by CPJorgensen
Hey guys, currently on a furlough with BNSF as a conductor out of Los Angeles and was thinking about moving over to Amtrak as an engineer if I can get in. Been with BNSF for 18 months now and the conductor extra board for freight is almost not predictable at all unless you're in the yard (even then there's still that surprise phone call). I love the job and I even love split and night shift mainly because freeway traffic is clear. I have no complaints with BNSF at all but I hear Amtrak has a slightly better quality of life.
So for you current (or past) Amtrak employees, how does your extra board turn? I'm mainly interested in the west coast extra board (Metrolink, Pacific Surfliner, southwest chief etc..). With BNSF, the road gets a 3 hr call and the yard gets a 2hr call off the extra board, how is Amtrak's call time? Is the possibility of furlough less than with freight? Is there more than 1 extra board and which jobs do they cover?
I was thinking of hopping on a surfliner and seeing if the engineer had a moment to chat, too! I've got a few more questions but those are my main ones. Thanks for any feedback!
-Chase
So for you current (or past) Amtrak employees, how does your extra board turn? I'm mainly interested in the west coast extra board (Metrolink, Pacific Surfliner, southwest chief etc..). With BNSF, the road gets a 3 hr call and the yard gets a 2hr call off the extra board, how is Amtrak's call time? Is the possibility of furlough less than with freight? Is there more than 1 extra board and which jobs do they cover?
I was thinking of hopping on a surfliner and seeing if the engineer had a moment to chat, too! I've got a few more questions but those are my main ones. Thanks for any feedback!
-Chase
-Chase-
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? -Pink Floyd
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? -Pink Floyd