Railroad College - THE WRITERS FORUM

kinkosnerd · (#1)

Has anyone heard of any of the railroad college courses out there. I was looking at the CSXT website today, under the jobs available section, and there was a bunch of stuff about a course taught at a couple of colleges around the country. it was a conductor program of some sort, it cost $4000 though. so i was just wondering if anyone had any experiece with this one.

Ski Mask · (#2)

there are a few places that have courses for training existing employees, but as far as I know if you want a course based around becoming a conductor or engineer from scratch , you have to go to Modoc academy in California, or SAIT in Calgary.

imported_visualJAZZ · (#3)

I talked to some guys at a CSX sub station in my town. They said I would have to go to classes in Atlanta(i guess the closest in my area). Its a 2 or 4 week course apparently. I dont have the $$ plus I'm in regular college now.

kinkosnerd · (#4)

yea, this one is a 5 week course. It sounds pretty neat. It also sounds pretty strict, I think that it said that you have to have been employeed somewhere for at least 3 years prior to even applying. Im getting excited.

vein's nipples · (#5)

i found 1 online... 3 courses for 60 bucks.. i think it's at salt lake city comm college or something

IntangibleFame · (#6)

Is that where they teach you to be a conductor? woot woot..

another loser · (#7)

well do they say anything about graffiti?
i mean, id guess that a shit load of writers have thought about becoming a railworker/conductor just to get in the yards and have a well paying job.
its a really good idea.
foxy, if you think about it, what do conductors have to do? i might be wrong, but just sit in the engine and controll the train.
carry your ps2 and play that until the buzzer starts goin off tellin you you just hit somethin.
13 hours shouldnt be all that bad,
i work a warehouse 12 hour shifts 4 days a week, 5 and 6 if i want it.
and to think about the money youd be making as a conductor would be loads more than what i make in that shitty ass acrylic dust filled warehouse.
that shit makes your nose bleed.
found a new use for my respirator.

kinkosnerd · (#8)

thanks for the info foxy..

I dont have any interest in being a conductor so that i could get in yards and what not.. I love trains.
I think that being a rail worker just so you can paint trains would be a bit of overkill.

Ski Mask · (#9)

the conductor is in the cab with the engineer, but he isn't the one operating the train. He just does that paperwork, watches for signals, does all the physical crap involved in switching or repairs over the road. To be an engineer requires a ton of training and is far more complicated than you'd think. You gotta be focused on your job 100% or you could seriously fuck up. Just cause he doesn't have to steer doesnt make it easy...