Unique job opportunity

[gto109]

good luck

[Lt.Del]

that is quite a climb, up Mt. Washington. Must have a 383 stroker in that train engine.

I agree w/ the majority here, sounds like a lot of fun refurbishing in the off season.  The off-season will be cold, cold and windy.  I study the happenings of the Appalachian Trail all the time  and will be walking across the mountain (5 yrs, 260 +- days to retirement) that has measured the most powerful wind force on the planet, until last year's dethroning from the land down under, in midst of my 2,100 mile trek to Maine.

[bobcooter]

Steady money is good money. Good luck!

[thirsty]

Well this job never happened for me last winter. They were shot down by upper level management about creating another position in their shop.

Tonight I was contacted by them again with another offer different from the first one. This time somebody has left his position for health reasons and they need a replacement. Through out the winter the job would be the same as last years offer but the kicker is that in the summer months I would be on the trains.

The wife and I discussed this over dinner and for a while afterwards. Times are still tough for us. The Cog Railway would still be a job that most have never done and I was excited to do it last year. I didn't think running the trains would be my cup of tea. Figured the novelty would wear off quick and then it would be just another job in the tourist industry. Then on the other hand, financially I had a less than stellar year (as you can see from my lack of truck progress). We both agreed that I should talk to them again. I called the guy back and told him to set up a meeting with the appropriate people and more than likely I would take the job if we can agree on money.

[Tx_Phil]

It still sounds like a great opportunity. Sometimes we are presented with opportunities that we don't think are the best fit and then end up being very happy.

I work in the IT sector and thought I was in good shape but then the layoffs came and I got tagged. Being the sole supporter for a family of five I was more than nervous. I got really lucky and found a job but it was not what I really wanted and it was almost a 50% pay cut but it was a job. That was back in 2004. I'm still there and now I have a Director title and I still love what I do.

I say give it a go. You never know what it could turn in to!!

[Blazin]

You could always transfer to a different job once your in after a couple years if it turns out to be not the best thing.

[bake74]

     As my momma used to say, " you will never know until you try ", if you don't try, you will not know wether you like it or not.

[thirsty]

Looks like on Monday I will be getting intimate with trains.

Here is the funny part. No interview. All the negotiating was done via text message. I thought the guy I knew was just texting me questions so he could talk to his management with the correct information on what I would need and when I could start. Then next thing I know I get a text message saying "Done deal if your still in: $xx.xx to start, bump up to $xx.xx in the spring if it works out. Start Monday." So I asked him if I needed to go out there and fill out some paperwork, meet people or whatever. His reply was "Nope, like I said, done deal. We can take care of paperwork Monday."

I thought about what just happened for a few minutes and laughed.

[firefighter]

Wow, I'm super stoked for you buddy !!!
Times are tough all over my friend thirsty. We sometimes have to deviate from the things we really like to do, and go do things that are "a job". We have the need to so what's best for us, and our families.
Who knows, there may be a big shift in a couple years and you leave the trains and go back to doing what you'd truly like to be doing. I just feel good that you have the opportunity and skill to land the job you did. They'll be lucky to have you.
Congrats Mr. Thirsty !!!

[bd]

...I thought about what just happened for a few minutes and laughed.

Your reputation preceded you!  Congrats!!  Well done!!!!   

[zieg85]

Two huge customers of ours buying literally tons of powder paint one just announced they were going to close the doors and the other filed chapter 11.  I am happy for you, sounds like a fun job...

[thirsty]

I think it is going to be an awesome job right out of the gate. It will have a steep learning curve for sure. Not many diesel locomotives stop by the garage...lol Maybe by the time summer rolls around I might have a new outlook on going up and down the mountain. I know that I would be more comfortable in a workshop but it is just how they do things there. The fellow I replaced was just the opposite. He enjoyed the mountain but the shop was too much for him in the winter months. I fully understand that anybody that runs the trains should know how they work and anybody that works on the trains should know how they run.

For now it will beat doing construction jobs at just over cost just to have some income. And another bonus will be that I won't have to use my garage to supliment my income, I can do so if I want or use it just to finish the old chevy.

I am actually pretty excited to get started doing this.

[gto109]

Congratulations Thirsty.  By trade I am a truck driver but I work at a factory shuttling trailers all night.  That job was just to be an in between job while I was lookin to get back on the big road again.  I have been there almost 5 years now and have no intention of leaving.  I like the home time a lot better and the pay is decent.  Who knows maybe you will like this job and stay awhile.

[bake74]

No interview. All the negotiating was done via text message.

     
You have got to put that on your résumé, that right there is a conversation starter for sure.

It will have a steep learning curve for sure. Not many diesel locomotives stop by the garage...lol   I fully understand that anybody that runs the trains should know how they work and anybody that works on the trains should know how they run.

     Does this mean in the winter time you will be working on the Diesel engines of the trains ?

[thirsty]

     Does this mean in the winter time you will be working on the Diesel engines of the trains ?

Yes. During the winter I will be in the locomotive shop. Summer time I will have a position doing something on the trains as they make their runs up and down the mountain. I'm fairly certain they won't expect me to be an engineer. We never really discussed what that part of the job was because for me it was all about working in the shop. The way that outfit works is that you have to pay your dues on the train and wait for an opening in the shop. Not everybody that works on the trains works in the shop during the winter either. So in order for me to go directly into the shop I had to agree to do the trains in the summer.

No interview. All the negotiating was done via text message.

     
You have got to put that on your résumé, that right there is a conversation starter for sure.

Funny isn't it? Job offer to start date.
In their defense: I do know the shop foreman well. I also know that he has poor phone reception at that shop but can text.
But in my defense: I wouldn't know the man that actually hired me if he walked into my garage tonight. lol