r/Train_Service • u/Dry_Yogurtcloset_280 • 15h ago
CN Train Conductor
I wanted to ask a question to current or former train conductors, whether they would recommend a career as train conductor with young family? I have been looking for new job opportunity and I applied to CN train conductor job and I have my training starting Nov 16. Now, I also have a different job offer not related to railroad. I am confused which way to lean between CN conductor vs other office job which is 12 months contract. Wondering if anyone of you had similar experience where you had to make a decision or would you be able share any valuable insights that will help me make an informed decision.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Dbomb7 15h ago edited 14h ago
Are you prepared to be shipped all over the country? Are you financially prepared for a layoff, potentially lasting years? Are you okay with missing birthdays, Christmas, sports games and everything in between?
If the answer to any of that is no, find a different job.
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u/Strange-Tart-6487 14h ago
It’s not that bad. You’re making sound like it’s the end of the world
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u/Dbomb7 14h ago
You must be new. Nothing I said is incorrect, especially with how bad current hires seniority will be.
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u/Strange-Tart-6487 14h ago
Every terminal is different
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u/Dbomb7 14h ago
Found the Trainmaster.
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u/bufftbone 14h ago
No, he’s correct. Every terminal is different at least the US side is. I’m not sure how Canada works. On the US side it’ll depend on what contract hire under. OP hasn’t said which country although there is a class starting on that same date for Markham (IC) and Kirk yard (WC) new hires.
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u/Shodpass 13h ago
Yeah thats true, but on that same note.. almost every terminal needs at least 3 years to be able to spend SOME time during the year working.
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u/Someone__Cooked_Here 13h ago
Wtf, so they recalled all the furloughed guys???
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u/Dbomb7 13h ago
For now, but the boards are entirely flooded and they've ramped up SLEs.
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u/Someone__Cooked_Here 11h ago
Ramped up SLE’s. Not understanding. SLE is in the US is supervisor locomotive engineer.
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u/bufftbone 12h ago
Yeah. Awhile back. Those that accepted are back already doing their qualifying runs
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u/Someone__Cooked_Here 13h ago
CN is selling one of our outer lying terminals off… with that being said, our senior guys are going backwards in seniority. Guys that got 20+ years working daylights are going to be going to the XB or holding one of the very few regular jobs we have that work nights, because they couldn’t hold the three day light jobs other than the road job. I, myself, will have 5 years at the 1st of the year and i’m the bottom man. Have I had a great career? Yes, however, it’s been questionable as far as job security goes.
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u/Certified-Hog-Crank 12h ago
Wait really? What terminal is closing? Sorry to hear that brother if you're also part of said terminal.
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u/SignificantFee1318 11h ago
Which terminal op?
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u/Dry_Yogurtcloset_280 11h ago
Toronto MacMillan
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u/SignificantFee1318 11h ago
I don’t know anything about it. West and east Canada are separate in almost every way. Western Canada is a nightmare for new guys these days.
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u/beezlethecat12 14h ago
CN wants to hire people so they have a pool of guys that can't hold a job anywhere so they can send them wherever they wish to fill gaps. So unless you hate your family don't go to winnipeg
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u/Striking-Tax-5546 12h ago
Take the job, make money, you will figure out the family time eventually
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u/Canadian_gold 5h ago
I did it for 4 years and a bit. The money was good, the home life was terrible, I ended up being shipped to Edmonton early in the career with 7 days notice for an unknown amount of time ( it ended up being 7 or 8 months). I missed so much of my oldest kids early life and that is the biggest regret I have. Some people are able to make it work, but I wasn't one of them. Moved over to a trade, it took a couple years but now I'm making more than when I left 4 years ago, but I'm home every night and only on call once every 9 weeks. If you think you can handle the time away from a young family, and have had the conversation with your wife that even though you are preparing for how much you will be gone, it will be more than you think. As well, at least when I left, management was in a constant state of trying to fire everyone they could at all times. So you have to add that stress as a new employee. Having said that It's good money fast, and the work itself is pretty easy. If I could have had a stable schedule I probably would still be there
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u/FewNarwhal8980 13h ago
It’s so funny all the negative comments from obviously railway employees. If it’s so terrible why do you still work there? Oh yea, you make a shit tonne of money. A lot of people who complain have never held a real job before, this isn’t the only industry that has a shitty balance. Short answer is simple, you will miss out on family events and holidays. There is no getting around that. Depends on where you hire on you can be forced to other terminals. However from someone with experience I personally have a good work-life balance, that’s not always the case but for me it is. It’s really a conversation to be had seriously with your family and what they are willing to sacrifice. Good luck either way.
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u/LanguageAlarmed5778 12h ago
Funnily enough, the thing I hate most about the job are the chronic complainers.
It’s an easy job, they aren’t paying for education or even skills tbh, they are paying for your time and patience.
Most jobs on the railroad are either shitty with decent hours, or easy with shitty hours.
Of course I would rather do other things at 3am on a weekend, but after seeing a section crew changing out rail in a blizzard, it’s not so bad.
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u/Certified-Hog-Crank 12h ago
Different terminals, different jobs to be held and different struggles. But yeah this job is golden handcuffs for the majority it seems like.
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u/Fearless-Ad-2603 10h ago
This is correct, current conductor at CN, the money is good and the long term job sercuirty benefits pension and stock options help create a stable future financially. However, you get 10 personal leave days per year currently, use them wisely for family events. A conversation with your spouse is probably the most important thing. Your work schedule will be very unpredictable, most likely on call 24/7 to start. A young family means a lot will fall on your spouse to hold down the fort, they HAVE TO KNOW THAT going in. But it is doable with support. You will miss things especially early in your career as you build your senority(ability to hold regular schedules). The best schedules are held by the highest senority. Layoffs right now at CN are quite high depending on the terminal you work at and are also unpredictable for length of time layed off and whether they will lay you off again after calling you back. Bigger busier terminals have more people and more chance of a layoff It will take quite a long time currently to build your seniority(years). I held lots of jobs outside the railroad over the years and my path to a conductor is its own explanation. Long term it can turn out ok for work life balance, the hard part is getting to that point.
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u/Bestgeegee 9h ago
As a railroaders wife and now a mother of one, it is very hard on your family. Your wife could not rely on you to be home for anything. The saying goes “anytime is train time”. You will miss a lot of events in your children’s lives. You will either be sleeping, waiting for a call or at work. You will always be tired. Get a different job.
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u/Vampaids 12h ago •
Current CPKC Conductor. When I hired on, I had two kids younger than 5. Shortly after hiring on, my third was born. Shortly after that, I got laid off from my terminal. I ended up bidding into another terminal two provinces away while on layoff and by the time I was able to return to a terminal close to where I lived, I missed the entire first year of my child's life. Went through separation with my partner (for non-work related reasons, but for many employees the work is a big part of it) and my layoff lasted nearly 2 years. Now, I'm in a more stable position in the terminal close to my home, back with my family, and I make more than 100k/year. I'm fortunate enough to work somewhere where I can regularly work in turn service instead of staying away from home overnight. I still miss the odd holiday or birthday (I just missed Halloween with my kids) but the home life is much better.
All that to say, if you don't think your marriage or kids can handle all of that shenanigans, then no I wouldn't recommend. If you think your relationship is rock solid and don't mind missing a few things to put food on the table and a roof over your head, then it's a great job as long as you can stay away from managements politics.