What is it like to work as a train conductor?

The conductor is responsible for the overall management of the train. You had to know how to make field repairs to equipment and how to manage a crew of up to ten people. The conductor is jointly responsible for the safe operation of the train. They are responsible for seeing that the train runs to time.



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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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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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“Ground-based conductors would have set shifts and return home every night, just as most other rail employees outside the locomotive cab do.”

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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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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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The gentle rolling of the freight train moving along in the middle of the night lulled him to sleep. 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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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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Typically crew runs are designed so that they finish at the same location where they started at. The typical work day for a day time run is about 10+ hours, and most have a sixth day of about 8 and 1/2 hours. The typical midday run is about 10 hours, and most of those also are six day runs.

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Conductors do not sleep on trains. As operating personnel they are awake for their entire shift, and can be on duty no more than 12 hours. At crew change points, they stay in hotels that the railroad has arranged for them. The same situation applies to engineers (in other countries, the “driver”).

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That said, the average age for a train conductor is 41.

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Highest paying cities for Conductors near United States
  • Tampa, FL. $29.55 per hour. 8 salaries reported.
  • San Antonio, TX. $28.16 per hour. 12 salaries reported.
  • Houston, TX. $27.01 per hour. 35 salaries reported.
  • Kansas City, MO. $26.82 per hour. 18 salaries reported.
  • New York, NY. $24.96 per hour. ...
  • Show more nearby cities.


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While being a conductor provides a good living and a great retirement plan, it's incredibly demanding.

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what do they do to pass the time? Other than a refrigerator/watercooler and a bathroom there are almost zero ammenities on a locomotive. Only way a engineer can go to bathroom is by stopping his train or if the conductor is a certified engineer he could run for while.

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Where does a train conductor sleep? Conductors and engineers sleep at home or at a hotel at their away terminal. The operating crew of a train in the US can only be on duty for 12 hours and then must be relieved.

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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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Today, most road freights operate with just two crew members, a conductor and an engineer. Many local freights that deliver and collect cars along their routes also have one trainman, and some have two, to help with the “ground work” of throwing the ground switches and uncoupling the cars.

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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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Q: Am I really on-call 24/7, 365 days/year? A: Yes, you are technically on-call 24/7, but you are allowed to book 24 hours' rest after travelling. During this time, you are not expected to work. You are also entitled to book your vacation and request for personal days off with approval from your supervisor.

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