Pros
Pay is good, for requiring no college. Paid for time away from home. Railroad retirement rocks, just don't hire out until you are close to 30, since you need 30 years of service and age 60 to retire. As a member of a triancrew, seniority is the only thing you have, but you job security with the union is rock solid. You really have to be a total idiot to not keep a job here. Starting year pay ranges from $45,000 to $55,000, depending on how much you work. Opportunities to move into management, fore those interested in selling their souls.
Cons
On call 24/7 as a conductor/engineer, as manager required to treat employees with suspicion and distrust. No positive work environment here. You will never have much of a social life, as there are NO set days off, no weekends free and plan on working holidays. Managers have been told that traincrews lie and are stupid, therefore even those of us with some level of intelligence are treated as idiots by ignorant management. Don't believe that you can go into management and treat people better, thats not part of company policy and if you don't folllow their logic of thought, you will lose your job.