I was curious about what it's like working as a conductor/engineer for NJ Transit. Or anything, I guess, even MOW work or something like that. I have never worked for a railroad. I recently got laid off from my corporate job and I'm looking around and my options. To be 100% honest the idea of going back to a corporate job -- sitting at a desk all day, sitting through meetings that don't affect or pertain to me at ALL -- is looking less and less attractive. The things that the corporate world think is a "challenge" is absolutely laughable. I get 2, 3 days to finish projects that take me 1/2 hour to an hour.
I'm 41. 2 college degrees. I'm not in the least bit afraid of physical labor. In fact I'm starting to suspect that maybe I should have gone into something more physical right out of school. I work a lot harder at my "hobbies" than I do at any desk job I've had. I can weld, operate heavy machinery (bulldozer/backhoe/dump truck etc. - I own one of each, actually), and I am pretty good at fixing and/or building just about anything, really. I have a very mechanical mind - I can usually figure out how something works just by looking at it.
I thought a lot about getting a job as a conductor/engineer with a freight railroad like NS, CSX, or maybe even NYSW, but my real hang up there is that I have an 8-month old little girl who means everything to me and I don't think I would like having to travel as far and be away from home as much as those jobs would require me to travel, because I like being able to see her every day. That's what brought me around to NJ Transit - whatever the schedule is like, its *New Jersey* Transit, so how far could I honestly ever really wind up from home?
I'm not looking for a miracle of deliverance. I realize that every job no matter what it involves has its good points and bad points. I know I'd be working in the worst weather, cold, rain, middle of the night, etc. Definitely not afraid to work hard, like I said. I am just curious what the organization is like, what the schedules are like, what being in the union is like (never had a union job), and if there is anyone out there who has experience I'd be interested in your feedback.
I'm 41. 2 college degrees. I'm not in the least bit afraid of physical labor. In fact I'm starting to suspect that maybe I should have gone into something more physical right out of school. I work a lot harder at my "hobbies" than I do at any desk job I've had. I can weld, operate heavy machinery (bulldozer/backhoe/dump truck etc. - I own one of each, actually), and I am pretty good at fixing and/or building just about anything, really. I have a very mechanical mind - I can usually figure out how something works just by looking at it.
I thought a lot about getting a job as a conductor/engineer with a freight railroad like NS, CSX, or maybe even NYSW, but my real hang up there is that I have an 8-month old little girl who means everything to me and I don't think I would like having to travel as far and be away from home as much as those jobs would require me to travel, because I like being able to see her every day. That's what brought me around to NJ Transit - whatever the schedule is like, its *New Jersey* Transit, so how far could I honestly ever really wind up from home?
I'm not looking for a miracle of deliverance. I realize that every job no matter what it involves has its good points and bad points. I know I'd be working in the worst weather, cold, rain, middle of the night, etc. Definitely not afraid to work hard, like I said. I am just curious what the organization is like, what the schedules are like, what being in the union is like (never had a union job), and if there is anyone out there who has experience I'd be interested in your feedback.
"Don't open the gates!! Who the hell needs a wooden horse that size anyway?!?!"
