A Day in the Life of a Conductor 

I worked for Santa Fe Railway for 41 years as a Throttle Jerker retired in 1986, that was one career I enjoyed. Not many of us still around that were Steam era Railroaders.

Hard work in dangerous, arctic conditions, shitty equipment, irregular schedules and 34 years until I get a weekend off? Sign me up!

Goes from an engineer, to a yard master, to a manager. Downgrading my boy

If the company has a good reputation you best take the offer. Money is nice but a good stable job where you can be happy is the most important.

It might take 10-15 years before you can hold a regularly scheduled night shift job with Tuesday and Wednesday off.

@niselat Your comments summed up the railroad lifestyle PERFECTLY. I did this for 12 yrs with chicago & northwestern and then union pacific after they took over. Crappy working hours,freeze your balls off in the winter and waiting 30 years to hold your "dream job",only to have the company pull that job off only weeks before you FINALLY have enough seniority to hold it. PERFECT.

There are lots of those, and getting called out at 3 am is a sort of normal thing for anyone on a extra board, but it is a very interesting job as no day is ever the same, in fact the life of anyone in T&E can be and is a lot of boredom & be prepared to work up to 12 hrs on any train job.

Thank you for your diligence in this company and enable them to gain a place attributed to the prosperity and development of a balanced application of justice and responsibility in the esteemed place I'm from Algeria and loved the train but the goal is not achieved, and I look to the Dama in America train

I got it easy, almost all flat except a little hill (can slow heavier trains by 15-20 mph) near my home terminal, 139 miles, and its not boring, 150+ crossings, swamp, cities, draw bridges (1 is a 3000 foot long 9 span), forest, country/farms, and a bit of everything. I'm enjoying it, pretty comfortable, but not too (IE Complacent or arrogant) much so.

@edbelfor2 I started out as grade crossing Gateman for 1 month than promoted to a Brakeman then Fireman on the old Baldwin Steamers that used Coal Oil and was OJT as a Throttle Jerker.

.....that's what I was told whenever I would talk to the RR employees. Good advice.

But I though Peter Griffin worked at the Pawtucket Brewery?

I don't care much for working outdoors or anything of that matter, but I do like driving trains

chad might know my brother he works at CP out of Nelson, BC. He is a qualified locomotive engineer and also started out in Cranbrook, BC. He now works as a conductor on the trail, BC Hotshot and Tadanac switcher on the kootenay Valley Railway

So amazing

I am a bigger passenger fan than freight, and my dream is to be an engineer for Amtrak, but you got to start somewhere! And this is a good look!

I start new hire train crew training next week with UP!!!

i love become a train conductor.my favorite job is it

Cześć! To jest F.R.E.D. (flashing rear-end device) czyli end-of-train device (ETD). Bardzo przydatne urządzenie. Nie wiem, dlaczego nie jest stosowane ani w Rosji, ani w Polsce. ETD jest podłączony do przewodu głównego i transmituje dane o ciśnieniu przez radio do głowicy w lokomotywie. Uproszczona próba hamulców nie jest potrzebna. Ponadto nowoczesne ETD są wykorzystywane w przypadku nagłego hamowania, aby uczynić go bardziej jednolita na całej długości pociągu

This made me smile :)

@masterchiefgtx thanks for the help.

@fordlukebo Train crew- Conductors, Engineers, Brakemen, Switchmen, RCL Operators, Hostelers... Have to be 18 to apply.

I'm sure CP won't be such a good place to work anymore with E. Hunter Harrison at the helm of CEO since 2012. He hacked CN to bits with an axe when he was their CEO, so he will do the same thing here. Expect more hours and only 12 days off a year.

Treat everyone with respect and dignity...sure wish CN would do the same.

@trainsforever8 just apply. i do not know 100% but CN and CP most likely supply train crews to Agence métropolitaine de transport. so it will take some time be for your on the commuters. if you would like to still do the college thing there are schools in canada that have a Railway conductor class. but that cost money. lf you apply and get on start to the railway you get payed to do the say as you paying some school.

