Is train conductor a stressful job?

Conductors work long days (anywhere from 11 to 13 hours, typically), they have to maneuver heavy machinery in sometimes terrible weather conditions, and they can't really plan time off for birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. A former conductor told Reddit: “It is a career that kills marriage.”



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May work nights, weekends, and holidays, since trains travel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. May work multiple shifts in one day. Choice of shift comes with seniority.

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Railroad and subway drivers can experience psychological trauma when trains strike or nearly miss other trains, motor vehicles, or persons or become instruments of death.

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Shift work and irregular hours: Conductors may be required to work shifts, including nights, weekends, and public holidays, which can disrupt personal routines and social life.

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Train conductors and yardmasters frequently: Sit for long periods of time. Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Repeat the same movements.

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As an Amtrak Conductor, you may be on-call 24 hours 7 days a week, which may include nights, weekends, holidays or on-call for emergency situations. Work may require travel and time away from home, and you may have to report for duty twice in a 24-hour period.

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There are over 39,235 train conductors currently employed in the United States. 16.4% of all train conductors are women, while 83.6% are men. The average train conductor age is 45 years old.

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Salary Ranges for Train Conductors The salaries of Train Conductors in the US range from $13,808 to $373,999 , with a median salary of $66,833 .

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Crews on the road typicaly start at there home terminal when they are called and work a particular route to the away terminal where they rest and wait for there call for a train headded back to it's home terminal. At the away terminal the railroad supplys houseing either in a motel or sometimes in a company dorm.

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Train operators and conductors play distinct and important roles: Operators drive the train, while conductors make announcements, stick their heads out of the cab to give the operator the all clear, open and close the train doors, and interact with passengers directly.

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No they are totally self steering. They follow the tracks, and when they don't, it's because something went terribly wrong.

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You can expect to be called for duty at any time - like 1 AM - work up to 12 hours, get the mandatory rest time, and be called again ASAP. That results in a 22 to 24 hour duty cycle, which can go on for 6 or 7 days before any mandatory days off apply.

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Top companies for Conductors in United States
  • Star Transportation PA, Inc. 2.3 $37.23per hour. 16 reviews49 salaries reported.
  • Northrop Grumman. 4.0 $34.20per hour. 6,928 reviews22 salaries reported.
  • Genesee & Wyoming Inc. 2.9 $27.16per hour. ...
  • BNSF Railway. 3.2 $25.30per hour. ...
  • Union Pacific. 2.7 $24.45per hour. ...
  • Show more companies.


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Conductors' hourly rates in the US typically range between $19 and $39 an hour. Conductors earn the highest salaries in Oregon (77,889), Alaska (75,694), and Iowa (73,476).

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High Paying Railroad Jobs
  • Signal Integrity Engineer. Salary range: $167,000-$167,000 per year. ...
  • Signal Processing Engineer. Salary range: $110,500-$154,000 per year. ...
  • Signal Engineer. Salary range: $86,000-$142,500 per year. ...
  • Steam Engineer. ...
  • Train Dispatcher. ...
  • Yardmaster. ...
  • Switch Technician. ...
  • Depot Manager.


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Technically, there is no maximum train driver age limit for driving provided you continue to pass the medicals. If you are starting as a Conductor the minimum age on entry is 18 because it is a safety critical job and you will be handling cash.

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Because train engineers receive additional training and typically have more experience than conductors, they may earn a higher salary. Consider your budget and cost of living to decide whether a lower salary is enough for your needs if you're considering becoming a conductor.

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Freight train conductors can't listen to music, books on tape, or do anything else that could potentially help them stay awake. Each freight train has two crew members, a conductor and an engineer.

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Train conductor work environment Train conductors usually work in shifts, which may occur during non-standard hours. They often work evenings, weekends and holidays to accommodate the train schedule. They might have irregular schedules and different days off each week.

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Longer distance trains have 2 engineers, and a toilet. So when you have to go, you just let the other person operate. Or on other lines, they may just stop the train, and go use a bathroom when needed. I'll answer this from a U.K. perspective, as that's where I live & work on the railway.

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