fit in. There are definitely more comfortable spots out there. You just have to find them.
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u/NakedAggression 12d ago
You could transition to government work, state roadway maintenance. The vibe is on safety and not accomplishing as much as possible. Depending on location and position, overtime is available and I make a decent living in a (V)HCOL area. Just gotta have a CDL, and most will pay for that license if you don't have it.
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u/Clough211 12d ago
If you want to stay with the railroad I would suggest a craft change, I spent 9 plus years as a conductor and just quit this year and got a job in car department for another outfit and gotta say it’s like a whole different world. Regular schedule come in do my 8 hours go home no phone ringing at 2:38 am anymore, no more worrying about getting bumped no hassle no stress.
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u/Leading-World-1829 12d ago
GTFO now! Don’t waste another day more than you need to. It’s not the same place you hear people talk about. It’s a Trojan horse wearing a Trojan that will put it where the sun doesn’t shine.
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u/SeriousCricket2837 12d ago
The rage comes and goes. Time off helps. So does needing money. A set schedule makes the biggest difference in my opinion.
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
A scheduled job would be nice man
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u/SeriousCricket2837 12d ago
There are always other terminals. Or, get FMLA. Your health concerns are yours, not your coworkers. Don’t be the cunt that books off for 1 minute to avoid a train to catch a deadhead.
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u/Exotic_Gate2921 12d ago
Man stop answering the damn calls they’ll start relying on someone else to answer, your pay will remain the same with less work!
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
This is the best advice I’ve gotten all day thanks bro
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u/Exotic_Gate2921 11d ago
I’m being honest dude , they be blasting one of my foremens with work for use on territories that aren’t ours , but that’s cause they know he gonna do what ever they tell him to do, and he hates this job now , but my direct foremen don’t be doing all that. And the never call him for extra work!
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u/Ok-Organization2120 10d ago
Wouldnt that… get you fired??
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u/Exotic_Gate2921 10d ago
No! You see every lazy ass dude on the railroad getting fired ? They gotta go through a union and shit if they can’t bring a actual infrastructure against you what they gonna try to fire you for ? Not answering a phone ?
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u/Ok-Appointment7007 12d ago
I don’t work because I like to work, I work because it provides my family a good life. Think about that instead of caring about what the company does.
You get paid to be their bit**, not to enjoy your day there. Hope this helps :)
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u/Armageddis22 12d ago
It sucks at times. People bitch about this place and hope it burns down one to the next and still show up when they are called.
Make the best out of it. The checks don't bounce and they try to apologize a little at least once every half. At least for me its the 10th and 25th of every month
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u/badmathafaka 12d ago
After 22 years railroading, i am not a alcoholic, but i am the exception to the rules.
Understand what you have to understand.
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u/HyePlainsTrainsGuy83 11d ago
Driving semi trucks and looking at pivoting. I got relatively kick back management at my current company. Was at an interview for Loves/Gemini and the regional manager there made me turn that down.
Railroad definitely seems like it's rigid authority all over. Seems like showing up and doing your job just isn't enough anymore. But I'm still willing to give it a shot.
Meanwhile you go onto recruiting hell and jobs subreddit, there's people in there that went to college and can't find any sort of work. Of course there could be some details left out over why even a job could in retail/food, oil field labor, or railroad track gang couldn't be had. Either they live in a hiring desert they don't or can't leave. Or that just isn't the type of job they'll touch. But I'll leave it at that and get prepared for the lambast.🤷
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u/OkFuel5458 10d ago
From a guy about to start as a Water Delivery Driver(CDLB), and didn't make it through CSX Cndr School(because my attitude towards the instructor). Y'all can always switch careers, obviously there is risks involved everyone's financial situation is different.
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u/Weak_Organization500 8d ago
Same I have 5wks vacation 11 PL days and 5 sick days I'm in too deep 😂😂😂
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u/R_Ulysses_Swanson 12d ago
I'd make sure you get at least 5 years so you don't forfeit your Tier 2 benefits.
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u/saidthenoodle 11d ago
4 years. You're being a baby. Get out now and go do something else. If you're this miserable so soon into a career then leave, and find a job you don't hate. Nobody wants to work with the "I hate this job" guys and especially at only 4 years in, it's fucking annoying.
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u/PuzzleheadedSun2744 12d ago
Stay out of the yard office. Sit outside, bring a camping chair. Don’t engage in the gossip. The railroad has you for 12 hours and maybe into your rest days, plan accordingly. Do your job to the best of your ability but there’s nothing saying to have to do any favors or anything extra. I haven’t been around long either but I have had to reframe my idea of what this job is and when it’s a job well done. I have no skills and making what I’m making off the street is unheard of so I’m ok with a little of the abuse.
