What to expect at McDonough. Norfolk Southern ‘s conductor trainee school 

[@lisafreeman3399]

Thanks. Very insightful and informative.

[@daRealB-Rex]

i’m turning 20 this summer and frankly college just isn’t working out for me so i’m thinking of either getting my CDL and driving or going to work for the railroad (would prefer NS since they’re closest to me but will always keep options open). This video was really helpful in helping me get a good idea of what I’m getting into, and I feel like I’m up to the challenge.

[@Jack-dw2sz]

Fantastic, these experiences are invaluable, thank you!

[@HIGHIRONPRODUCTIONS25]

Thank you buddy waiting for background check and then down to GA thank you for telling me information!

[@SMAP757]

Thanks for the insight.

[@joshuaallenwood5944]

Hey thanks for the video I’m getting ready to do physical and then go to Georgia for training

[@collegefootballfan7909]

I’m awaiting my start date for Charlotte, NC it’s a busy yard how long does it take before you get a start date? I hope it doesn’t take very long.

[@robleo4355]

is there training on the weekends during the 1st 3 weeks of training.Btw thanks for the informative video.

[@trainor6productions4268]

No when you are in Georgia you have weekends off

[@austinhodgestherailfan5318]

How many questions are on the signals test?

[@MaxxMiller-e5t]

What does the physical entail?

[@jakefromstatefarm8583]

7/24 is my start date you should do a video on what all to bring

[@trainor6productions4268]

Ya that actually a great idea. I’ll try to put one together soon!

[@MrMikeh21]

Can’t wait my start date is 6/5 woooo

[@twilson9068]

When did you finish hiring process?

[@MrMikeh21]

@@twilson9068 not sure what you are askin, I am just starting haven’t finished

[@twilson9068]

How long you had to wait before you got a start date?

[@thomasmotorsports1627]

I just got cleared and awaiting start date. How long did it take you to get a start date after you got moved to awaiting start date on your profile?

[@TexasAlabamaBoi205]

Good luck in school tomorrow!!

[@Locate2024]

Nearest terminal is like 1 hour 50 minutes away. Is that to far based on hiring decisions

[@g.malcolmdial1327]

Hey man thanks for your video, can you please talk about PPE, as well as your watch specs and what boots to have and if there is a boot voucher on that day

[@EmmanuelAmankwah-u5p]

Thanks

[@Image-X]

I went through the three week training in GA back in 2016. It wasn’t exactly easy. You MUST pay attention at all times and study your ass off…. or you WILL fail. Expect to be called on in the classroom to answer question or give the safety talk at the beginning of each day.

[@markquiswest6607]

This place is just straight on down the road from my cousins house!

[@NSTSLIM]

What conrail sign image should i download from Google

[@trenielbunce7228]

Is their anyone to call to check on my application i took the drug screening and physical beginning of the month how long is the wait

[@dovynadela1016]

Have you heard from them yet?

[@trenielbunce7228]

@dovynadela1016 no I haven't am I missing something?

[@dovynadela1016]

Honestly, I have no clue I finished mine like a week ago. And I’m getting as anxious whether I get it soon :/

[@dovynadela1016]

Which location did u go for

[@trenielbunce7228]

@@dovynadela1016 conway pa

[@ncsfinest2463]

I am leaving for the training in 2 weeks and I have a really crappy phone, I was wondering if getting a new one would be important or if the MTR is also used to communicate for call times and what trains I will need to be on, I guess what I'm asking is if a good phone is necessary

[@trainor6productions4268]

MTR is not used as a cell phone or to make calls and you will need a phone that works because you do need to call to get paperwork when on the road trains. You don’t need anything fancy but needs to at least be able to make calls.

[@ncsfinest2463]

@@trainor6productions4268 Thanks so much, one last question, is the process of knowing when you will work and when to get on a train pretty easy to learn?

[@trainor6productions4268]

@@ncsfinest2463 yeah it’s a CT you have a schedule that will be emailed to you to know what train to go on and when you go on a road pool they’ll call you two hours advance for your train and then when you mark up I’ll be the same will just call you for a train

[@maugust302]

im wait to get my start date as of today what is the reg pay working in newark Del ,?

