This is just an update for all you fools who might otherwise be totally bored by something that I couldn't take credit for.
As of today, I'm officially a conductor for BNSF.
As of today, my "training" has been extended by two weeks, even though I'm a conductor—in fact, we really don't have to do anything if we don't want to, but it was that or get laid off immediately. As it is, I'll probably be jobless in two weeks' time. We have about 20 people on the retention board at my wee station, and another 10-20 simply jobless. The coal sets are down and the economy hasn't been kicking along all that well.
Some bad news about the job, though. We have 0 scheduled days off. It's "get on a train, 10 hours off, get on a train, 10 hours off." There isn't a day when we get a scheduled break. No 7-on, 3-off like I was told at the interview. Partially because of that, we've had a ton of resignations. The only way we get any time off is by what amounts to calling in sick or saying that you're too tired and it would be dangerous, and even then they deny you the right to call in sick. Or...if you're lucky and can transfer out of the "MT" Division, which is: Forsyth, Glasgow, Glendive, Mandan, Minot, and Aberdeen. (Not what one expects of "Montana.
)
Because of the above, this is really not an ideal division, not like the open divisions or up at Whitefish. I was already informed that they hired me for Forsyth simply because they need warm bodies to fill Glendive and Minot, where no one can afford to live because of the oil boom. That's depressing, but I've learned not to trust anyone here.
The good news is that the money isn't bad: I've been making about $4000-4600 a month on training pay. Of course, getting right out of class and having no works sucks.
In other good news, I got a call a couple of days ago, and I'm going to be an Air Traffic Controller for the WY Air Guard here soon enough. The Colonel in charge will be calling me Monday about class dates and getting me down there to sign. Apparently, BNSF will make up the difference in pay (since Guard pays nothing) for people in some circumstances—I'd love that, too.
ATC seems like a better career field overall. I'll be able to retain my seniority umber for 5 years while active-duty training.
Random other factoids:
-I was the "best person ever interviewed" by the division trainmaster, in his words. I got off a train in Glendive right before Christmas, and I got called to the trainmaster's office. The one who interviewed me was there, and he'd seen my name as inbound on a train and wanted to talk to me. Of the 100 (I didn't realize there were so many) who interviewed at my hiring session, 2 of us got hired. I was number one, but he said I did the best of all the people he's ever had. That was nice.
-Trains are slow.
-I will be forced to become a conductor within a year if I stay here. (Don't know if I mentioned that already.)
I'm also considering flying the nest for Montana Rail Link.
So, that's my life! Any thoughts on ATC?