Norfolk Southern Chicago Yards

How busy are the NS yards in Chicago. Can a new conductor expect to stay busy and working?

From what I have seen, yes you will stay busy and yes you should be working . All depends though on how many people are above you. If you get bumped, what yard you are at etc etc. I can tell you its a mad house at the intermodal yard at Englewood ( duck when you hear gunshots ) and Landers looks to be the same. I pass by on Metra so I cant give you any details. Are you stuck to Chicago? Or can you go to other locations?

Thunder wrote:From what I have seen, yes you will stay busy and yes you should be working . All depends though on how many people are above you. If you get bumped, what yard you are at etc etc. I can tell you its a mad house at the intermodal yard at Englewood ( duck when you hear gunshots ) and Landers looks to be the same. I pass by on Metra so I cant give you any details. Are you stuck to Chicago? Or can you go to other locations?

I am going to McDonough on September 22 for training for 3 weeks. My orientation is sometime next week so I know little to nothing about where what yard I will be working at. I live in Chicago, so transferring is not an option I would entertain. I assume Chicago is all yard jobs. What are the work schedules like for conductors in the yard?