“If the industry as a whole started to pay a living wage, you would find people who would stick around and learn like the old timers used to instead of skipping town at a better opportunity.”

We do pay a “living wage”. Based on surveys done in our region, we offer mostly competitive wages. Depending on the trade, some are on the lower end and some are on the higher end of the scale. You have to keep in mind one thing; you can only pay people what you can afford. That translates to what the market will bear, i.e. your customers, and in our case, both passengers and contract customers. As a case in-point, I remember in the early 90s being called “The Strasburgulars” by a client. While it was said tongue in cheek, I also think he meant it somewhat. We have also have had any number of potential passengers state they couldn’t afford to pay our fares and they will go elsewhere for something fun to do. This is why Walmart thrives while your local mom and pop hardware store goes out of business. That is because cheaper is always better, right?
When we interview, the first question I ask them is “why do you want to work here”. That usually tells me a lot about their motivation for wanting the job. If they don’t have an interest in the Rail Road or railroading in general, they usually just want a paycheck. People who just want a paycheck will most times “skip town for a better opportunity” when that opportunity arrives.

“The thing I seem to find is that there are those places that are looking for somebody, but they don't want to hire someone new and teach them the ways of the road.”

At present, I have 6 people (out of 22 full-time) who are 26 years old or younger.

“Steam maintenance and preservation is a lifetime of learning, but I can confidently say that I could “hit the ground running” with my experience and background. (Resume available)”

We have advertised on RYPN classifieds on two occasions over the last 5 years and got next to no responses. We have been using Craig’s List and the local Trade school with satisfactory results.

Rick

If you do, and I won't dispute it, you are about the only one.

IF there had been opportunities to earn a tradesman like wage in railway preservation back forty years ago, I'd be doing that, instead of what I'm doing now. But I learned early on, "There is no money in railway preservation."

I made a decent but not opulent living in railway preservation and would still be doing so if family medical issues hadn't made me a full time caregiver with a second full time stay-at-home job to cover the bills. You can build a career, but it takes a lot of flexibility and the ability to go to where the next job happens. The discipline to put most of the pay in the bank to tide you over until the next job is also important........ raising a family can be difficult under those circumstances. Like anything, it's a question of priorities.

My worst days railroading were better than my best days keeping computers fed and comfortably cool........

We found out on both the BN and the Texas State RR, that new hires who grew up on a farm often do much better at anything mechanical or operational than the general public. This applies to farm girls, too. Likewise, new hires from railroad families, or those with machinist Fathers, also are much more likely to have a clue and catch on quick. Nepotism has been the hiring system for so long because it often works pretty well.

Nowadays, any young person who knows about anything besides playing with cellular cyber toys is hard to find. The word from the trenches is that they want to make trains you can drive with a cell phone app, since that's about the only skill the labor pool has any more.

People who actually know what real work is are worth training and paying as well as possible, and are more likely to stick with employers who try their best to do so. It's true that many of the best employees also have an interest in railroading that goes much deeper than a paycheck, but there's a lot to be said for hiring folks who view their job as a job, rather than a chance to play choo choo on your dime.

When I had my plantation railroad project, I had visitors from all over the country who loved trains and could talk choo choo all day long. However, the visitors who asked the most intelligent questions by far were the tobaco chewing, uneducated, low income type locals. If you want some good help, put up a hiring notice at your nearest John Deere dealership or truck stop.

Of couse I'm talking ancient history, but I was very well compensated, and very well treated, by both the BN and Texas State RR when I worked for a living. I don't think either one pays what it used to, but BNSF is always hiring, and TSRR posted two job openings on this discussion board recently. Bet it still beats the Hell out of working for McDonald's or Wally World.

Railroading is the only thing I have ever done, enjoyed, and got paid for it. I'm doing something else at the moment, but working on a project which will get me back in the place I need to be. Oh, I still volunteer for an organization to get my steam fix, but more than ready to get my hands dirty to make the magic happen.

It's not an easy life if you have a family, and the day will come for most which one you will have to pick which one you have to do. But if you stay abreast, something will come your way, sometimes unexpectedly.