What do you modelers do for a living?

Craig Martyn Mar 16, 2002

  1. LehmanNWMS

    LehmanNWMS TrainBoard Member

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    I started working at Lowe's and going to college, graduated (4 year), worked in an office for a while, didnt make much money, to much stress and just a bad enviroment. Decided to get on with the rail road and havent looked back... not bad for the past 3 years of life.
     
  2. FlamesFan

    FlamesFan TrainBoard Member

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    just finished college in march after 3 years... yes i am glad its done... while i was there I studied landscape design and arboriculture (tree care). I am currently a lead hand with one of the largest landscape companies in our area.

    one day I would like to join the calgary police service or the rcmp but until then I will create outdoor paradises for people and work on my layout
     
  3. Thieu

    Thieu TrainBoard Member

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    I am working for the Dutch Railways. Last 7 years I have worked at the customer services department, since last week I work for the department that makes timetables and posters. I have studied for social worker, but do not want to work in that business. By coincidence I found a job at the railroad, and it pays well, the atmosphere is OK and me and my family have free travel by train throughout the country.
     
  4. BnOEngrRick

    BnOEngrRick TrainBoard Member

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    Brian K, I tried to "quote post" but there is something keeping me from doing it. Yes, I know Craig, and I like to give him fits every other day by making him give our crew a CSX required "job briefing". We are the only road crew that does this to him.
     
  5. North Bank Road

    North Bank Road TrainBoard Member

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    I show up at your door when you call 911. Paramedic for the last 10 years in Portland. Great job, but long hours sitting on street corners reading my train mags. Before that 23 years in Grocery retail management.
     
  6. Ron Carlisle

    Ron Carlisle E-Mail Bounces

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    What do you do

    Started off working for the Royal Air Force in catering. Got fed up with slave labour wages, so went and joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) instead of working for them as a civilian.
    Served for 22 years in communications, then found that when I was demobbed, that nobody needed communciation trained people as the internet had taken over. Worked in my own business for two years (stationary) but the 1990 depression hit, so I got out quickly. Decided that I would like to drive trains instead of modelling them so joined British Railways at Brighton in 1990. Started off as a Conductor, and 6 months later moved over to the front seat. Worked as a driver for British Rail, Connex (Yeuk), then escaped over to Thameslink in 1997.
    Became a trainer, then junior manager in 2004. Got cheesed off with our Train Crew Manager who had as much idea of man management as my wife has rewiring my model railroad, and went back to driving.
    Decided to take early retirement at the end of June, since Thameslink was taken over by First Capital Connect. enuf said. Looking at starting a new career, possible over the "pond" if the USCIS will let me in.
    Have been modelling US railroads, especially the Rio Grande since 1993 when we first visited the US.
    Will be exhibiting my layout Mission Street loco facility, at Chatham this year (9th/10th June)

    Will be glad to stop shift work at last. Something I have been doing for the last 41 years or so
     
  7. Robert Reimiller

    Robert Reimiller TrainBoard Member

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    Software Engineer working on earthquake recording equipment for the past 17 years.
     
  8. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rick's Lament....Nothing glamorous.

    I started out as a early type of EMT, became a mortician/funeral director and spent 15 years in that business. Decided that the Funeral Business was becoming a money crubbing buisness failing to recognize the need to serve families and take care of it's employees. No health benefits or retirement. I just got...got... to work 24/7 365 and maybe you get a suit for Christmas...to be worn at the funerals. I switched to hospital work where I spent the next 14 years...with health benefits and some retirement. Here the goal was to take care of patients however, needing to cover our expenses as well. I started out as a HK shift Supv. eventually working my way up to Admin. Asst. Director. Many criticize the medical field claiming it's a rip off but most don't understand what it takes to run a hospital, dollar wise. Neither does the gov't., most HMO's or other insurance plans, when it comes to how and what Medicare and Medicaid (Medical for CA) pays. It doesn't began to cover the cost. Currently on disibility due to health issues and not happy with the medical coverage I get. Our governator has done everything he can to cut the medical assistance we get in this state, including workmen's comp. Shaking my head in disbelief. Wondering why the people in this state fell for it?