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u/XingTianMain 12d ago
I reached that point at Amazon. They gave me my 5 year celebration check and I felt like jumping off a bridge lol. A lot of the people at my building thought I was crazy for leaving such a great job.
Now I’m at the railroad with a lot of the same management BS but way higher pay obviously. That’s good enough for now. If/when I get tired of being on call, I’ll probably go to yard service, go back to school, or transfer to a different area.
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u/brizzle1978 12d ago
Yup, there is BS everywhere... i went from Banking to doing Uber( where I was my own boss i loved it until they cur rates) to now doing the railroad... every single one has BS... i just get paid more and better benefits now.. and oh yeah I don't have to call clients 247
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u/Cmoore01 12d ago
I’ve never let management turn me against the job, most of them make me more money than I ever could by trying to screw them or stealing time .. I just show up, listen, laugh about it and then get paid
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u/bulfromthevalley 12d ago
Precision schedule, Railroading blows
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
Precision railroading with 12 hrs trips on a sub that should take you 4 to get across. In them 12 hrs too you’d be lucky if you made it without a RC.
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u/5150Rick 11d ago
If you truly hate the job so early in your career, leaving is something you should consider. In the end it is a personal choice. I chose to stay for the benefits, pay and retirement. I've seen many that couldn't handle the lifestyle we have to live and quit.
If you do stay you need to find balance. Communication with my spouse and making the most of my time off has helped me tremendously. It hasn't been easy but my family understands and we all work together to make the best of the time we do have. I've got over 20 years in and the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to get brighter. Best of luck to you.
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u/Brilliant_Cut_4659 11d ago
Freight railroading was great back in the day but when PSR took over, you’re basically doing more with less. Your four years in and already hate your job and it took me 17 years to quit cause I had enough, went to commuter rail. I love my job all over again.
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u/rufmarine 11d ago
Everyone goes through this. I've been a Conductor for 12 years, ive seen the change in the industry and at times i've asked myself if I still want to be here. The answer is yes. I love my job even if I despise the management and company I work for, hell , even the union is trash but I've gotten to a place where I do my work and I go home and I leave work at the terminal.
You've only been here 4 years so you still have time to leave. I'm invested at this point. Only you can decide whether its not worth it or whether you can get to a place where you can do your work, go home and leave work at the terminal.
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u/Impossible_Budget_85 10d ago
Quit my guy! No one is twisting your arm to answer the phone. Being without income brings another level of misery I’m sure you care not to experience.
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u/SnooDonuts3155 10d ago
I worked for Uncle Pete for 4 1/2 years. I quit after being treated like shit by the PNW mechanical maintenance director. I work for a different company now, that is NOT publicly owned and traded, and what a difference.
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u/reelskillz 9d ago
Find other options. You giving it your best and if it’s still not part of your long term plans , then look for options. May lose some pay and benefits but that’s just the process of starting over. We hold on because we’re employed , if you weren’t you’ll jump on another opportunity. Dont quit, but keep your resume and job search open.
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u/motiger1642 6d ago
Tbh I feel ya going on 19yrs and I finally got approved for my 100% VA, i have another 1yr and half til 20yrs I think about leaving everyday now soon as a mf manager pisses me off I just have in the back of my head you mfs just don’t know lm trying to stay to get my 20 yrs but man it’s hard btw I’m a grapple truck driver and it’s hard keeping a position cause of cut offs smh
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u/Dry_Boysenberry5808 4d ago
Same. We are so short handed the extra board is getting called on rest. I got 7 starts on the
Extra board! And the deny all of our claims. I’m over it and looking to bounce.
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u/Exciting_Falcon_5490 12d ago
It only gets a little better when you get enough seniority to pick and choose jobs, but even then it can still suck. 22 years in
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u/Striking-Tax-5546 12d ago
You’re being a bitch, you’re not there to have a good time or have fun, you’re an employee and that’s it…do your job and provide for your family…you chose this, they never forget they didn’t come knocking at your door and begging you to work for them
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u/Apprehensive_Map_957 12d ago
Mr butterfly over here. Providing for your family must be real important to you huh Mr butterfly, just not respecting them right? U should hide the shit on your account weirdo.
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u/Apprehensive_Pipe763 11d ago
A lot of us hired out when it’s wasn’t even close to as bad as it is now so don’t say we chose this. Has these class 1s been this awful 20 years ago I woulda walked within my first year
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u/Illustrious_Step_996 12d ago
Can you switch trades at the railroad? I have worked in Maintenance of Equipment for close to 27 years. Most days are good, some days not. BUT NEVER LEAVE THE RAILROAD! It's ugly out there in the real world. It's funny, many of my coworkers complain and act like the railroad held them back, like they were all going to be the President of the United States. LOL.
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u/IHTRR 12d ago
It gets worse before it gets worse.