Anyone know much about train wreck response work ?

I got a call out of the blue regarding positions doing train derailment response work. I am new to all of this and don't know much about it, except it is hard work, long hours, and days off are few and far between. This doesn't bother me as what I have been doing the last few years is similar in that regard

I was wondering if anyone on these forums does know much about it and can tell me if it is a good opportunity or not ? How steady is the work ? How stable is the work ? Who are the better train wreck response companies to work for ?

Thanks in advance for your help !!

There are companies like Hulcher, R.J. Corman, and Winters Rigging. They go out with heavy equipment to right derailed cars. I don't know how they pay. They must get something to sit around when their isn't a wreck.

At work we had a guy who came from that field, and he became a carknocker.

Marnos wrote: How steady is the work ? How stable is the work ?

Sounds like questions you should be asking the person who invited you to apply. Those are valid concerns and I'm sure they would be glad to give details.

I was wondering if anyone on these forums does know much about it and can tell me if it is a good opportunity or not ?

Everybody's life is different. What might be ideal for one would be a deal breaker for another. Are you single? If you're married or in a serious relationship, is the wife able to deal with "fire department" type phone calls which might take you away for days at a time?

I recall one instance a derailment in Maine resulted in Winters coming from Buffalo NY to rerail the engine, which was down an embankment in -20 degree weather. I was talking with one of their guys who was saying how he was looking forward to getting back home. I joked, and said forget it, about the time you leave here, Conrail will pile them up at Amsterdam and you'll be out another 3 days. Well, I missed by about 10 miles, it was closer to Fonda, but otherwise that's exactly what happened!!!

My point is this job will be even harder to have a family life than train service, because you will have even less notice when being called to work, and will have no idea how long you will be gone. On the other hand, you will get to see and be involved with things that the normal railfan will never get close to. And the long hours CAN add up on payday. Weigh the options, ask questions of the employer, and decide what is best for you.

BR&P wrote:

Marnos wrote: How steady is the work ? How stable is the work ?

Sounds like questions you should be asking the person who invited you to apply. Those are valid concerns and I'm sure they would be glad to give details.

I was wondering if anyone on these forums does know much about it and can tell me if it is a good opportunity or not ?

Everybody's life is different. What might be ideal for one would be a deal breaker for another. Are you single? If you're married or in a serious relationship, is the wife able to deal with "fire department" type phone calls which might take you away for days at a time?

I recall one instance a derailment in Maine resulted in Winters coming from Buffalo NY to rerail the engine, which was down an embankment in -20 degree weather. I was talking with one of their guys who was saying how he was looking forward to getting back home. I joked, and said forget it, about the time you leave here, Conrail will pile them up at Amsterdam and you'll be out another 3 days. Well, I missed by about 10 miles, it was closer to Fonda, but otherwise that's exactly what happened!!!

My point is this job will be even harder to have a family life than train service, because you will have even less notice when being called to work, and will have no idea how long you will be gone. On the other hand, you will get to see and be involved with things that the normal railfan will never get close to. And the long hours CAN add up on payday. Weigh the options, ask questions of the employer, and decide what is best for you.

I don't know if the OP is a railfan (which I actually wasn't), but I agree with you and him. I was quite literally on the inside where things occurred you simply wouldn't see as a regular observer. For one thing, in those days we had the steam program, and it was pretty common to see the engines arriving at our shops and facilities. I once watched NW 611 being eased around the wye right behind the roadway shops. The radius of the wye was very tight---almost TOO tight for the huge 4-8-4, and the track supervisor was sweating bullets as the engine slowly creaked around the wye inch by inch, track snapping and cracking as they went. There was a hand car that had once been stored in Roanoke for 60 years before it was discovered in a crate, then sent to Charlotte for further storage and eventual exhibit. We had it out a couple of times and pumped it up and down, riding across the shop yard. Each took a turn taking it from one end of the yard to the other before putting it back in storage. I saw the 100 ton locomotive crane once at Princeton (WV) Shops and used for lifting Mallet locomotives, brought to Charlotte and installed at Roadway Shops. We used to rebuild the little M-19 Fairmont motor cars at Roadway, and it was, in the early days, filled with the loud 'putt-putt' of the motors thru out each day.

This is just a small "benefit"(?) of working around railroads. Me, I'd just try to hire TO the railroad itself instead to a contractor. If anything, the retirement is much better than Socialist Insecurity. Working FOR the railroad can be tough, but the bennies are nice if you can put up with it!

Thanks everyone for your insight. I ended-up taking the job. After spending all summer unsuccessfully trying to hire on with the railroads as a conductor or track laborer, I have given up on that for a while. Plus, frankly after three months of unemployment, it was time for me to get my butt back to work lol !!!!!

So far the job seems alright. Kind of reminds me of what I used to do in the oilfields. On call, physical work, always on the go. We rerail cars, change traction motors, set switches, and respond to derailments. Decent money.

I am not comfortable posting the name of it online, but it it one of the main two companies that do this sort of work.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts and insight !!

Marnos wrote:Thanks everyone for your insight. I ended-up taking the job. After spending all summer unsuccessfully trying to hire on with the railroads as a conductor or track laborer, I have given up on that for a while. Plus, frankly after three months of unemployment, it was time for me to get my butt back to work lol !!!!!

So far the job seems alright. Kind of reminds me of what I used to do in the oilfields. On call, physical work, always on the go. We rerail cars, change traction motors, set switches, and respond to derailments. Decent money.

I am not comfortable posting the name of it online, but it it one of the main two companies that do this sort of work.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts and insight !!

Congrats, glad it worked out for you and you're happy.

There's an old country song which says "I'd rather be sorry for something I did than for something that I didn't do". Glad to hear you took the plunge and so far it's working out for you. No matter how long or short your stay with them is, you no doubt will have MANY experiences to tell over a cold one in years to come. Just stay safe and don't take chances, and enjoy the ride.

BR&P wrote:There's an old country song which says "I'd rather be sorry for something I did than for something that I didn't do". Glad to hear you took the plunge and so far it's working out for you. No matter how long or short your stay with them is, you no doubt will have MANY experiences to tell over a cold one in years to come. Just stay safe and don't take chances, and enjoy the ride.

I like that thought and I'll definitely take your advice !