    You asked and that's my two cents. Oh, I'm sorry I need the two cents back. I only have 37 cent stamps and I'l need it to mail in a request for a hearing. >:-(

    Recession/Inflation and I'm not sure I recognize the difference anymore. Greed run a muck!

    Enjoy and celebrate what you do have. Curse what you are being cut out of. Begrudge that your money will buy less today, then it did yesterday, going into tomorrow.

    Wish, the voice of regret. Wish... I hadn't listened to my granddad an engineer for ATSF, out of Barstow, CA., "You will not work for the railroad," he directed. Yeah, well...thanks anyway...I wish I had.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 25, 2007
  9. Brian K

    Brian K TrainBoard Member

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    That's cool. Keep giving him the needle and make him earn everything he's got coming... I know I do. But hey, isn't that what older brothers are for :eek:

    I'll see him in a few weeks when he visits us in Okinawa. Ask him to bring you a small set of shesa dogs (SP?) to keep you safe on the road. That'll blow his mind (unless he's been broadcasting it to everyone that he's going to Japan on vacation).

    Brian
     
  10. Av8rTX

    Av8rTX E-Mail Bounces

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    Currently a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. Previously an internship and worked as a mental health tech. Also in a previous life an auto service technician, carpet layer and other assorted stuff.
    I also have an AM paper route The Hearld Democrat for a little extra discretionary income
     
  11. GNFA310

    GNFA310 TrainBoard Supporter

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    U.S. Navy (Retired) - 1960/69; 1980/93 :shade:
     
  12. jim157

    jim157 TrainBoard Member

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    United States Navy Retired 1987-2007, going to school.
     
  13. UPchayne

    UPchayne TrainBoard Member

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    i work for a sign company. installing and making the signs for businesses, like the ones on the highways and the big pole signs in front of these businesses.
     
  14. cocknbull

    cocknbull TrainBoard Member

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    28 years old
    Airline Pilot
    4 years Embry Riddle University
    3 years Regional Airline
    1 year Fractional Airline
    Going to Major Airline

    I like engineering and heavy things that make alot of noise.
     
  15. riverotter1948

    riverotter1948 TrainBoard Member

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    Amazing thread! (all the more amazing to me, since I'm mostly an HO scale railroad modeler and usually don't lurk in the N scale area :teeth: ).

    My $0.02:
    23 years as a public financial analyst in city government and state university environments.
    Pulled the pin 9 years ago the moment I became eligible (and as a consequence I receive a munificent pension of approx. $0.98/month).
    Did contract IT project management for a couple of years, then got asked to teach some IT classes, which evolved into a "career" as contract IT instructor.
    I still do that part-time, but now I mostly run an Internet Marketing company (Google AdWords, etc., etc.)

    P.S. Also considering a run at a Ph.D.

    What varied backgrounds we model railroaders have!
     
  16. Sten

    Sten TrainBoard Member

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    Colonel is working at putting me out of work...........

    what do I do, I'm a signaller on the above mentioned railnetwork (Railcorp - Sydney Australia) my job is to basically set roads and clear signals and maintain a balance between the users (the trains and maintenace personel) so that they can use the same piece of track for their requirements.
     
  17. Sten

    Sten TrainBoard Member

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    Gary,

    I looked at this and thought what?? again?? then looked at the date
     
  18. EspeeEngineer

    EspeeEngineer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Currently i'm an Asst. Project Engineer working on a dam in Nevada. I still have about 3 years left of school before a graduate with my masters in civil engineering. In the past I worked for an engineering firm in Houston designing subdivions and utilities for the county. I've also started and ran an ebay store, photography, webdesign busniesses off and on over the last 6 years. I also worked for 2 years as a busboy and waiter for Texas Roadhouse in High school.
     
  19. x600

    x600 TrainBoard Member

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    I make sawdust and then take the scraps of wood that are left over, and nail them to a wall. Sometimes, I screw and glue the scraps together, then nail them to a wall. The more sawdust I make, the more I get paid.
     
  20. Cleggie

    Cleggie TrainBoard Member

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    Wow, what a thread, some interesting reading. It's neat to see what fellow TB members do for a living.

    My work is steel fabrication, we build steel structures for electicity transmission and distribution. Towers and girders for supporting switch gear and disconnectors that we also build for sub-stations up and down the country
     

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