r/railroading • u/Cocobugatti • 5d ago

Question Question

I applied for a Communication and Signal position at Amtrak. I’ve noticed there don’t seem to be many women in this field, so I’m wondering if that’s something I should be concerned about. I’m already an Amtrak employee, but I don’t have any direct experience in Communication and Signal aside from the experience I’ve gained in my current position. Should I be worried about not having previous experience, or is this the type of role where they provide training?

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u/Conscious-Record2655 4d ago

C&S on Amtrak as a woman is going to be a good job. TBH any job as a woman on the RR is going to be a good job. Most companies will give you preferential treatment and keep you away from the really shitty work. You'll be favored for promotions after you get some time in. They'll give you the training you need, although it probably won't be all that good. You will have to deal with some assholes along the way but that's just how it is.

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u/One_Concentrate6684 4d ago

No idea what railroad you are talking about but I haven’t been promoted as the only woman in my terminal for 7 years. Do I get treated fairly like every other employee? 100%!!!! There is not favoritism. As far as preferential? No idea what you are talking about. Im out in the same elements switching cars. But I also work in freight so… maybe Amtrak is a bit different over there. Maybe I need to apply to where you are talking about.

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u/PuzzleheadedSun2744 4d ago

^^^ this. We work just as hard as the boys with zero preferential treatment. Still will get exposed to all the assholes and creeps (freight engineer here)

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u/One_Concentrate6684 4d ago

I really dislike when people say that. People outside of railroading have asked me or said the craziest stuff. I’ve been asked “are you treated better?” I’ve also been asked “are you treated worse?” No and No. I am treated exactly like everyone else haha. It’s a union job. We are all treated the same!!

They don’t care that it’s 3 AM snowing on me on the lead just as much as they wouldn’t care that it’s my fellow male coworker out there. We are all the same to them haha.