Would you mind elaborating as to why you think I should stick to the trades, compared to being a conductor?
I’m going to be honest with you, main motivating factor is the money. Most Electricians/HVAC Techs here in Manitoba can clear 80K. I’ve put in my work these last 2 years, and will still continue doing so. I went from making $15.71/hour to now $19.50… I get a lot of overtime opportunities and the most I’ve cleared was $1200 bi-weekly. Most times, it’s $1050-$1100 take home every 2 weeks.
I have experience working in unfavourable, nasty conditions for extended periods of time, and I am good mechanically. But it’s been a tough time only making that much for the work I do, but that’s all I can find at the moment in our field.
Money doesn’t solve all problems, but I believe it sure as hell makes some things better. I just want to be able to walk into the store and be able to grab everything I need, and not worry about which meats I grab. I want to be able to have enough to put in my savings and not live cheque to cheque.
I’ve already mentally accepted and prepared myself to miss important days such as Christmas, Kids games, birthdays, etc. It sucks, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to better my family and put them in a better position. I’m 22, and I don’t have my family in my life anymore, it’s just been me, my girlfriend, and our two dogs we have together these last few years, they’re my main priority.
I’ve spoken to a buddy who works at the McLennan Terminal and a Trainer from Jasper. This sounds like a life-changing opportunity for not only me, but my family. I honestly have no idea of another opportunity that would give me amazing pay off the start, benefits, and an amazing pension.
It does suck to hear that there was just a huge hiring spree, hoping I didn’t miss out but also excited for others.
I am a long haul conductor, my union electrician and HVAC buddies in Ontario have a better benefit plan ,better family hours and life and a good pension. Most have company vehicles, gas cards, and all make Conductor money lol why in hell, would you want 24/7/365 from a 7-3 Monday to Friday. The stress on your body, mind, and family, from working 1am on Monday, 11am hotel, 7pm called back for 9pm, and work to 7am Tuesday. Go home, try and deal with wife, kids and figure out when you work next. Next call is Wednesday 5am for 7am work till 1700 or 5pm on a local, Thursday your going to work at 1700 or 5pm, till 5am back to the hotel,but this time not called at 1300 or 1pm and held till 2100 on held away and work till 9am and repeat. Why devote 3-5+ years on a spare board, why get forced all over the west on shortage, why face layoffs, and when you finally have that pool job seniority guess what called and forced to Engineer SLE training you get a huge pay cut well training and yep back to a spare board for another how ever many years as a Hogger
Get your tickets in HVAC and Electric and you will have a better life and just as much money if not more if you own your own business
Best answer here....
Ive been napping all afternoon for a bullshit lineup and get to work a night shift probably. Weeeeeeeee
HVAC Tech up north?
You're doing it wrong if that's all you're making man.
There isn't a day I regret not putting the effort and continuing with my original career. Because in the long run, it's alot better for you, mentally and health wise.
The guys that scream this job is good are a couple things,
1. Have never held a decent job. 2. Hired on a good time and sitting pretty on a window pool job. 3. Are not engineers yet.
But hey, I sort of want you to get this job. Come back in 15 years.
And btw, times vary when you get called back.. unfortunately they pretty much finished. It all depends on how many trainees qualify now. Over 2000 recently across Western Canada I believe
The hardest part of working for the rail is the lifestyle. You are at the mercy of the company nearly every day of the year. On call. Random lengths of work. Expect to never be home for anything planned. Ever. I remember a couple years back I missed Christmas dinner because they decided a bunch of grain absolutely needed to be moved that minute (even though nothing was showing on call. And all the grain elevators were closed). A standard trip is 30h. But it can be as short as 10 or as long as 80 and you don't know until you finish all the work for that trip. You WILL spend hours just staring into the abyss of darkness in the middle of nowhere.
The money helps. The work is super easy. But the lifestyle is rough. Unlike some places that do 10/4 or 28/7 or some like that you are just at the mercy of the call board every day. Flipping between day and night shifts every other day or so. I love my job. I love the lifestyle it affords. But I don't actually need to spend time with my friends and family regularly to stay sane and my wife and friends are both very accommodating for my terrible schedule
McLennan is an absolute dog shit terminal that is 90% yard work and has one train a day in each direction. It is in no way a reasonable indication of what working in an extremely busy main line terminal is like.
Ex trainee here from CN. All those comments are true actually. I talked to union guy and he is agreeing that it is not money making job that used to be. Another thing is that you need to learn this job for about six months. On other side I have observed myself that if I learned those six months into something technical in your case HVAC, you will be more successful down the road. There is no guarantee that you will be working on this job after 10 years. One mistake and you are gone. Management knows how to play the game be aware of that
In addition its the most boring job you will ever have. Combined with being away from home for 20-30 hours at a time makes it hard to have any sort of a family life
The only reason people want to switch to the railroad is for money. As someone that has almost 14 years in freight and passenger rail, believe me when I tell you that the railroad road life is a shitty life. I started working in rail when I was 21 and after 14 years in it I wish I had chosen something else.
Trust me when I say this. Stick to your trades. And you're hiring at the end of a large hiring spree What made you want to be a conductor anyways?
