BNSF Brakeman being phased out?

Hey guys I'am trying to get into railroading and was thinking about what I could do before I can be a Engineer,Anyway I heard something from an engineer on the line told'em that I was trying out to become a Engineer but he told me that I would have to start out as a conductor trainee but I told him I didn't want to be a conductor trainee Instead I want to become a Brakeman but the Engineer again told me that BNSF was phasing out Brakemen (a shocker ) so I was hopeing some of ya'll might help me out and also give a little advice about becoming a brakeman I applied to both Union Pacific and BNSF in trainservice but nothin' because they are the 2 closest roads to West Plains,Mizzery maybe I should go to the depot in Thayer ? any opinion would be welcome... Jeremy Smith West Plains,MO
BNSF Thayer Subdivision

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RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, Mousy, Oct-08-04, 05:50 PM, (1) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, chazlee1, Oct-09-04, 11:32 PM, (9) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, BN_9402, Oct-08-04, 06:18 PM, (2) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, RAILDOG, Oct-08-04, 06:27 PM, (3) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, Claude350, Oct-08-04, 09:15 PM, (4) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, NS185, Oct-09-04, 01:03 AM, (5) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, RAILDOG, Oct-09-04, 09:24 AM, (6) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, WestSlopeRRfan, Oct-09-04, 10:29 PM, (7) RE: BNSF Brakeman being phased out?, century242, Oct-09-04, 11:14 PM, (8)

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Well, the closest thing would be if you became an RCO, but they are not just brakies, they're operators/brakies/morons that can't drive trains. Not I said operator and not engineer because they aren't qualified as engineers, only as operators. RRs call them deskilled engine craft. So that may be the reason that brakies are being phased out, because they take jobs away from true engineers and brakemen. Good luck with your job search.

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-04 AT 11:35 PM (EDT)

Allow me to take exception to the quote "morons" that work RCO's..I have been a conductor on the BNSF for 34 years now, and just because the railroads decided that RCO's were the wave of the future, and the union decided the Conductors(yes conductors-not brakemen)were the ones to operate them DOES NOT MAKE ME A MORON! Nobody liked having RCO shoved down their throat, but that's just what happened. Since losing the cabooses in favor of the Rear End Device, brakemen are not as needed as before, except on grain trains and locals. With the advent of 2 man crews(engineer and conductor) everyone is at least a qualified conductor; even if he is working a job as a brakeman. We have all went through hard times in the last 20 years, losing jobs right and left, and our contribution was the brakeman on all trains. So, Mousy, statements such as yours are rude and vicious. You know, not all of us want the engineer craft; some are actually PROUD to be a conductor. I am one of those. I am also qualified as a Hostler(moves engines around the diesel repair facilities) and as a (unfortunately)RCO operator. These things were ordained by the Railroad, not by us, and certainly not because we as conductors are not smart enough to be an engineer. In fact, most conductors are now becoming engineer qualified as well. Maybe we aren't as dumb as you think we are.

Happy Rails,
Chaz
(BNSF Conductor)
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Ever heard of 2 man crews? You know, only the hogger and conductor nowadays...unless you wanna slave away at RCO work.Austin

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-08-04 AT 06:28 PM (EDT)

Yeah I have heard of 2,3 and sometimes 4 man crews trains around here only go 124miles in 12 hrs loaded coal trains take about 10hrs to get to West plains from springfield thats 100miles thats also when the 4 man crews come in as dog catch If I'am not mistaken how,would I go about in RCO if I have to? Jeremy Smith West Plains,MO
BNSF Thayer Subdivision

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-08-04 AT 09:25 PM (EDT)

Well Mousy I wouldn't go as far as you did to call them morons.After all before they started with the remote unit they became qualified conductors/brakemen.Some of them are qualified engineers.Just because you complete the engineer's course one day doesn't mean that you'll be on the engineer's extra board driving trains the next day.Raildog you don't have any choice about becoming a conductor trainee.That is where you start because most trains run with a two man crew which was pointed out earlier in this post.However there are some assignments that require a brakeman and that may vary with the different railroads.When I was hired by the NS I went through the conductor's training program.After completion I performed duties as a conductor,foreman,brakeman and switchman.The days of just being a brakeman are gone.Claude Debnam NS Piedmont Division Raleigh East

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we very rarely use brakemans where i work, I guess it all depends on where you are and what RR, I know on the NS around here NONE of the road trains uses a brakeman but about 95% if not 100% of the locals/yardjobs do use them. Then there are the utility brakeman, even though they dont get paid as much as the captains do I wouldn't mind being a utility brakeman. sometimes i see a U-man do all the work while the conductor does nothing and other times I see the conductor busting his . while the u-man sits in a truck and watches the rear of a 30 car train being shoved in a track that is clear for 100+. But to answer your ? yes brakeman are very much being phased out cut back or whatever you want to call but they are still needed in some instances.

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Okedoke I was going to thayer this comeing week to talk with the trainmaster I guess I'll ask him about a Conductor Trainee job thanks for your answers!! Jeremy Smith West Plains,MO
BNSF Thayer Subdivision

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Okedoke I was going to thayer this comeing week to talk with the trainmaster I guess I'll ask him about a Conductor Trainee job thanks for your answers!! Best spot to look for conductor openings would be here
https://secure.recruitingcenter.net/clients/bnsf/PublicJobs/CanViewJobs2.cfm?search=yesBNSF has already hired a bunch of guys this year. In fact some are being furloughed as we speak. Best time to get hired on is late december/ january. At my previous terminal we used brakeman only on locals over the road. Big Class 1's don't do as much switching as before so they have phased the position out as much as possible. Besides why pay 3 guys, when you can pay 2.

aka Pinlifter
BNSF Conductor
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There are very few Brakemen/switchmen left. At the UP, all new hires are trained first as brakemen/switchmen and then a few weeks later as an RCO. In 3 months time you would be a certified conductor.
When you are marked up, you will either be on the switchmans extra board or the trainmans extra board.
The Trainmans Extra board are comprised of all conductors and from these they fill both Conductor and Brakemen posistions that are vacant because illness or personal days/vacation days. These jobs are locals and through freights.
The Switchmans Exra board fills vacant yard jobs.Regards,
Erik Pierson
Sacramento, Cawww.sacramentolocomotiveworks.com
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