RailRoadFan.com

PatAzo wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 14, 2023 11:00 pm

Graduate college. Go into a class one management training program. Learn the business from the management prospective. Be a manager. Network with people in industry (not just railroads). Watch for opportunities to advance.

NSSD70ACe wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 14, 2023 11:27 pm

PatAzo wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 14, 2023 11:00 pm

Graduate college. Go into a class one management training program. Learn the business from the management prospective. Be a manager. Network with people in industry (not just railroads). Watch for opportunities to advance.

You want to learn how it really works, do it properly from the ground up. That’s the only right way, and it’ll give you street cred with the crews. As a product of that type of program (after saying for years that I wouldn’t, until I was forced), it’s an awful way to learn.

Mark F wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 14, 2023 7:33 pm

I'd ask Warren Buffett if he'd adopt you. He said he bought BNSF because his parents never bought him a train set when he was a kid.

SD80MAC wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 18, 2023 1:26 pm

These would be freight cycles,

David Collins wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 18, 2023 2:33 pm

Dalek...If I were you...scale back your expectations by 10. I know a higher-up that works for the Aberdeen, Carolina, and Western Railroad (ACWR) shortline down in North Carolina. I've learned a lot from him as to how railroads (like his) work, and after me reading your proposed commuter rail systems, fictional railroads, etc. I think you need a lesson about railroading logistics.

There are SEVERAL threads on this very website where AARR (a man who has studied the railroads from top down) has posted the industry activity, such as how many cars they get, what they're carrying, etc. I think you should look at those first and get a good understanding as to how railroading logistics work, ask questions about it until you understand it, then we can talk.

Now this may not sound relevant, but I was originally thinking about majoring in marketing, but now I'm going to be majoring in IT and M&A, starting in the fall. IT stands for Information Technology and M&A stands for Mergers and Acquisitions. Particularly M&A, which is also very important for railroads wanting to improve operations by Merging or Acquiring companies. A good example: CP taking over the Montreal Maine and Atlantic before the CPKC merger. This merger was a galaxy brain move, aside from CP bailing out the MM&A after the Lac Megantic nightmare, this acquisition gave the railroad the oppurtunity to give them a presence in the Northeast US, which all railroads want. M&A is also good for just operations in general as you learn about logistics and how things work internally in a company.

I'm changing my major because my dad (One of the people who got me into trains) is currently a Chief Information Officer/Chief Operating Officer, and he has taken several companies public on Wall Street. So I know he's serious when he tells me that if there's any people needed at railroads, it's operations/M&A/IT people that have actual experience with railroads.

Also, don't expect to given the top job right away, work up the chain of command, some of the best railroad CEO's started out as track workers, engineers, conductors, etc.

Lessons you can learn from this:

A. Look at the threads where we talk about logistics/customers involved, don't be afraid to ask questions, this is why the website is here
B. Think about majoring in a position that railroads actually need.
C. Most importantly...lower your expectations.

Steve B wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 19, 2023 11:29 am

You're not in high school yet, right? Just focus for now on doing well in school. Don't try to make up your mind at this point about your future career. You still have years to consider different paths and you might get interested in something totally different.

dalek ling wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 19, 2023 12:21 pm

I’m in the high school, just my biography is a little out dated.