Son Unos Maquinistas Entregados Y Entusiastas En En Trabajo

This guy left out a lot of things, like going to rules & air brake classes, physical exam every 2 yrs, having to to learn the territory and be exam-ed by a rfe or other official, and also being away from home for up to 3 days at a times, learning every rule in the rule book and there are lots of those, and getting called out at 3 am is a sort of normal thing for anyone on a extra board, but it is a very interesting job as no day is ever the same, in fact the life of anyone in T&E can be and is a lot of boredom & be prepared to work up to 12 hrs on any train job.

been RR for 4 yr an im holding days off too! class one to much dam paper work!

I just applied for this job!

Technology is always being updated and the rotation of working seven days a days a week remains the same.

This video makes everything sound a lot easier than it really is, keep in mind. I am and always have been fascinated with trains, rails and the entire industry. Unfortunately, the everyday work-life of a conductor is too mechanical and chaotic for my liking. I suggest a very thorough in-depth search of the entire career choice before jumping into it. I went from wanting to join a 1 year train conductor program to Criminology and now, law school. Would have been a different life for me!

@masterchiefgtx what is a train crew training? i want to be working with trians when i get older? and do i have to be 21 to apply with train company?

The real requirements of the job is spending 70% of your life in hotels away from loved ones, putting up with jerk-off train masters and yard masters, teaching dumb ass trainees and being absolutely physically and mentally exhausted when u get home...trust me, my dad has been a conductor for 37 years.....but the pay is $36 by hour (American)...so its a toss up

Awesome video. I just signed on as a student locomotive engineer for the florida east coast. 2 more years of school (training) left. Cant wait

What kind of switch was that? It looked like it belonged on the B&O railroad.

@mantler112 cn stands for Canadian National Railway

@RussianPalikhov Well lots of passenger rail conductors and engineers start off in freight.

did they put instrumental coldplay at the credits?

Anybody know what that little pedal is for that the conductor steps on trackside at 1:48 ??

@mantler112 George brown is Toronto, BCIT SAIT all have classes.but you pay the school. if you apply and get on the rail way then you get payed.

The music sounds very similar to clocks by Coldplay

Cool

Living in Montreal,what should I study in college before applying? ~ Altho I want to work in Commuter rail.

I think it should be mandatory that a person doesn't have to work 7 days a week or even 6, it's unethical and we are not robots, are body isn't going to last forever so why degrade it with a job like this? i'll continue my career search

Had no clue Peter Griffin was a train conductor.

Yeah that's pretty much it...

i want this job

so are you guys saying its not worth it considering CN?

Is CP going to be hiring conductors again soon? The search on the page comes up with no results.

Same here bud

I know what I'm doing when I grow up.

railroad operations are a tough job and it takes 15-20 years on the job to actually start making money. Its very tough work and you will never have a lifestyle on top of that from the moment you get hired to the time you retire your wonderful management team will make every effort to fire you because they can care less about the health and well being of your family. Think twice before you put that application in because you are signing your life away

@niselat I talked to one of the guys in the video, you are married to the job, lol

Woo! I'm gonna be one! Just as soon as I take the course at BCIT! X3

I heard they lay off juniors constantly according to demand and then rehire work isn't stable

RIP Jeff

how to be a railroad conductor? try this Corbandy simple railroad crusher (make a google search for it) it was great and helpful

been thinkin alot lately about becoming an conductor/engineer ..now im not so sure id be able to handle this job :S

can someone tell me for a new hire, as a conductor, what is the average salary per year?

GO C.P. Rail....

.... а что он установил на хвостовом вагоне и соединил его с рукавом?

You apparently have bad conductors or bad engineers. Engineers always have a mentally challenging job, while conductors can depending on what they're working. If I work a road or yard switcher I have a tougher job. If I'm on a typical road train, the engineer has a tougher job. Every new guy I train, I explain to them how important staying awake is. I've been a conductor for 9 years now at csx and so far have had a problem free career. Being alert is key.

@SilverstoneZED every old head says that about their company...........

Oh and as a CP new recruit you can be expected to be forced to another city or town, or laid off...