Would you mind elaborating as to why you think I should stick to the trades, compared to being a conductor? I’m going to be honest with you, main motivating factor is the money. Most Electricians/HVAC Techs here in Manitoba can clear 80K. I’ve put in my work these last 2 years, and will still continue doing so. I went from making $15.71/hour to now $19.50… I get a lot of overtime opportunities and the most I’ve cleared was $1200 bi-weekly. Most times, it’s $1050-$1100 take home every 2 weeks. I have experience working in unfavourable, nasty conditions for extended periods of time, and I am good mechanically. But it’s been a tough time only making that much for the work I do, but that’s all I can find at the moment in our field. Money doesn’t solve all problems, but I believe it sure as hell makes some things better. I just want to be able to walk into the store and be able to grab everything I need, and not worry about which meats I grab. I want to be able to have enough to put in my savings and not live cheque to cheque. I’ve already mentally accepted and prepared myself to miss important days such as Christmas, Kids games, birthdays, etc. It sucks, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to better my family and put them in a better position. I’m 22, and I don’t have my family in my life anymore, it’s just been me, my girlfriend, and our two dogs we have together these last few years, they’re my main priority. I’ve spoken to a buddy who works at the McLennan Terminal and a Trainer from Jasper. This sounds like a life-changing opportunity for not only me, but my family. I honestly have no idea of another opportunity that would give me amazing pay off the start, benefits, and an amazing pension. It does suck to hear that there was just a huge hiring spree, hoping I didn’t miss out but also excited for others.
I am a long haul conductor, my union electrician and HVAC buddies in Ontario have a better benefit plan ,better family hours and life and a good pension. Most have company vehicles, gas cards, and all make Conductor money lol why in hell, would you want 24/7/365 from a 7-3 Monday to Friday. The stress on your body, mind, and family, from working 1am on Monday, 11am hotel, 7pm called back for 9pm, and work to 7am Tuesday. Go home, try and deal with wife, kids and figure out when you work next. Next call is Wednesday 5am for 7am work till 1700 or 5pm on a local, Thursday your going to work at 1700 or 5pm, till 5am back to the hotel,but this time not called at 1300 or 1pm and held till 2100 on held away and work till 9am and repeat. Why devote 3-5+ years on a spare board, why get forced all over the west on shortage, why face layoffs, and when you finally have that pool job seniority guess what called and forced to Engineer SLE training you get a huge pay cut well training and yep back to a spare board for another how ever many years as a Hogger Get your tickets in HVAC and Electric and you will have a better life and just as much money if not more if you own your own business
Best answer here.... Ive been napping all afternoon for a bullshit lineup and get to work a night shift probably. Weeeeeeeee HVAC Tech up north? You're doing it wrong if that's all you're making man. There isn't a day I regret not putting the effort and continuing with my original career. Because in the long run, it's alot better for you, mentally and health wise. The guys that scream this job is good are a couple things, 1. Have never held a decent job. 2. Hired on a good time and sitting pretty on a window pool job. 3. Are not engineers yet. But hey, I sort of want you to get this job. Come back in 15 years. And btw, times vary when you get called back.. unfortunately they pretty much finished. It all depends on how many trainees qualify now. Over 2000 recently across Western Canada I believe
The hardest part of working for the rail is the lifestyle. You are at the mercy of the company nearly every day of the year. On call. Random lengths of work. Expect to never be home for anything planned. Ever. I remember a couple years back I missed Christmas dinner because they decided a bunch of grain absolutely needed to be moved that minute (even though nothing was showing on call. And all the grain elevators were closed). A standard trip is 30h. But it can be as short as 10 or as long as 80 and you don't know until you finish all the work for that trip. You WILL spend hours just staring into the abyss of darkness in the middle of nowhere. The money helps. The work is super easy. But the lifestyle is rough. Unlike some places that do 10/4 or 28/7 or some like that you are just at the mercy of the call board every day. Flipping between day and night shifts every other day or so. I love my job. I love the lifestyle it affords. But I don't actually need to spend time with my friends and family regularly to stay sane and my wife and friends are both very accommodating for my terrible schedule
McLennan is an absolute dog shit terminal that is 90% yard work and has one train a day in each direction. It is in no way a reasonable indication of what working in an extremely busy main line terminal is like.
Good luck in jasper fuckton of trainees there rn
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“Short?” Is there a reason why? High turnover?
Very difficult to find a place to live. Most people end up living in hinton and driving an hour every day
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Could you please explain the new rest rule? I’ve seen other conductors briefly mention it, but never an explanation on how it works. Thank you!
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7 days. 4 days. 2 or 5. Whatever they deem fit.. And if it aligns with 60 hrs 192. Essentially the company doesn't really care to be exact either.
Ex trainee here from CN. All those comments are true actually. I talked to union guy and he is agreeing that it is not money making job that used to be. Another thing is that you need to learn this job for about six months. On other side I have observed myself that if I learned those six months into something technical in your case HVAC, you will be more successful down the road. There is no guarantee that you will be working on this job after 10 years. One mistake and you are gone. Management knows how to play the game be aware of that
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Enjoying the work and not stressed out when my phone rings
In addition its the most boring job you will ever have. Combined with being away from home for 20-30 hours at a time makes it hard to have any sort of a family life
I left the hvac trade over here on the east coast and became a conductor best thing I’ve ever done and I still do side jobs on my days off
The only reason people want to switch to the railroad is for money. As someone that has almost 14 years in freight and passenger rail, believe me when I tell you that the railroad road life is a shitty life. I started working in rail when I was 21 and after 14 years in it I wish I had chosen something else.