Trains

[steve-in-kville]

I have a nephew who loves trains. How do you go about getting a job with trains? He's still in school, but asking about it.

It depends what he wants to do. Like any other occupation, you start at the bottom. I checked into being an engineer, but I'm too old to realize that dream. I'd have to be a conductor for so many years, go to school, shadow a real engineer, then get to run a locomotive myself. Then I'm at retirement age.

[Haystack]

It depends what he wants to do. Like any other occupation, you start at the bottom. I checked into being an engineer, but I'm too old to realize that dream. I'd have to be a conductor for so many years, go to school, shadow a real engineer, then get to run a locomotive myself. Then I'm at retirement age.

There's always scenic and railroad museums that you might be able to get into Steve. Strasburg comes to mind, and I'm sure there's a few others near you.

[steve-in-kville]

There's always scenic and railroad museums that you might be able to get into Steve. Strasburg comes to mind, and I'm sure there's a few others near you.

I looked into another local RR that goes into upstate NY, the Reading Blue Mountain. Most of their conductors are part-time which I could see doing, but then I have to work Sundays, too. At least until I gain seniority.

[Haystack]

There's always scenic and railroad museums that you might be able to get into Steve. Strasburg comes to mind, and I'm sure there's a few others near you.

I looked into another local RR that goes into upstate NY, the Reading Blue Mountain. Most of their conductors are part-time which I could see doing, but then I have to work Sundays, too. At least until I gain seniority.

Nights, weekends, and holidays are another reason I see people quit as well. I was able to climb the seniority ladder fairly fast to get off the night shift, but I still work Sundays unfortunately.

[steve-in-kville]

Nights, weekends, and holidays are another reason I see people quit as well. I was able to climb the seniority ladder fairly fast to get off the night shift, but I still work Sundays unfortunately.

That's good to know you work in the railroad industry. My children and I just got into train watching or "railfanning" as its called. I never knew there was so much to trains and the railroad. I'm just learning about locomotives - who started what, who bought them, spun them and so on. Quite fascinating!

[HondurasKeiser]

I actually just became a train fanatic in the past few weeks. My wife and I took a diesel rail car ride from Berks County to upstate (Jim Thorpe, for those in Pennsylvania). I never knew there was so much to learn about trains! There was an older gentleman across from us that had a radio with all the train frequencies programmed into it, so we could hear all the radio traffic between the engineer and conductors.

We plan on another trip this fall.

Step in to the parallel universe of railfans: Railroad.net

[Fidelio]

Don't know if this was posted but...

The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway's massive Allegheny, introduced in 1941, represents the peak of steam technology. Among the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built, it weighed 1.2 million pounds with its tender and could generate 7,500 horsepower.

Pictures here:
https://www.thehenryford.org/collection ... fact/9628/

[Szdfan]

Big Boy is going to be coming through Colorado next weekend. We’re going to get up at a stupid hour, drive over into Kansas and chase it to Limon.

Coincidentally, my Dad is visiting. I used to chase trains with him out of Chicago to Fort Wayne when Norfolk Southern still had its steam excursion program. I’m excited that I have a chance to experience this with him and to show the kids as well (though I doubt they will find it exciting, but tough).

[steve-in-kville]

For those that can livestream video, I bring you the Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pa:

https://www.railroadcity.com/media/live-feed/

Has sound, too.