The wife and I want to relocate to Arizona (in a bad way) from Chicago. I have 32 years as an engineer and I've called the RRB and they told me I could get a job at Wal-Mart as a door greeter if I wanted and it wouldn't effect my pension. I asked about the current connection and the last 5 years and they said that has nothing to do with collecting your pension when you turn 60 (9 more yrs). My wife has a really good job set up out there and I could get a gig doing something, heck maybe even starting all over again on the UP in Phoenix, they called me for an interview for a conductor / trainman. If I didn't like it or it got to be to much I could always quit, at least I'd be where I want to be in sunny Arizona. I know it's hot there, we've been going there for a long time, during June, July andAugust. Yes it's hot, but that's what we like. Need some advice / encouragement.
Sounds like quite a major life change! As long as you are all clear on such things as your pension, looks like it will boil down to what you and your wife desire the most. While not in the same job position, my wife and I packed up, and left our long time home area just over seven years ago. We miss sights, friends, events and so forth. But keeping in touch has been easy with the 'Net, and so forth. We've also learned who our real friends were, by who keeps in contact, etc. It's been interesting here. And we've made many friends. Feel we chose well. BTW- There's certainly enough BNSF out there to keep you constantly reminded of past employment..... mg: If it's what you really want, and you know what awaits, then I wish you only the best in your new home! A new adventure begins! :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
Thirty-two years and you're only 51? You started railroading early, then. As to the current connection, it was worth 46 bucks a month when I retired. That's an extra $500 a year. As to its effect on your pension 9 years from now, a lot will depend on the rate of inflation over the next 9 years. Unless it increases dramatically, it should not make a difference since as an engineer you're no doubt entitled to the maximum pension. BUT, if there is high inflation and salaries spiral upwards, your pension will be locked into your pay rate over the last five years of railroad employment. UP is desperate for employees right now, I hear. I spent 35 years in the business myself, 17 with Class I's and 19 with short lines, all in the marketing and sales department. Been retired since the end of 1999.
Something to thing about $$$ wise... This might be a sad statement but I have seen some HR Stats that show in some fields that those that retire around 55 live to nearly 90 and those that retire around 65 pass away a few years later. So from a $$$ perspective you need to ask yourself can you live on what you have now for 40 years and have a solid hobby (Railfan, RR Modeler, etc.); as having nothing to do will eat at you like you can't believe. If you love what you are doing then why stop doing that job or getting into tranining to help those younger get into the field; maybe look for options in AZ as a consultant or something. Given these sick HR Stats don't forget to enjoy yourself along the way and don't put off today those things you have always wanted to do. :ip:lane:resent:
Yes sir, I sure did, right out of high school and to tell you the truth I'm burnt out. Yes I can hold very good jobs, but that's not the point. I wonder if there's any railroads in AZ that I could do something until I retire (a nice easy gig)
This is actually quite an intriguing topic. It will be interesting to follow how you go through this process of a dramatic life change! Boxcab E50
Retired almost 3 years ago after 44 years working for six different employers. Of those 44 years, 31 were spent "listening" to people with-out my education or experience, advise me how to do my job! I no longer look at it as retirement, but rather freedom.
Your mind and body need to remain active when you "retire", or you'll become a Drudge, not only yourself, but on your wife! Consider teaching with your town's Community Education program. Doesn't require any college degrees, just the joy of sharing what you like to do, e.g. building a model railroad, or small dioramas, or teaching English as a second language, or helping people get their GED's...you get the idea.
Hi Throttle Jock, First of all, If you pull the pin before full retirement age your pension will be reduced by a MINIMUM of 25%. Under the 60/30 revision, you wont have to take that cut, you will get your full entitlement. If you retire before you are 60 you will also have to pay big bucks for your medical insurance. You are only eligible for the carriers group rate only if you have the 60/30. I took early retirement at age 62. I was vested in RR retirement under the new law. I began railroading in my early 50's so there was nowayinhades that I was gonna be around for 30 years,even if I do live that long. I had enough paid in to Social Security to allow me to take the early retirement and still claim Railroad Retirement. I have a couple of medical problems(nothing serious) that make railroad work quite difficult and rather unsafe for me, so I got out the first day I was eligible. We(wife & I) pay a VERY high medical insurance premium which is similar to a COBRA. It will expire in January. We are both looking around for a policy to cover us until we can do Medicare. You also have to consider your outstanding debt. How much do you owe on vehicles or your house? Those bills have to be paid and you dont have the opportunity to make up a shortfall by working some OT in the next half! Also consider the cost of relocating, will you need new furniture or a better vehicle,what are the property taxes, utility rates etc? The sort of money you may earn now in the area you presently live may be sufficient for you to live the kind of lifestyle you want, but will it be enough for where you want to relocate? Example, I worked out of Galesburg IL for a short time a few years back. I was "turnin' and burnin' " and made beaucoup bucks. My wife was still in Chicago and I shared an apartment in Galesburg with 2 other guys. We all had enough money for what we needed. Property values are different in Galesburg and I could have bought a small mansion for less than $200K. A conductor told me that railroaders are considered the "upper class" in the G'burg area due to their salaries! Everybody, but everybody, I worked with had very recent model vehicles and nice houses! Consider your options well and do your "due diligence", you may find that the grass out in the great SW is not as green! Good luck and good fortune to you ! Charlie T (retired hogger- BNSF)
