I learned from the Toronto Sun that a CN Driver makes in average between 75000 and 85000 dollars a year. I was wondering if anyone knows where i can convert my CPL and get a PPC on a train...
Thanks
Train Driver
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Train Driver
It's better to break ground and head into the wind than to break wind and head into the ground
Actually the "ground school" and subsequint "sim time" will make you feel like you are still in the aviation game. It is still in the transportion industry and thus regulated to near death.
These are current US min requirements for employment in the field but the two contries share the same union and the rules are about the same...
The general qualifications which must be met before a man or woman becomes eligible for the position of locomotive engineer are:
• At least 21 years of age.
• Minimum education of high school or equivalent.
• Good physical condition with excellent hearing and eyesight.
• Completion of locomotive engineer training.
Other qualifications to enter into the service of a railroad company for the purpose of becoming a locomotive engineer may apply and often vary between railroads. A new employee usually enters train operating service as a brakeman or conductor, positions in which he or she works and trains for the locomotive engineer's position. On-the-job training and classroom instruction is offered by various railroads; sometimes it is contracted out to education and training companies. If the railroad's training and examinations are passed, the trainee is then a qualified locomotive engineer awaiting promotion.
Also, effective January 1,1992, the Federal Railroad Administration issued extensive certification and licensing requirements for locomotive engineers. Engineers in the U.S. must be certified pursuant to the provisions of Part 240 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49CFR Part 240). Under 49CFR Part 240 each railroad must have in place an FRA approved certification program. An individual railroad's certification program must meet minimum federal safety requirements for the eligibility, training, testing, certification and monitoring of its locomotive engineers. In this regard, certification eligibility is based on:
Prior safety conduct as a railroad employee and motor vehicle operator
Compliance with substance abuse disorder and alcohol/drug regulations
Vision and hearing acuity standards
Knowledge testing of operating rules and scheduled retesting
Performance skills testing/train handling
These are current US min requirements for employment in the field but the two contries share the same union and the rules are about the same...
The general qualifications which must be met before a man or woman becomes eligible for the position of locomotive engineer are:
• At least 21 years of age.
• Minimum education of high school or equivalent.
• Good physical condition with excellent hearing and eyesight.
• Completion of locomotive engineer training.
Other qualifications to enter into the service of a railroad company for the purpose of becoming a locomotive engineer may apply and often vary between railroads. A new employee usually enters train operating service as a brakeman or conductor, positions in which he or she works and trains for the locomotive engineer's position. On-the-job training and classroom instruction is offered by various railroads; sometimes it is contracted out to education and training companies. If the railroad's training and examinations are passed, the trainee is then a qualified locomotive engineer awaiting promotion.
Also, effective January 1,1992, the Federal Railroad Administration issued extensive certification and licensing requirements for locomotive engineers. Engineers in the U.S. must be certified pursuant to the provisions of Part 240 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49CFR Part 240). Under 49CFR Part 240 each railroad must have in place an FRA approved certification program. An individual railroad's certification program must meet minimum federal safety requirements for the eligibility, training, testing, certification and monitoring of its locomotive engineers. In this regard, certification eligibility is based on:
Prior safety conduct as a railroad employee and motor vehicle operator
Compliance with substance abuse disorder and alcohol/drug regulations
Vision and hearing acuity standards
Knowledge testing of operating rules and scheduled retesting
Performance skills testing/train handling
SAIT in Calgary offers a railraod conductor program. Aviation equivalent would be flight engineer or second officer.
While attending SAIT you can work in the CPR yard as a locomotive washer for $24.00/hour.
When you start riding the rails, give me a call, I have delivered pizza to the CPR crossing in Canmore. Something to chew on while you climb Kicking Horse Pass.
While attending SAIT you can work in the CPR yard as a locomotive washer for $24.00/hour.
When you start riding the rails, give me a call, I have delivered pizza to the CPR crossing in Canmore. Something to chew on while you climb Kicking Horse Pass.
What is that Mountain Goat doing up here in the clouds?
When i got laid off from flying 2 years ago CP Rail hired me. Although i miss flying, driving around in trains is pretty cool. I can fly on the side for fun now. The money is far better than 90% of the flying gigs available with a lot more security. If you dont like the 9-5 world and are looking for alternative to flying give it a look. Both CP and CN are losing tons of people to retirement and business is booming.
It is nice to see an industry where safety and professionalism are well paid!!! The requirements might be high but it is worth the effort.... Maybe aviation will be like this one day!
It's better to break ground and head into the wind than to break wind and head into the ground
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LostinRotation
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1048
- Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:54 pm
- Location: Cloud #8
80Ks is GOOD money!!!! a friend of mine fly 737 in Edmonton and make 38K!!!!! When he get his phone bills he does not get special discount because he is a pilot :wink: Plus it must be a very interesting job :D
It's better to break ground and head into the wind than to break wind and head into the ground
When i was growing up all i wanted to do was fly planes. My dad is a pilot with AC and mom a retired stewie. Never saw myself doing anything else. Then the politics and BS of this industry hit home. The problem with aviation is that u think u have the industry by the tail when all of a sudden the carpet is pulled from under your feet.
