Transportation
Do Railroad Engineers and Train Drivers Live in the Same Place?
Do Railroad Engineers and Train Drivers Live in the Same Place?
Thanks to modern technology, we can work from any distance away from the location where we report for work as long as we can arrive on time within the specified call time. Most railroad engineers and conductors do not have a set schedule and are called to work when needed with a call time of 1.5, 2, or 3 hours, depending on the labor agreement at a specific location or for certain train or yard service.
Flexible Work Schedules
Many employees, including railroad engineers and conductors, have the flexibility to work from any location within their seniority range. They typically have a 1.5-3 hour call time, which means they can commute from a significant distance to their work location. For instance, some engineers and conductors might live 50 or more miles away from their work station in a large city. However, as long as they can reach their workplace on time, this setup works well for them.
Historical Context
Way back in railroad history, in the very early days, on-call employees were required to live within a specific radius of the work location. The crew caller would actually ride a bicycle to employees' homes to call them to work face-to-face. The specified distance in those days could have been as small as a 6-city-block radius or a 2-mile radius from the work location. Fortunately, the telephone removed this requirement over time, leading to the current flexible setup.
Commuting and Seniority
Railroad engineers with enough seniority can work assigned jobs with regular start times each day. This often allows them to live further away from the work location. There are no fixed rules about proximity to the workplace, only that the employee must be able to commute within the required call time. Seniority plays a crucial role in determining the type of assignments and routes one can work.
Family Life
While some engineers and conductors do live in close proximity to their work location, many do not. The nature of the job often necessitates a separation between work and personal life, especially among those with significant seniority and stable work assignments. These employees often have families who live with them, as the work schedules are unpredictable and the demand for engineers and conductors is high. This makes it more practical for employees to live wherever they find a suitable home and have the flexibility to commute accordingly.
Conclusion
It is clear that many railroad engineers and train drivers do not all live in the same place. The flexibility in work schedules and the importance of seniority in determining assignment routes mean that these professionals often choose to live in various locations based on personal preferences, family needs, and commutable distance. The current setup allows for a diverse living situation, with many engineers and conductors having the freedom to choose where they live as long as they can commute within the required call time.