This seems to go along with what I have heard. Trying to get home more is the goal and still have a nice retirement. But I don't like but am OK with being gone a few days a week that would be home more than I am now with the intention of transferring to a 8hr job that home as son as available.

Watching my plant get ran in the ground and loosing production and business, and hiting my limit on being away from home and 60 to 100 hr weeks hiting a year and a half's hours each year. Has me running # $ and looking at all the option to make a change. Change is also scary after 19 years, and having developed a few health issues. I'm no longer a spit fire in my 20s.

I don't work on call but my guess is it isn't that bad.

The guys I know who have on call type jobs, know when it's their turn and the get some compensation even if they don't go in. They aren't alone call every week or weekend.

A close neighbor works for a railroad the last 12 years. He worked for a tree trimming company before that. I know he is rarely home and sleeps in a motel alot from what I am told. Good pay and pension but he has 3 young girls that won't see much of him if he continues his work load he currently has.

My grand pap was a lifer on the Monogahela Railroad as was one of his sons. Both weren't around much but made a good salary and pension. I worked on that same railroad 4 years during summer break from university. I was on the track gang, spiking rails, tamping gravel and unloading creosote ties when needed. Not a job I would want to do daily for life.

I believe Union Pacific is in the process of buying Norfolk Southern.