With BNSF, the only way to apply was to file an online form. There was a place to add your resume. NS is different. They hold "recruiting sessions". Basically you show up, and they go through the steps. They start off telling you how horrible it is to work for the railroad, then you fill out an application. They go through the apps, and select the people they want to stay. Next up you go through basic math and grammar tests. Then you wait as they go through the tests and make their selections. The last step was an interview. When I went through it, I got interviewed by 2 people at the same time. The guys doing the interviewing were high up, one was the trainmaster for Chicago, and I can't remember what the other guy did. I was there for well over 9 hours once I left my interview. They had 2 concerns with me (NS). I made the mistake of saying that I had worked at a railroad museum, bad move on my part. DO not mention anything about railfanning or modeling. The 2nd, and more important issue was where I lived. Even though I said I would move, they still did not like the fact that I lived 90 mins away. I kind of developed a piss poor attitude by the end of the interview. They thought I only wanted to work for the railroad to watch trains, and it didn't matter what I said, this was their impression of me. They didn't offer me a job either. This was 8 years ago, so maybe I am not supposed to work for a railroad, but I will try again.
Keep trying if you really want to go for it...the top third of the workforce in a lot of places is coming up on retirement age and whether they like it or not...the RRs will have to replace them. At some point, the carriers have to quit nitpicking their applicants to pieces if they want to hire anyone at all. It's already getting tough to fill positions with the background checks and tests on top of the scare tactics they use. Being a railfan shouldn't be an automatic disqualification but it does raise eyebrows when they hear it. Too many trainmasters have stories of railfan/employees that spent all their time worrying about where such and such an engine came from instead of where it has to go tonight. You have to do a good sell in the interview and convince them that you can focus on safety and the work. Good Luck
I met one of my RR pals on the Internet. He had hired out w/CSX around the same time I hired w/BNSF. He stayed w/CSX for a year until they wanted to force him to Jacksonville FL, He said "no thanx" and pulled the pin. He tried to get another RR job after working in other industries for a couple of years. The UP finally offered an interview,which he declined due to his impending marriage, they called him again for an interview while he was on his honeymoon. As more time passed, I kept giving him leads until finally while I was qualifying as an engineer, my engineer/mentor gave me a phone number at the BNSF and told me to call my buddy and let him know. I called him and gave him the phone #. Within one week of making that call, he was interviewed, tested, medical examined and scheduled for training. He since has held various assignments and just finished qualifying as an engineer. It's feast or famine, and right now the feast is on!!!!!! CT
Jason: They are hiring for a class starting in Montana this December. If serious about getting on that would be a good place to start.
Montana in December? They'll really be sorry to be in that group. Especially if the class is in Havre. Both for living there, and freezing to death banging cars around. Boxcab E50
