Making a big assumption on this railroading job but I'm guessing it's really always like this from start to finish. This is especially true for the conductor job.

You start because you need some entry level job that pays well, this gives you some starting salary that's between 60 - 100 k. Not bad and all but you realize that applying is a matter of who of the bigger railroads gives you a chance for an interview. Some are so bombarded with applications that you might end up losing it out just from sheer numbers. The pre assessments test are easy but they're clearly just bs, union pacific was this like personality test that apparently I failed at. This bugs me sure but the "test" was just the same as others. Some give you these "physics" and "mechanical" knowledge questions. Nothing is hard or anything but you need to basically "wait" until you get your start date at some training center.

You either drive, book the flight, or greyhound and get there. You're bombarded with info and need to cram study for weeks (mostly stuff that's memorized....) You get the position and boom, you hate your life.

You're probably gonna be out in the city but if NS jobs are indication of anything, sometimes you compromise and live in the middle of bumfuck Idaho. You have no life, you work. Sometimes under some extreme sleep deprivation and chugging coffee. The pays good at first compared to almost other entry level jobs, but you don't do anything with your free time because of that "on call" day to day you live under. You MIGHT have time for a social life but it's like it starts and you can't go anywhere with new friends because.... well you're away from your place. Get lucky and hook up? Maybe? Close friends and family? hell no.

The job itself isn't THAT stressful, it's just boring and lame with a lot of waiting. By the time you set off, it's the same ole same ole. There might be some stuff like, iono someone jumps in front of the train? Hobo hitching a ride.... ughh.... some other dark stuff but other wise, it's boring as hell.

You sleep in the middle of no where at a hotel after the train is in its destination and... well.. you return back to where you are to complete the route to go home tired to wait at least a day or two after a full rest to do it again....

You just get sick of it because that life style is so boring and depressing that you make the leap to cash out to do something in school or just wait it out for a pension. MAYBE you might find some other railroad job that isn't as taxing but that's it.

Is that basically what I'm looking into as a conductor?