Whats it like to be a railroad conductor?
As a road conductor, you will be assigned to a freight or passenger train. If you are assigned to a freight train, you will record each car’s contents and destination and make sure that cars are added and removed at the proper points along the route. If you are assigned to a passenger train, you will collect tickets and fares and assist passengers. You will be working a lot with the engineer during the trip. At stops, you will signal engineers when to pull out of the station. Before the train leaves the terminal, you and the engineer will discuss the train’s route, timetable, and cargo. During the trip, you will receive additional information by radio, such as news about track conditions ahead or instructions to pull off at the next available stop to let another train pass. You will use a two-way radio to pass on this information to the engineer. You will also work with the brake operators regarding any equipment problems. Yard conductors supervise the crews that assemble and disassemb
