A group of modelers from the Kansas City, Bentonville, and other areas took a rail excursion on the A&M (part of the Frisco Central Division) on 10/24/09. Check out the pix: http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?media/albums/frisco-festival-9-11-13-2009.53/
Very nice album, Keith. It is very nice to see my old home State looking so well with the fall colors in full swing.
I wish I could of been there jk I live here. I hope you guys enjoyed your trip down here. There is alot to see in this area and plenty of time to do stuff. Van Buren is a neat old town and this being my hometown no wonder I got interested in the Frisco. Hope you guys did have a fun trip though. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Millican
Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you guys could help me. I've spent the day in quiz bowl in Greenwood, AR and when I returned home I went to work online. I have spent half the day trying to figure out my life. I plan on being an Engineer on the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, but I'm not totally sure what all I need to do this. I'm thinking about attending Modoc Railroad Academy. Is there any other courses or recomendations that you guys have. Right now I'm only 16 so I have two years to think about this, but I'd rather be ready than sorry. I know a few members on here are current A&M employees and a few others have worked on various other roads in recent years. I'm just trying to go down the right path to help make my life work out. Sincerely, Murphy Jenkins
I'd just show up at their general offices and find out in person about employment opportunities and indtroduce yourself and let it be known what your interests are and your interests in their company (Even though you are a younger person and any such job would be in the future). Make inquiries about what the qualifications are for engineer. The employment manager will probably have tips and suggestions for what kind of education you should persue and what your prospects are. You should also inquire about Summer employment and if they might consider hiring an enthusiastic intern. Tom
Most important thing. Do not portray yourself as a railfan! Concentrate on the company and your desire to be in the operating department. Don't show up with a camera, railfan garb, etc.
If your life plan involves a steady job you might want to think outside the railroad industry. The industry is going through a downturn that has led to substantial crew furloughs at the Class I railroads. I would imagine the A & M, like other regionals, is also suffering a decline in freight traffic. Another place offering railroad training is the Johnson County Community College located, I think, in Olathe ,KS. At one time it had some kind of a connection to BNSF. The A & M uses ALCO based motive power and it is highly unlikely either Modoc or Johnson County offer training with ALCO motive power as I do not think simulators exist for ALCO engines. I would be careful before going to school if your object is an engineer job with the A & M.
Thanks for the replies. I'll take these into consideration. I know not to be obvious that I'm a railfan when at first seeking employment. I know the railroad industry isn't doing to hot right now. My cousin got laid off last year from the Norfolk Southern last year. I'm just thinking about the A&M because it is close to home and I like their style in operations. The reason I said Modoc is because I read an article online that said that Modoc was the only school that could give out conductors license. Thanks again for the replies. I have at least two years two think this over. Thanks again. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Jenkins
Murphy, My advice is to get your college education and then pursue your dream. Railroads, like any other industry, thrive on college educated employees and your future in the industry is restricted only by your ambition. After you get your degree and you want to be a locomotive engine or conductor then that is fine. But, when you decided you want to advance in the company, that college degree will give you the credentials to do it. There are several schools that offer conductor/engineer training. Johnson County Community College was/is one of them. And yes, at one time they were affiliated with the BN training school, located at the same facility. But, I don’t think any of these schools offer guaranteed employment. If going to college is out of the question then I would consider direct contact with as many railroad company’s as possible. It seems that short line railroads have a higher employment turnover than the larger company’s (% wise), so don’t over look them. Regardless of your decision, best of luck to you, Jerome
Murphy, Get your education first and foremost, I do not have a college education and wish that I had gotten it, so please do that. As far as a Railroad career; some things to consider. Engineer positions nowadays on class 1 RR's are filled from the trainmans ranks, based on seniority and the number of bids applied for, Engineer trainee advertised positions. That contract is national in scope. I cannot speak of the A&M's contract as they may or may not be covered by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) and may or may not be subject to the same contracts as the RR's represented by same. But enough of the less than positive stuff. If you have a degree, 2 or 4 year you have many, many more doors open to you in a RR career. In the form of management or the like, and thats not a bad thing. There are crew management, payroll, Labor relations, Safety, Marketing, so on a so forth that are very good RR career options that could be available to you, some day. Don't close the door on any of those positions or opportunities. I started as a railroad Machinist and have been a Conductor and now Engineer for over 15 years. And with that many years of service, I am by no means an "old head" yet. I won't lie to you, there are times I do really love my job, man there is nothing, I have ever experienced like pulling the throttle on 20,000 horses and running a good train, by that I mean keepin her stretched out, no run-ins or run-outs. Running it hot, in and out of slow orders and speed restrictions, and yea blowing the whistle and waving a little boy or girl that you see in yourself, so many years ago. The dispatcher has you clear blocks, your on the hotshot, running it like you stole it. Yea that's the "right stuff", if you don't like that you don't like home cookin. But what they didn't tell about were the all night trips with little or no rest, when you get a knuckle or drawbar, raining or snowing buckets, broken rails or or heaven forbid, a vehicle train collision occurs and someone dies. The trips when your in the siding for it seems every single solitary train, light power move, MofW outfit on the railroad, you go DOL after 12 hrs and noone is called to dogcatch you so you know your gonna be there another 4 hours at least. I knew from the earliest I can remember, that I wanted to be an Engineer. My Grandpa was he took me with him on a switch engine in Quanah on a GP7 and I was literally ruined for life. But I should have gotten an education first. The economy is going to get better then it will get worse, thats just the nature of things, and not likely to change. Railroading is seniority based, you hire out in the right spot and will never loose a days work, hire out in the wrong place and it could be 15 years before you can almost feel secure in your job. The options before you are greater in a RR carer, if you have an education than if you don't. Tom GJ
Murphy, I whole heartily agree with GJ, get an education first before applying with a railroad. Even the shortlines want someone with a college education for management or other higher up jobs. I just hosted a local teenager around Pittsburg on a tour of our Watco offices the SKOL railroad and our local mechanical shop. His school assignment was to follow along with someone in the job he wanted to do. Everyone he talked to here, no matter how long they have worked for a railroad told him the same thing, get an education first. It will make a big difference in what you can do. John Chambers
Sorry I forgot to list this, but I do plan on a four year degree(I'm not sure what in right now). I'm think on going to UAFS. They offer computer and graphics programs. I'm already real good with this stuff so I may go with this. My ultimate goal is to work for the railroad for a while, then maybe someday own my own little shortline railroad. I really have planned on UAFS. My mother went there when it was Westark and she liked it, plus it is close to home. Thank you for the replies. It has better helped me set a plan for the future. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Jenkins
Develop that computer graphics skill, get some programming along the way and find out who does the graphical user interfaces that the railroads use in the dispatch rooms. Sounds like a marriage between passions.
I just read that the A&M excursion train was hit by another train earlier today and 38 people were injured. Luckily nobody was hurt really bad, but I hope this does not mean the end for the passenger trains on the A&M.
I was told that Passenger Trains will return in about two weeks. If I hear any different I'll let you guys know. Murphy Jenkins A&M Passenger Train Conductor
Passenger Trains are back and running!!! They actually started back last Thursday, but my computer was down, so I couldn't let you all known. But the A&M is back in action and running as usual.
