I am going to retire from a job in law enforcement in about 5 years. I will be moving from the NYC area back to upstate NY (rochester). That is where I am from originally. I have often thought about working on a railroad. In fact, at one point in my policing career I was not very happy with the agency I was with and considered resigning and going into railroading at that point. Thankfully, i had a transfer and I realized it was not the agency but the precinct where I was working. So I stayed and had a great career. I will be retiring in 5 years and will be 43 years old. I am starting to consider a second career. My grandfather worked on the railroad (he worked at the P & L Junction in Caledonia, NY) and my mother often told me stories about him and the Genesee and Wyoming Railroad went behind my grandparent's house in MUmford, NY. I guess that is how I became interested in railroading as a child.
I was considering Genesee and Wyoming, Livonia, Avon, and Lakeville, or possibly CSX as an employer. I have been doing some reasearch and it seems some people are not that happy with their jobs. (this usually applies to the bigger railroads). What are the pros and cons working on the railroad? How about bigger railroads vs. smaller railroads? Is it difficult going into railroading at an older age? Is it a rewarding and enjoyable career. I did not mention it before but I wanted to be a conductor and possibly and engineer. Another thing, I wanted to move back with my family in the Rochester area, so I want to work in that area. Thanks for everyones advice.
I was considering Genesee and Wyoming, Livonia, Avon, and Lakeville, or possibly CSX as an employer. I have been doing some reasearch and it seems some people are not that happy with their jobs. (this usually applies to the bigger railroads). What are the pros and cons working on the railroad? How about bigger railroads vs. smaller railroads? Is it difficult going into railroading at an older age? Is it a rewarding and enjoyable career. I did not mention it before but I wanted to be a conductor and possibly and engineer. Another thing, I wanted to move back with my family in the Rochester area, so I want to work in that area. Thanks for everyones advice.