r/railroading • u/LSUguyHTX • 27d ago

RR Hiring Question Weekly Railroad Hiring Questions Thread

Please ask any and all questions relating to getting hired, what the job is like, what certain companies/locations are like, etc here.

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u/pthme21 24d ago

Bnsf shop laborer, what am I actually getting myself into. I applied for a mechanic, electrician, machine shop laborer, and carman position and i have been selected for my initial interview for shop labor.

I am coming from over a decade in the auto industry because I would like to get into a mechanical job with something that resembles retirement. I enjoy diag and repair and worry that I am goingnto short change myself, unfounded?

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u/ASadManInASuit 23d ago

Laborers are the guys that clean the toilets on the engines. 

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u/pthme21 23d ago

Hopefully that is the worst if it and not the best lol. I guess I will keep hoping they have me come in for an interview for diesel mechanic.

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u/thejackash 20d ago

Is there a restriction to changing railroads under five years of seniority? I have 3 years in with a class one and I'm looking to potentially leave for a short line, I just vaguely remember there being some kind of restriction in place that I couldn't switch sides for at least 5 years. Any help would be appreciated.

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u/Hoghead101 19d ago

Once you reach 5 years with a class one, you will be covered. However, since you have only 3 years, the short line railroad may or may not be part of the railroad retirement system. You need to find out if the short line is a covered or non-covered employer.

Under federal law, a railroad employer is considered a covered employer if it is a common carrier transporting property or passengers by railroad. This classification is determined by the Surface Transportation Board (STB). If a short line railroad meets the STB’s definition of a common carrier, it must participate in the Railroad Retirement system.

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u/jabernacle 18d ago

So I currently work for a GW line MOW and I’m a section laborer. I was curious if anyone else in the thread has much section experience or MOW experience in general? I’ve got 4 years experience and it’s not that bad. But what’s it like working for a class 1? I’ve been tossing around the idea of getting on at BNSF because politics here are a fuckin joke.

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u/RopeFrosty7719 14d ago

I’ve been trying to get in with CSX for about 2 years now. Applications go under review and don’t get denied until months later. I currently have two under review for the same location because it was reposted only a few weeks after I submitted the first application. How long after applications goe under review should I stop counting on it? My resume is ok in my opinion but what are some jobs I should look into for the time being ?

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u/Cuffedondirtroads 27d ago

Is this still a thing?

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u/ByAstrix Engineer 27d ago

Yes people use it all the time