Two Weeks Left of Class

Things are going great. Did great on all my finals and quizzes so far. We have air brakes and signals coming up next week. I have already learned so much about the railroad. The instructor said I could bring camera to the field if I wanted. So next Tuesday I should have some good pictures to post. Talked to a former Schneider man who went to work for UP about 3 months ago, he is out of Reno. He is a Conductor on his own now and loving it. Getting paid about 2.5 times as much as driving the bid truck. I can't wait for that. The work is gonna be good for my body. Gonna be doing alot of work in the yard on my feet. Glad Mindy bought me some super work boots. I will never wear cheap boots again after wearing RedWings. They kick ass. More comfortable than my Nikes. After these two weeks then I start 7 weeks of work in the railyard and train riding. Then it is back to class with two weeks of Conductor training. I am so glad I made this move. We have two unions to choose from. Think I will join the Brotherhood of Engineers and trainmen now under the Teamsters. Both Unions will take us out to dinner in our last week. Being a right winger by nature, it will be wierd. But I think unionhood will not affect my core political beliefs.

Here are the Big Locomotives

We went to the yard for a bit of orientation. It was pretty cool. I just took picture when we first got there. I was pretty impressed by the locomotives and all the different types of cars. I am getting so excited. 

The First Day

Wow, what a day. I can really get into this. Classes were held in one of the nicest hotels in Poctatello. Free coffee, can't beat that. All the people from Nampa that got hired were over here. I think there are 23 of us future conductors in class. We get to go and check out the railyard tomorrow afternoon. I will take my camera but I had better ask for permission first. I do not know how they are with that sort of thing. I probably better not talk about specifics as it pertains to classroom stuff. Future applicants might get into a certain mindset and not apply themselves as they should. All I will say is that the instructors are 120% professional and knowledgeable. We did watch movies on the history of Union Pacifc and that was very interesting. I will study homework everynight so that I have zero chance of failure. You all know how big a procrastinator I am.

Starting a Week Earlier

Just got a call from the railroad. They want us to start class a week earlier. COOL. No last minute vacation between jobs, but I cannot wait to start.

Was driving back to Idaho on a backroad out of Logan Ut and took this picture out of the car while we were driving. Soon, I will be sitting in one of these locomotives. Knocking on the wood. 

Breaker 1-9 for a radio check. Do I look happy or what. Figure I had better put a few trucking pictures on here. It was a good job, now it is off to bigger and better things. 

My bog orange snowmobile parked in front of my house. We sure got some good snow this winter. 

Just a view from my truck last winter. I will not miss this at all. There will be some good things about the railroad, like no IDIOT drivers.
 

This blog will chronical my new job with Union Pacific Railroad.

I will start 3 weeks of classroom training on June 1st. 8-5 Monday thru Saturday. This blog will start then. 6 days a week already, cool. The upside is so much greater because I am totally maxed on pay at Schneider. They do not believe in pay raises for senior drivers. Our account has not had one in 4 years except for newer drivers. This railroad endeavor will be exciting, I hope anyway.