@Kvr3005 so do I, oh yea I'm already a conductor lol

As long as the hog head doesn’t get a knuckle,drawbar,air hose or the crews get a dragging equipment or hotbox…..most road conductors will do nothing but sleep!!!! A road conductor is one job you can come to work tired especially since there’s PTC!

what about that 50 foot rule?

@rbfishcss Defiantly not the best job in the world but I think I'll wait till I find a job that allows more free time with at least close pay before running... I made $4200 last half before taxes...

TOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In a word search game, what does a conductor stand on? thanks

OMG! One of the Top Employers?.. I think Chad has Quit or got fired!

Anyone know what the starting salary is?

R.I.P. CPR APRIL 13 2023

apparently, CP and CN have thousands of applicants for a Conductor's position... without taking the 4 month course at George Brown for $10,000... how can I squeak past the other several applicants??

@69zekes I don't think it would be even easy to get the job without finishing highschool and or getting soem college.

Working running trades for a railroad ISN'T a job. It's a LIFESTYLE. More specifically I'd say a young single man's lifestyle. It controls every single facet of your existence. When you sleep, or don't. Eat or don't. Go bathroom, or don't. Attend a family gathering, event, appointment, or more often than usual, don't. Are able to make a relationship work, or not. I always say the pay isn't for the work. It's for all the things one has to sacrifice because of the work.

@69zekes Its good to have college though, theres thousands of applicants for one job, wouldn't they pick the most educated out of those people? Without college or not doing very well in highschool odds are against you.

@yodonvito4 CP Sd40

My friend Angele is a conductor and she’s dope…

SBU

No ear plugs?

Now that Hunter Harrison is in charge I may stay away from CP until he is gone.

@69zekes Oh, it is getting harder to now a days to get jobs without a great education.

freedom of not having to work everyday???

@ATSF1927 I am just starting out as a brakeman with CP Rail, (Just turned 18) Would really love to have experienced the rail culture and operating procedures you had gone through. I am assuming you were a Fireman at first?

Cleaning switches sucks. lol

2:55 dude never fucking blinked.

How do you get paid if you don't work

His vest is not zipped up, that lands you in some trouble!

i'm surprised they use miles and mph.... when canada uses KMH and metric.

Can upper education by pass seniority?

Ever heard of the Corbandy simple railroad crusher. Its very fascinating I reccomend you all to search google on it! Railroad conductor job

hmm job maybe are you in Michigan ?

Fuck class 1 and 2 railroads. Any of you wanting to get on the railroad should try to get on a class 3 shortline railroad, a good number of them actually have set days off even for the extra board. I worked for the IAIS (a class 2) and we never had days off, I would have had to been there for about 16 years before id be able to actually bid and hold a job. We'd work 12's every day, and they'd pull that loop hole of informing you that they were gonna call you in on your rest before you tied up, so youd go home and 8 or 9 hours later the phone goes off again. Theyd never let you get that 6th start, theyd work you for 5 then give you just enough time off for your starts to reset back to 0, then theyd be calling again. After the IAIS I got on the IANR (a class 3) and was blown away when I was told their extra board has 2 set days off a week, they were wednesday and thursday. I didnt know what to do with all that time off, Id sit there like, what do normal people do when theyre not at work?... I could actually shut my phone off, plan things, finish movies, and best of all not live with the dread of the phone going off as soon as your head hits the pillow after staying up all fucking day and night waiting for the call. I loved the IAIS, they actually treated you really well compared to other railroads, but theres only so many birthdays, holidays, get togethers you can miss before you say fuck this. It should be work to live, not live to work. So if youre looking to get on the railroad, look into shortlines or even switching companies like Railserve, Savage, Rj Corman or Rail Link. Switching companies have amazing set schedules, and its still railroading... as much as it can be. lol

I think you are confusing the union, with the management!!

Glad for you but... whats the point of showing it off in a youtube comment?

Grammar exists you know, I think your comment just killed all the faith I had left in humanity.

Not certain about the points made but ,if anyone else trying to find out getting a railroad job try Tarbetti Rail Work Tutor (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some super things about it and my friend got amazing success with it.

Conductor I HAVE A PROBLEM!!

What if you were with your family for holidays