I don't know what to say......it just really sucks, im so sorry for you, and I don't blame you for your bitterness and anger!!!! Hell, im mad too!!!
If they started hiring trainmen this year - I was told not too long ago that they are going to have only 4 classes this year of trainmen - would they give you first dibs and let you go into that program? I know it would be a step down in some respects, but still, its work...
Although if I were you, I don't know if I would want to deal with NJT again - yes, it is a part of railroading, but mainly freight railroading, where there are up and downturn in traffic, NOT passenger service, and NOT at NJT.
When I hired in 01, we were told that they were going to be hiring for the forseeable future (which they did - 2 and 1/2 yeras worth of hiring) because of all the new services going to be opened up in the coming years, and they would need Conductors in particular to run these services - namely the Cutoff, Mom, W. Trenton, etc, etc, etc, and it takes time to become a qualified Conductor (about 2 years or so) so they need to hire in advance. Im sure the same story was told to the LETP classes also.
Hang in there!!!! UP is hiring - they or another RR might snap you up in a minute becuase you already have some training!! But you might have to move across country or out of the area or something.....
Good luck!
On the RR, "believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see"
John, aka "JTGSHU" passed away on August 26, 2013. We honor his memory and his devotion to railroading at railroad.net.