Just a thought, for you, One-Ton. There is another game in town, and spots might be available, when the class ones aren't hiring. Here is a posting, from the RRB website:
"Locomotive Engineer 09/30/06 182-6037 Idaho Northern & Pacific Railroad Company Nampa, ID & LeGrande, OR "
They also hire conductors, trainmen, from time to time. A good place to "learn the ropes", while waiting for the BIG call......
Trust me on this one. The shorter you get, the longer the days get. My first three and a half years flew by. The last six months, seemed longer than the first three and a half!!!! The big carriers, will accept your application, then suddenly, contact you about where to be, next Monday, at 09:00. Unless you are able to go "awol"
or have already terminated service, you are going to miss the call, then most places will make you wait, for six months, before considering you, again. It's great to have a plan, just be aware that the railroad runs on their own plan, and to this day, nobody has ever seen that plan, or knows someone who has......