I was wondering if there are any railroad workers out there?
I am currently a Nurse and was thinking about taking the Freight Conductors course up at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. It costs $10,000 for the 7 week course.
I really enjoy nursing, but the preponderance of Part-time work isnt working for me. I get lots of hours, but I really need the benefits of a full time career.
I understand that being a freight conductor requires travelling, weird hours and on call work.
Any comments on Freight Conductor to Locomotive Engineering within the companies?
Is there a job at the end of the course or do you have to spend the 10K and then HOPE there is work available...somewhere. What are the chances of the work being near Woodstock. Are you willing to relocate? Ask the college for references or find students that have already taken the course and ask about their experiences and job locating.
-- Edited by 69SS454 on Monday 15th of December 2014 07:05:42 PM
I admire your ambition, I have always been a big railway fan.
I really think I would contact both CN and CP directly to see what the situation is with employment. I am always a little leery of these colleges offering courses that lead to nothing. Like 69SS454 suggested talk to some graduates and see what the feeling is.
If on a train, they sit beside the Engineer and call out signals to each other. They walk the train if there are issues.
If doing yardwork, they hook up the cars and communicate via radio to the Engineer. Basically building the trains. I'm sure this is a huge simplification.
Still researching, there appears to be work, and relocating at 1st seems to be a requirement.
I started out wanting to work on the railroad, but life took a turn and I went to school to be a Heavy Equipment Mechanic. I then did my entire apprenticship working in a Locomotive repair facility, then wrote my Red Seal, and went to work in the mining industry.
After a few years, I decided to apply for a CNR position to be a conductor, I was hired, no credentials needed, they prefer to train their own guys.
That didn't last long at all...If you like life, don't be a conductor. If you have kids or like to spend time with familly and friends, don't do it. In two years of doing it, I missed out on pretty much everything...weddings, funerals, birthdays, Christmas, New Years, Hunting...If you have toys, muscle car, sleds, quads, might as well sell them.
It doesn't get better either, you will spend your entire career on call!
I don't know who puts this 10000$ course on, but all the big Railroaders (CNR, CPR, ONR ect...) all hire off of the street, they prefer "fresh blood" Maybe the short lines require a "course", but I don't know, I didn't need one...Seems like a money grab to me.
Needless to say I am a Heavy Equipment Mechanic once again in the mines...
My 2 cents.
-- Edited by Hywayhauler on Wednesday 17th of December 2014 04:13:44 PM
I started out wanting to work on the railroad, but life took a turn and I went to school to be a Heavy Equipment Mechanic. I then did my entire apprenticship working in a Locomotive repair facility, then wrote my Red Seal, and went to work in the mining industry.
After a few years, I decided to apply for a CNR position to be a conductor, I was hired, no credentials needed, they prefer to train their own guys.
That didn't last long at all...If you like life, don't be a conductor. If you have kids or like to spend time with familly and friends, don't do it. In two years of doing it, I missed out on pretty much everything...weddings, funerals, birthdays, Christmas, New Years, Hunting...If you have toys, muscle car, sleds, quads, might as well sell them.
It doesn't get better either, you will spend your entire career on call!
I don't know who puts this 10000$ course on, but all the big Railroaders (CNR, CPR, ONR ect...) all hire off of the street, they prefer "fresh blood" Maybe the short lines require a "course", but I don't know, I didn't need one...Seems like a money grab to me.
Needless to say I am a Heavy Equipment Mechanic once again in the mines...
My 2 cents.
-- Edited by Hywayhauler on Wednesday 17th of December 2014 04:13:44 PM
a wise man once said... " 2 cents of advice is better than no sense at all" ..........how festive ...hope I remember that tomorrow...LOL
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