Tim, Welcome to trainboard it is always nice meeting new members. i hope you make this site your home and enjoy it as much as I do. tell us more about what work you do now. I'm a Signal Engineer on the rail network here in Sydney Aus. look forward to reading more of your posts
hello I'm new, my signature tells a part of my story. I first dropped out of High school in 1956, and was hired as flagman on the B&O in 1957, I worked my way up to Engineer in 1960, (i was personally surprised) and many times was at the controls , leading a train over cranberry grade, and Sand Patch, too. In the summer of 1979, Chessie System released me with still being on payroll until I completed my GED, other wise I would have to scram. I completed and went back to work in 8 months. In 1982 I was transferred to run the old St.Louis line(from Cumberland) my usual route wa from Grafton,WV to Benwood juction, heading up "the Benwooder" I've been in a few accidents, for various reasons. I retired from CSX in 1993 with about 35 years of service. I just enjoy watching trains (and still ride from time to time) and am planning on trying the hobby.I unfortunately don't have many picture of mre on the job, so I don't have much to scan. -Tim
To ILCentral et al, The other poster are correct in stating that you have to get hired as a "ground" employee first.The only time railroads will hire you as an engineer is if you already have a card. The BNSF will send you through 5 weeks of training in Overland Park KS, but that is split into two sections. You take 3 weeks of classroom training, followed by 17 weeks of qualifying runs and then 2 more weeks of final exams, both written and simulator. If you work in the Chicago Terminal, you will also get another 30 days of qualifying on commuter trains. In reply to another posting, being an engineer is not all it is "cracked-up" up to be. I am really not so sure I made the right choice myself. I am not currently working as an engineer cuz I dont have enough seniority to hold a hoggers job. I guess you could say that I am in a "reserve" pool of engineers. Good luck anyway!
