If your youngster lights up at the sound of a train, eyes gleaming with fascination at its power and speed, then you’ve learned a virtually universal truth. Kids love trains. They love to build model trains, watch videos of trains, learn about trains in museums and, of course, ride trains.

 

They’ve been working on the railroad.

It takes lots of people with different roles to make a railroad run. With millions of passengers riding the rails every day, everyone who makes a living on the railroad does something important and interesting…and has a story to go with their job.

JACQUELINE CLARK, USHER

What is your day like?
I show passengers to their trains, announce train arrivals and departures, and give passengers other information at our special booth in the station.

What do you like best about your job?
Every day is different! I meet many interesting people whose needs are different, and the rewards are instantaneous. I’ve had the opportunity to work with sports teams and other VIPs who are friendly and appreciate the service we provide.

LOU DRUMMETER, SLEEPING CAR ATTENDANT

What do you do for sleeping car passengers?
I prepare their rooms for sleeping by lowering their beds, ask them for their wake-up time, and check on their needs before retiring. Next morning, I provide a wake-up call, room service, and “local color” chit-chat about what they see along the route.

What do you like about your job?
I love getting the chance to know my passengers and helping to make their trip fun and educational. Because of my daughter, I have particularly enjoyed meeting children’s book authors and illustrators. In fact, even after 15 years on the job, I still like the train so much that I took my family on a three-week vacation across the country so my family could see the country and I could experience the “other side” of the window!

DARRYL HINES, CHEF

Do you decide what meals to serve onboard?
No, that’s done by food industry specialists.

What's the most popular dish for kids and adults?
For kids, I’d have to say the “build your own” hamburger with all the fixins’ and chips. Adults seem to like the roast chicken and steak dishes.

How did you come to work for Amtrak?
Nine years ago, I had retired from the Navy where I was a chef on a destroyer and then at the Pentagon. When I joined Amtrak, they needed chefs and, since I liked working in the kitchen so much, I became a chef on the railroad.

How can you sum up your experience?
That I have missed only one day since joining Amtrak tells you how much I love my job and the people I meet, not only from here in the U.S. but from other countries as well. I’m even the chef at home, and my kids love it. I was very happy to attend the awards ceremony when Amtrak won for having the best uniform in transportation, and I am proud to wear it every day!

MARISOL MUNOZ, CONDUCTOR

What does a conductor do on the train?
In addition to collecting the tickets, I manage the operation of the train along with the engineer and make sure we are following the “rules of the road.” We are in charge of the safe operation of the train and with assisting passengers with their needs.

What kinds of experiences have been unique to your job?
I recall when a passenger in first class brought a parrot on board and claimed that it was a service animal. It squawked the entire trip! Once, a passenger tried to bring a goat on the train and we had to ask him to leave when the goat relieved himself on the platform.

What are your most memorable moments?
Working in Southern California, there have been many, like when I met movie stars and famous people and sheltered them and their families from autograph seekers so they could enjoy the ride.

LINDA KATZ, LEAD TICKET AGENT

How many tickets do you sell each day?
Working in New York Pennsylvania Station, which is very busy, we sell an average of 200 tickets per day, times 12 agents. As a Lead Agent, I am also responsible for helping other agents when they have questions or problems with passenger needs or ticketing.

What are some of your other duties?
I am in charge of overseeing our 25 Quik-Trak machines, which are automated self-serve ticketing kiosks. When I am out in the station, I help passengers who need directions or questions answered. A common one is, “Where is the train?” In our station, you must descend two levels to the tracks.

What do you do in your spare time?
I have enjoyed riding the trains with my family on both the East and West coasts.

What memorable moments have occurred during your workday?
Being in New York, we have had celebrities and famous politicians in the station on occasion. One day, a famous star asked to be seated in the first class lounge until his brother arrived with his tickets. As he was traveling incognito, I didn’t recognize him until I asked for his reservation number and I found his name in the computer! And then everyone around me know who this famous star was.

Lee Murphy, Passenger Conductor

What does a conductor do?
I always wear a special uniform and a hat so that passengers will recognize me. I make sure that all of the passengers are on board the train, and just before the train leaves the station I call out, “All Aboard,” so no one gets left behind. Then I go through each car on the train and take everyone’s ticket. At each stop I make sure passengers get on and off as quickly as possible so that we are not late for the next stop. Most of all, my job is to make sure everybody on board my train has a safe and happy trip.

What is the best part of the job?
This is a fun job because I get to meet a lot of different and interesting people.

What is the most difficult?
Sometimes it's tough because I have to work a variety of days and hours including the weekend and sometimes overnight.

Phil Gosney, Engineer

Is it harder to drive a train than to drive a car?
It’s harder to drive a car because you have to watch out for other drivers and you never know what they may do. Also, engineers do not call operating the train “driving” the train, we usually call it “running or operating“ the train.

Do you need to be good at math or have really good eyesight to be a locomotive engineer?
You do not need to be good at math, but you do need to have good eyesight and be able to concentrate and focus well. An engineer also needs to be very familiar with the route that he/she is assigned to. For example, the engineer needs to know the location of the signals, the bends, curves, hills and stops. This is important because in most places, engineers operate the train by hand, or manually. So it’s very important to know the route so that the train starts, runs and stops smoothly. In the Northeast region, the busiest part of our rail system, train operations are mostly computerized.

Is there a school for what you do?
Yes, Amtrak has a school for aspiring engineers in Wilmington, Delaware. Anyone who wants to be an engineer must study the rules, pass several tests and practice on a train simulator. They must also train with an experienced engineer for 6 -12 months before they can operate their own train. I currently help train new engineers who ride with me on the California Zephyr®.

Peggy Keifner, Ticket Agent

How many tickets do you sell a day? Why are your customers riding the train?
I sell about 300 tickets per day and it is busiest in the morning and mid afternoon through the early evening. I meet lots of different types of people including famous people, newscasters, families, students and business people. Also, because I am based in Philadelphia and work on the weekends, I sell lots of tickets to families going to New York to sightsee and a lot of the young girls are excited because they are going to visit the American Girl doll store. Little boys are mostly just excited about riding the train and talk a lot about Thomas the Tank Engine.