[@trainor6productions4268]

As a trainee $200 a day minimum for working and it’s $25 an hour after 8 hours. That’s system wide.

[@cljohns1679]

when your in ga your stay payed 3 weeks thru or do u pay for weekend stays

[@Locate2024]

Hey whats vacation time in or after your first year

[@benfrank453]

Hey random question. I just quit smoking two months ago and wanted to know if they drug tested on the training school facility and if so when. Any info would be appreciated :)

[@trainor6productions4268]

They do and it’s usually the first day the morning before you go to class

[@nathanmiller8281]

How much does a conductor make a year?

[@trainor6productions4268]

grantee is 52-58,000 but you average is $69,000 or more depening on how much you work

[@Georgiaboi2]

You still working for em?

[@Image-X]

Also, NS lied during the hiring session. They said we would mark up as engineers within 4-5 years. Once on the job, it was actually 18-20 seniority before marking up. I resigned after six months but I had I stayed…… everyone with less than 10 years lost their job due to cuts in St. Louis. Also, the train masters get off on spying and trying to bust you for rule violations. Three people were fired in the short time I was there. One was a great conductor of 17 years who missed a simple switch. Fired. NS is a hostile work environment. I’d recommend find another company to work for.

[@trainor6productions4268]

Ya a lot of the older guys here tell me how it used to be like that. Haven’t see that here and the NS culture has changed a lot in the last few years. Definitely are more employee friendly now at least from how it used to be. As long as we are safe and getting the work done you are golden.

[@Image-X]

@@trainor6productions4268 That’s good to hear. The work and coworkers were awesome. Management was just too full of themselves.

[@The_Creeker22]

hello thank you for this very informative video, for the signal test, i am studying the norac signals, do i have to know every aspect word for word on the test? Would there be any position aspects on the test, because i feel it is too much info to learn all at once?? Are all of the tests multiple choice, and is there like a picture of the signal aspects and you have to choose which Indication goes with it???? thank you

[@trainor6productions4268]

All the questions are multiple choice on all the test. You have to know all of the signals and aspects. The signal test at NS is 10 questions 5 on aspects 5 on induction. It dose have position on it but it shows all the other signals for that indication. Just keep studying I studied the whole time I was there and still struggled with the signals but I still got a 100 on the test. I had the conrail signals

[@The_Creeker22]

thank you for the feed back, Much Appreciated :) @@trainor6productions4268

[@Rclightning639]

Hey man what can I expect on the initial webcam interview, and any tips on how to stand out to the interviewer? I was not expecting them to want to interviewer me having only an auto mechanic background.

[@trainor6productions4268]

I’d say use your safety record in the interview if you have no safety violations make sure that’s something that you bring up safety is a big thing on the railroad. Also, any thing that you think correlates between auto mechanic, and working for the railroad. I was in construction before becoming a conductor, so I just mentioned how I needed to work safely and learned a lot about working safely.

[@cljohns1679]

also. i’m 40 in good shape is there a big age barrier that’s you may notice

[@ankittamang4309]

I had one question about exam. How is it set up multi choice or all written exams? If it is written exam is the spelling have to be correct or if you miss spelled it’s okay??

[@trainor6productions4268]

It’s the railroad we don’t know how to spell. 😂 but truly, the test is multiple-choice

[@felixgonzales6963]

I already got the offer letter and accepted it and background and now I’m about to schedule an appointment for physical and drug test so is there any way I can do practice test plse send my way thanks for the info also.

[@trainor6productions4268]

Only if you can find them online, I don’t know of any I’d say the biggest thing is just printing off the signals that you’re going to be learning and practicing studying them. You get a practice test email to you when you get to conductor training school with practice test and you can do it as many times as you want while you’re there.

[@cljohns1679]

I have a interview next week. is it a very physical job. i’m com i’m g from Pseg as a lineman and i’ve did gas line install. is it light physical or heavy

[@trainor6productions4268]

It’s not too physical. There’s a lot of walking and up and down on ladders to do hand brakes but other than that it’s not too physical of work.

[@Slow1x_1.0]

Do they pay for housing if you’re terminal isn’t in home state?

[@trainor6productions4268]

No I move from Massachusetts to New York. I had to pay for my self to move.