Might consider moving a little N. of the Valley and contact the Grand Canyon RR. Sure they could always use good help with your expertise and experience . Love the Phx. and Valley area, but look up around Williams and Flagstaff area also. Climate is somewhat closer to that of the Midwest, and the scenery is stunning up there. Make the Trek to the Valley every year for Spring training ( GO CUBBIES) and always take a day to spend in Flagstaff on the BNSF Transcon. and just love the area up there. No matter what you chose I would like to say Welcome to TB and Good Luck in your retirement. Sounds as tho you have earned it
Listen to the guys that have made this change. Do your homework, and keep it up to date right up until the day you have to go or stay! I retired when I reached 65, and it was a relief from the thing Dave was under. High School Grad Managers resent having ME's under them, so I know what he is speaking of. Consider your health. Don't waste what time you have left with your wife. We have a house full of antiques, all the cars are paid for as is the house, and I have a well equipped model shop with a layout, all paid for. Sounds great, but at 75 now, my health is declining faster than I can enjoy life. GM is to disband pensions I hear, so the next bunch that takes over our government might do away with pensions altogether. If you want to go enjoy life with your wife, do it while you are still able to. Choose wisely what you end up doing! It may be your last choice.
After 42 years with one railroad, I retired at 63. After 23 years of retirement, I recommend taking your pension as soon as you can afford to do so. I lived by the telephone too long. This freedom is great.
Well I must say thank you for ALL for the advice. I have thought about the FRA and some short line railroads that I've been in contact with and I still don't know. However I guess I could finish up my time out west on a railroad (at least I'd be out west). My wife will be getting a very good job out there that will take care of our insurance. Once we sell our house here we'll be able to buy a house out there for cash. All but one car is paid for and we just don't want to go out there when we're to old to enjoy doing the things you do out there, such as hiking and just walking through the dessert (we’ve done it plenty of times). The railroad I work for now (always) is on this kick and they're testing you every other day, the pressure / anxiety of just going to work every day has just gotten to us all. We (railroaders) think they're trying to get rid of the old heads (ones who are grand fathered in to agreements) so they can save on vacation pay and have more men at any given time. It's actually hard to get up and go to work anymore, I used to look forward to going to work, but now I hate it. Let's face it sooner or later they'll get you on a test, no matter how good you are (I've never had disciplinary action EVER taken out on me for anything in my railroad career). These managers they hire now, have tried the engineers program and have failed or they have been disqualified, they’re just jealous that we make more money then they do. Let's not forget, they're the one's who interpret the rule, no matter how black and white it is, they’re always going to be right. The union, they could care less because we're all older then they are, so actually it benefits them and of course the company gets what they want (conquer and divide). SO, why do I want to get out of here and go before my time, because it's just a matter of time before they get all of us.
It's really sad to hear of those working conditions. What's truly amazing, is they believe pushing in such a fashion, somehow increases company revenues. When the facts are that a demoralized work force is far less productive. :sad: Sounds like it is time to move on. Sure hope it all works out for you. Boxcab E50
A word of advice about working for short lines, from someone who spent over half his career working for three - most pay lousy. Not all, but most, especially the new ones. For example, Genessee & Wyoming Industries pays new hires $10. per hour, which goes up to a great big $11. after two years, for train service personnel. How would your earnings history look at 60 if you worked for that wage for 9 years? In 1996, the railroad I worked for had 100 employees. It is now leased by G&W and has 5.
Boxcab is right. Although I dont work for the railroad, it seems as though corporate America just keeps pushing and pushing. If you make it to a certain goal which you set really high just to see if you can make the response you get is "Well I see you reached your goals. Now you've done it once, why dont you make this your standard and set you goal higher again." but what they dont understand is it burns employees out and then they move on. It is so hard to find goot workers these days. I know that as a manager myself. But I am not really like a top dept. mgr I am kind of like a manager in training as you might say. Sometimes I think to myself, why do we constantly work this hard to burn ourselves out and then go home to our families groughy, tired, and cranky. It will eventually take its toll on your family life as well as I have just started to recently learn. If you are burned out then you need to do what will make you happy, even if it cost you more $$$ in the end, as long as you can afford to do so. Thats just my thought on it anyways.
Hello throttle Jockey. If you can retire without hurting you're retirement, I would say "highball"! I know they figure you're retirement pay by the last five years of you're pay rate at UP. I thought if you took a early retirement you would'nt draw you're full benefits, or other words would'nt get you're 100% retirement benefits as if you stayed there until you had you're 30 years in? I've got 28 more years so you probley know more about it than me. What did you're local chairman tell you? Keep me informed, cause I know a few folks here that's going to try and take a early retirement.