Been called for flying jobs since including jets and said no - the railway is a great way to get the shits and giggles thrills u get from flying while making a solid wage, pension, stock options, benefits etc.
To each there own i guess.
heres some pics of CP
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=87495
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=87493
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=20989
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=49863
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=27278
Been called for flying jobs since including jets and said no - the railway is a great way to get the shits and giggles thrills u get from flying while making a solid wage, pension, stock options, benefits etc.
To each there own i guess.
heres some pics of CP
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=87495
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=87493
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=20989
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=49863
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=27278
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bizjet_mania
- Rank 8
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- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:37 am
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Dustinb1313
- Rank 0
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Yeah, I am also interested in maybe working on the trains, there is a course at BCIT in vancouver for a railroad conductor. Any of you that work on trains can you give me more information, its hard to find info on what the job is like. I was thinking I could do it to pay for commercial pilots licence.
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by Dustinb1313 on Thu May 19, 2005 7:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
abc xyz
Just wondering, as a kid I had a fascination with trains, somehow ended up in flying. I have heard that engineers get pretty jumpy over accidents, vehicle incursions at crossing etc. I've also heard that most have had a mishap involving fatatities. Is this a major factor for these guys, also how about the home life, are they on the road a lot - how many days do they work a month?
Just wondering, as a kid I had a fascination with trains, somehow ended up in flying. I have heard that engineers get pretty jumpy over accidents, vehicle incursions at crossing etc. I've also heard that most have had a mishap involving fatatities. Is this a major factor for these guys, also how about the home life, are they on the road a lot - how many days do they work a month?
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bizjet_mania
- Rank 8
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- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:37 am
Most of my family works with trains. My uncle was a conductor, now working for Microsoft making triple the money. But anyways he took alot of freight down south, most of the time stopping over in Detroit many of the nights, having to sleep on the floor cause people would be shooting at the train or at the freight. He was once transporting a wing for Bombardier, when he go to Vancouver there were bullet holes all over it. Crazy people out there, he left cause he was sick of never being home. Don't know what the duty days are like, you're never alone you're usually with an engineer. Thats about all I know about that stuff.
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costermonger
- Rank 8
- Posts: 881
- Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:52 pm
Can abc xyz offer an opinion about aviation life vs. railroading? Like the others have asked, concerning duty time, schedules, mandatory rest periods, etc.
I know the money is there(railways), but the lifestyle seems same/worse, from what I've heard.
I was told that the conducters were making 80g on average, and that the engineer's where around a 100g a/yr. This came from a CP district superintendant.
Eitherway, its more than most aviation work. Just trying to decide how much of a personal life there would be in the future.
You would think it could only improve from what most are used being in aviation, but I guess anything is possible.
I know the money is there(railways), but the lifestyle seems same/worse, from what I've heard.
I was told that the conducters were making 80g on average, and that the engineer's where around a 100g a/yr. This came from a CP district superintendant.
Eitherway, its more than most aviation work. Just trying to decide how much of a personal life there would be in the future.
You would think it could only improve from what most are used being in aviation, but I guess anything is possible.
Mah, i am concerned about my lifestile at home... :(
Is nice to be a PC12 pilot and work with a tie, but with 25K per year, you probably have to rent a room in a dark basement if you want to eat, or (like a lot of rampie do) get a second job as waiter and work you ass off until 3 am. :?
80K per year (average) allow you to have a car, a house, and have a decent lifestyle for you and your family.
Plus, going with the train trough the rocky montains or up north during the winter must be an amazing experience!!!
Trains rocks!!!! :D
Is nice to be a PC12 pilot and work with a tie, but with 25K per year, you probably have to rent a room in a dark basement if you want to eat, or (like a lot of rampie do) get a second job as waiter and work you ass off until 3 am. :?
80K per year (average) allow you to have a car, a house, and have a decent lifestyle for you and your family.
Plus, going with the train trough the rocky montains or up north during the winter must be an amazing experience!!!
Trains rocks!!!! :D
It's better to break ground and head into the wind than to break wind and head into the ground
When I was younger a friend of mine's dad was a conductor or engineer not sure which.
Yeah he was gone a fair bit but his boys often got to go with him. They had a good family life and it seemed like a stable career. Hopefully things are still like that in the train world.
Yeah he was gone a fair bit but his boys often got to go with him. They had a good family life and it seemed like a stable career. Hopefully things are still like that in the train world.
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LostinRotation
- Rank (9)
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- Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:54 pm
- Location: Cloud #8
Yeah, that's what I keep coming up with. After making it through their hiring process, I'd be stupid to walk away without giving it a try. Beside's, I don't see anything comparable on the horizon in aviation. Just more of the same.I'm telling you man, drive a train and earn good money. I'm starting now