[@reem1334]

Hey quick question when OJT and you are on call do you get called everyday? If not, do you stay home and get paid? Up to what time will you be on call each day? Is it the length of the shift or all day

[@trainor6productions4268]

You will get a CT schedule in your email as soon as you’re done at Mcdonough telling you what day you work and on What train you’re going to work when you go on road pools then you’re on call and it’s whenever they call the train and what crew out you are. So if you’re third out, you’ll be the third train and so on. As a conductor trainee, you can move yourself up but if you said at home all day waiting for a call, you don’t get paid. Once you mark up as a real conductor and you’re on call, then you get paid if sit at home all day waiting for the call.

[@junebugreally9925]

I received my offer letter one October 4, 2023, and i’m now on my medical evaluation. Do you think i’ll get a training start date quickly?

[@TheRealBG]

@june what kind of drug test did you do? Also was it at training center

[@derekwilkerson7142]

I just got hired on I’ll be in GA in January

[@rshack9847]

@@TheRealBGThey do a urine test and they’re supposed to take a hair sample and test that as well. When I went through some had the hair test and some didn’t. You’re also subject to random urine and breath tests whenever on duty. You’ll just show up to work come in the office and there be the piss man. Can’t blow above a .019 if I’m not mistaken so I would highly recommend that if you decide to have a drink the night before work, make sure it’s A DRINK not drinks and plenty of water/food to get it out of your system. A rule g violation puts you in the street for minimum of 9 months

[@StevieGevie-dq7yr]

​@@rshack9847I've already had my medical exam and drug test (had to do those before getting approved for a start date.) Do I do those again in ATL?

[@StevieGevie-dq7yr]

​@@derekwilkerson7142When did they actually tell you your start date? My profile has said "awaiting start date" since Nov 10. Though I figured it wouldn't be until the new year, I imagine I'd hear something soon! Seems ridiculous to me that we don't have someone to contact.

[@32bdavi]

What days are you off during training?

[@trainor6productions4268]

Down at Mcdonough you get weekends off when you’re on your O.J.T it’s pretty much whenever you have days scheduled off.

[@timabbibanti3952]

My training and instructors sucked. The only ones who were helpful were the contractors from Canadian National

[@jordandennis1699]

How long was it before you received your first paycheck for training?

[@trainor6productions4268]

Depends on your start date. You should get an email before you go down with all the pay information and days in it.

[@JustinPerry-j8x]

Did they do another physical when you get down there? I did one before I went down there.

[@trainor6productions4268]

You either do it before or when you get down there

[@twilson9068]

How long was it before you got a start date? I finish all application in hiring process?

[@trainor6productions4268]

It was about 3 weeks for the background check. And then probably about three weeks till I got the start date. I applied November 15 background check was around December 3. Then around Christmas time I got my start date of February 20.

[@frankiejanvari]

they expect you to know signals before you start your first day of training??are you sure doesn't make sense for people with no prior railroad experience?

[@trainor6productions4268]

I said they will send you your signal’s before your first day. You need to know them by the Wednesday of the week three

[@chewbacca349]

I just got hired on with NS, thank you so much for this video

[@dovynadela1016]

Have you started your training yet? How long did it take after taking the medical to start date?

[@TaseanRobinson]

I just got my offer letter to from NS

[@x-streamdripautodetailing464]

I’m waiting on next video I start on the 22nd

[@bakeract5775]

What’s your work location?

[@trainor6productions4268]

I will get it out soon on my last 2 weeks of OJT

[@davidstewart5694]

Some TMs keep trying to talk me into going to the dark side, I'm like that company needs to get their act together before I did that. I'll just stay where I'm at and keep rrr going.

[@itswillyummm]

Did you pay for housing accommodations out of your own pocket?

[@timabbibanti3952]

No they pay for your hotel

[@yomaramercado4424]

Were there females there? My biggest worry is being able to lift heavy weight s😅

[@trainor6productions4268]

Ya we had 4 or 5 there and I’m pretty sure they all passed. It’s not that many heavy weight things that you have to pick up other than a knuckle that’s about 80 pounds.

[@yomaramercado4424]

@@trainor6productions4268 thank you so much appreciate it’n