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Are there any downsides from going from Conductor position to Management at Norfolk Southern? Is the pay less?

Are there any downsides in going from a Conductor position to Management at Norfolk Southern? Is the pay less?

  • I just got hired and plan on finishing my degree within the next year and a half online. Norfolk Southern says that if I finish my degree they can put me into the management program. ...show more

  • Answer:

    Ha, ha, ha... Been there, done that... as an RFE on the SP's Oregon Division for a couple of years in the early '80s. For the privilege of serving the Company, you can expect to: 1. Earn less. When first interviewed by Superintendent Phipps, of the San Joaquin Division (the original plan), the first words out of his mouth were, "Well, how much more than me did you make last month?" That's pure truth. 2. Work more (no rest required for non "Hours of Service" employees. I've been on derailments for longer than 56 hours, come home for twelve and go back for thirty-six to forty-eight more). That's pure truth. 3. Have no union representation. You can be canned with no recourse or be ordered to return to your seniority. 4. Make a move that may require relinquishing your seniority. NEVER DO THAT! If you don't like being in the hot seat any longer you can return to your seniority. It therefore follows, don't be an a$$hole, because, you may return to that seniority, and make no mistake... people have a long memory where chickencrap is concerned. So, I had no problem when I finally came to my senses and Okayed to the engineer's extra board [didn't even get to mark up with a bump]. Why did I give up the job? The final straw was a 'hit list' issued to me by the Division Superintendent, G. A. Greblo, with instructions to the effect, "These are the bad actors. Don't care how you get 'em, but get 'em." I resigned the next day and marked up two days after that. And that's pure truth, too. At the least, it'll be an eye opening experience...

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Stay in the craft they run our supers through the ringer. Its horrible to say but ill make well over 20k more than my boss this year and he is required to work far more than me

Signalman

I work for CSX but from what I've heard, all the major railroads pretty much act the same. Being a RFE could become a pain, again from what I've heard, when derailments occur they need someone to download the engines. Usually its the RFE. Go through the ups and downs of being a trainman first. Riding that extraboard ain't a whole lot of fun especially when you consider the fact that they can call you anytime, day or night and believe you, me, they take advantage of your being at their beckoning call. You may make more if you;re working the brakeman board but I doubt if that's the case if you're working in the yard. Also, at CSX, being in management means that you might get a couple of bonuses if your sud-division is performing. I think that might even things out a little. Bottom line, if we're making more as conductors than trainmasters or whatever its because we're busting your asses working all times of day and night for these damn companies and have no quality of life. That's where the answer to your question lies, you may make a little less but how much more time will you spend with your family or what time will your shift start if you go into management. Is a little less money worth more time with your family? A Road Foreman of Engines (RFE) has to do a lot of traveling, but trainmasters don't do as much. I don't think the difference in pay is that much of a difference. Plus, you aren't out in all types of weather working. You do however have to be an asshole in most cases just to meet your monthly quota of writing operational failures.

Big Rob II

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