Dont ask about engine service, they will tell you at the start of the hiring session that you will be required to make it as a hoghead one day or you will be terminated, thats all you need to know, leave it at that, just like wanting to be a manager. You are there to hire out as a switchman/conductor not as a hog. Telling them you want engine service is like telling them you dont wanna work you just wanna sit on your ass and run the train. Worry about engine service after you have already hired out. Managers know hogs have it easy as far as the work goes, you dont wanna seam lazy, i wouldnt even say anything about engine service unless they bring it up in the interview, if they do bring it up, dont seem too eager to get in the chair "i cant wait... how long do i have to wait" dont say stuff like that. Tell them your up for it when the time comes. If your buddy or family member works for the railroad and is trying to get you on, find out if he is a good employee, if the manager thinks he isnt he may think the same of you. Going down to the yard office and talking to him before, or during the session, ask him about your freind of family member. If you get the feeling he isnt to happy with him, dont use him as your edge to hire out, your on your own after that, leave him the impression your better than he is, nothing negative mind you, just try to separate yourselve. I got my best buddy hired on, i talked to the manager before hand, told him he was just like me, the manager didnt even ask him anything except if he was ready to come to work. His words were "I talked to Josh, i dont have anything to ask". Im sure that was pretty cool for my freind. Had i been a turd at work it wouldnt have gone so good for my freind. What i said about engine service, before i hired out, the MOP was my neighbor across the street. When i told him i wanted to hire out for the UP so i could be a hoghead he got a wierd look on his face, like a lemon was in his mouth, and i knew i said the wrong thing. I should have said i want to switch the GR yard. Hope all this helps some one out. Im still thinking of more to add.
Last edited by UPRR engineer on Wed May 25, 2005 12:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.