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.

The best part is I didn't take a Forman job ironworking building smoke stacks when I was 25 becuse I looked at the at the "old guys in their 40s doing that. now that was 2 decades ago but I would have been low to mid 6 figures. but I didn't want to be away and watch the kids grow up in pictures and be like all the guys doing so divorced a few times and living to get to the iced down beer in the truck that would hold them over tell they made it to the bar each night. Took a job here instead to get away from the seasonal lay offs working construction and be at home.

Bought the farm for the wifes dream ( 5.5 yaears of looking in 3 states for the right place then my great Uncle died and we were able to buy a small part of the family farm) and so the kids could be raised with room but it's a long way from work. And the last 9 years nothing job wise comes close to the pay and benefits around the house and I just keep going back and forth. The plan was to change Jobs within 2 years of the move. But the jobs suck in comparison.

when we moved to the farm I transferred departments to get on the 12 hr rotating sceduald so I only have to work 14 days out of 28. get 1 one day, two 3 day and one 7 day stretch of days off on this sceduald. it has 32hrs a month of built in overtime pay working 2 Sundays and the over 40 weeks. I worked 16s when offered since I was not going home on days I work due to distance and wanted to make being away from home make the most money for the cost of being away. I didn't work but 6 to ten days off a year back then.

then I had some health scare issues (MS) and asked myself if I get worse and disabled will my family be OK financially. that answer was no. So I made a plan to work a lot get debt free build up savings and started investing heavily the last 2 or 3 years.

I only got into that^^ because of all the flack I get for working so much and how I must not like being around my family BS people spout and assume.

it's a mix of popple that mean well and they are right about the trade off and cost . I know I'm living it and questioning it every day. Then there are others that are jealous it seems. can't make as much money could not work the hours either physically or be willing to make the scrafise to reach goals. and don't like someone doing well with a plan. At least that's how it seem may not be the case.

Well I'm at my main goal of debt level, spent some savings geting things done since taking more time off So that's lowere than I'm comfortable with.( if not I would have bought that red 97 f 350 in ohio Off killbucks here) My body is wore out physically and mentally with the hours And I'm looking for a change to get home more. I can just stop working days off. but the rotating shift, way the plants being run, and in still away from home even if it's only for 5 months total figuring I only work the14 out of 28 so 6 months then subtract 4 weeks vacation. No overtime but forced would still be in the low 70s, still building the pension and heading to 30 and out July first 2036 at 56 yamears old. If the plant stays open. That's less than half of what I have been making But still 20k more a year with the stated benefit than jobs around home typically 50k and poor benefits. And why I keep going in. Well not tonight tonight I called in. Back acting up and wife stressed about her parents and my youngest having some teen know it all smart mouth moments with her. Needed to have a good talk with him, take my wife out to dinner(well she took me actually, I was to gimped uo to drive safely and turn to check blind spots) But I got her out and we had a nice few hours.

Is the money and benefits worth it. I'm thinking no but still want to make enough to be.comfortable and not pay check to pay check. And even debt free and very few bills

My BIL has worked RR for about 25 years. Away from home a lot, always on call and always got called, had to be at work within 90 minutes of a call, stayed in hotels all the time, couldn't plan anything, crazy schedules.