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This stuff started in the 1950-1960’s. I worked for two railroads as a brakeman and later a conductor in two summers, and two thanksgiving and Christmas and during semester breaks. I made more money as a brakeman/conductor than I did while working as a college grad for a major company in 1960.

I joined the Navy reserves in 1961 and served the active duty and later 3 years active reserve for 6+ years.

After the active duty, two friends with one of the railroads offered me a great deal. I could return with the previous work counting as seniority and the active Navy time as seniority/time towards retirement. I could have been eligible for a railroad pension before I was 50 years old, the state fire department and a Navy reserve retirement.

Due to federal firefighting skills/2 summers before my Railroad time, I could have worked 3- 12 hour shifts per week as full time as a fireman for brush and forest fires and 20 years towards retirement including the 2 years active duty Navy time.

Being a Viet Nam era vet, I was eligible to get my MBA with basically no cost to me, which I did. That would have enabled me to teach at a state college for another paycheck and retirement.

14 more years in the Navy reserve would have qualified me another retirement.

You did brush firefighting?

You’ve got a pair of hangers. Man... You earned some serious respect from me, especially on top of military service.

My husband has been trying to find work on the rails as a mechanic, but Chicago’s already locked in. Things here are worse than ever, and we’re trying to get out. Too poor to stay, too poor to leave; we’re stuck.

My Dad worked for the New York Central Railroad out of Rochester, New York for over 50 years. Had a 4th grade education. Started as a laborer, and retired as a Track Foreman. He loved the railroad. And thank you for your service. My brother was a Vietnam Vet...U.S. Army, 25th Division, 4th Battalion, (Mech) 23rd Infantry...Cu Chi...'66-67'.

My youngest son, now 53, worked as a dispatcher for a small railroad in Coopertown, New York for a couple of years. He then got a job working as a dispatcher for Conrail in Selkirk, NY. He stayed with it for about 8 years, but left when they merged with Norfolk Southern and CSX. Although he loved trains, he just couldn't see himself working that job for the rest of his life. It was too stressful, especially after the merger.