(I haven’t really posted on here in a long time (until recently) and as a result I hadn’t searched here for advice on my future. I saw the thread about someone wanting to start working for the railroad and it sort of jump-started my memory. So thanks, guy!)
I’m currently in college studying Integrated Supply Management. Essentially, it’s a cross between purchasing, logistics, and operations management. A person with such a degree can do a lot from buying parts for Ford to managing the logistics for a delivery company. However, I don’t plan on doing either of those things. My goal is to work for Amtrak.
I’m hoping to start out as an A/C. One of the things I like about their corporate structure is that their trainmasters have to have experience as a conductor, they can’t just be “qualified” like many freight railroads (to my knowledge). This gives the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: fulfill a lifelong dream of actually working on a train crew, and giving me the ground-up experience that makes a good manager.
After being an A/C, I was hoping to become an engineer, to give me experience on that side of the operation as well, and then apply for management. Still a bit of a toss up between road foreman and trainmaster, but trainmaster is ahead right now, as it aligns with my career goals the best.
After getting into management, it’s a bit blurry. I’m not sure where to go from a trainmaster position. Some of you have probably read my post in “what would you add?”, and I hope to make many of those things a reality, but as to actually getting into a position to do that..not sure if I’ll be able to get there (as I have no clue what it would be).
So..that’s my plan. I could really use some advice on how to prepare myself for a career in railroading and what I could expect (i.e., how the extra board works) as well as some feedback on how I’ve laid this out.
Am I making a good choice? Should I be going about this differently? Stuff like that.
Thanks!
I’m currently in college studying Integrated Supply Management. Essentially, it’s a cross between purchasing, logistics, and operations management. A person with such a degree can do a lot from buying parts for Ford to managing the logistics for a delivery company. However, I don’t plan on doing either of those things. My goal is to work for Amtrak.
I’m hoping to start out as an A/C. One of the things I like about their corporate structure is that their trainmasters have to have experience as a conductor, they can’t just be “qualified” like many freight railroads (to my knowledge). This gives the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: fulfill a lifelong dream of actually working on a train crew, and giving me the ground-up experience that makes a good manager.
After being an A/C, I was hoping to become an engineer, to give me experience on that side of the operation as well, and then apply for management. Still a bit of a toss up between road foreman and trainmaster, but trainmaster is ahead right now, as it aligns with my career goals the best.
After getting into management, it’s a bit blurry. I’m not sure where to go from a trainmaster position. Some of you have probably read my post in “what would you add?”, and I hope to make many of those things a reality, but as to actually getting into a position to do that..not sure if I’ll be able to get there (as I have no clue what it would be).
So..that’s my plan. I could really use some advice on how to prepare myself for a career in railroading and what I could expect (i.e., how the extra board works) as well as some feedback on how I’ve laid this out.
Am I making a good choice? Should I be going about this differently? Stuff like that.
Thanks!