Want to work in the United States?

Relayed from a septic forum. Might suit someone:

Strasburg Rail Road Company

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE: Steam Locomotive Restoration Specialist

FLSA: Non-exempt

POSITION REPORTS TO: Boiler or Machinery Shop Supervisor as assigned.

POSITION PURPOSE: A Steam Locomotive Restoration Specialist’s primary purpose is to use specialized knowledge and skill in maintaining, constructing, repairing and operating historic and reproduction steam locomotives. This is a senior level position for an individual with unique abilities and experience in the field of steam locomotive restoration. A Steam Locomotive Restoration Specialist will be responsible for assisting Boiler Shop or Machinery Shop supervisors with locomotive restoration projects in applying his or her specialized knowledge in hands on work or in managing restoration projects of large scope.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
• Assist Boiler Shop and Machinery Shop Supervisors, Chief Mechanical Officer and Contract Services personnel as needed by providing advice, input or feedback about locomotive restoration projects proposed or in process as requested.
• Perform the function of a project manager as assigned.
• Observe steam locomotives in operation to identify problems and their sources.
• Perform specialized maintenance and inspection of locomotive boilers, steam driven appurtenances, steam and water piping, tender tanks, running gear, engines and other locomotive systems.
• Fabricate parts using machine and hand tools, welders, cutting torches, plasma cutters, and other metal working equipment.
• Keep workplace clean and orderly.
• Comply with instructions provided by supervisors.
• Operate machinery such as but not limited to forklifts, telehandlers, skid-steer loader, backhoe.
• Remove and replace defective parts using lifting equipment such as overhead cranes as required.
• Document work as required.
• Perform additional duties as required.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS:
• Demonstrates proficiency in knowledge of steam locomotive design, construction, maintenance, repair and operation.
• Able to identify properly and improperly functioning systems and diagnose problems.
• Carries out proper and efficient repairs in compliance with company policies.
• Fabricates parts to specified dimensions and tolerances.
• Able to identify parts and materials appropriate for application.
• Anticipates need for materials and makes requisitions in a timely manner.
• Seeks instruction when needed to complete inspections and repairs properly.
• Manages project workflow to complete projects on time.
• Shows up to work on time, properly attired and prepared to work.
• Enthusiastically takes on responsibility and aids Team Members to accomplish department goals.
• Works safely and efficiently and maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
• Complies with instructions from superiors and works independently when required.
• Complies with all policies outlined in the Employee Handbook or supplemental policy or guideline memos from the President.
• Works well with others

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Position requires specialized knowledge of the construction, maintenance, repair and operation techniques related to historic steam locomotives.
• Working knowledge of FRA regulations.
• Enthusiasm for the company and its mission.
• Ability to carry out verbal or written instructions.
• Proficient in the use of welding machines, oxy/fuel torch rigs, plasma cutters, angle grinders and other metal fabrication tools.
• Proficient in the use of machine tools, such as band saws and manual lathes and milling machines.
• Proficient with the use of hand and power tools.
• Ability to read and work mechanical drawings.
• Strong project management skills.
• Working knowledge of arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, and algebraic math.
• Organizational skills and careful attention to detail.
• Willingness to work at heights on ladders, scaffolds, man lifts or on top of rail mounted equipment.
• Availability to work flexible hours, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Willingness and desire to learn.
• Additional qualifications such as familiarity CAD drawing software, mechanical engineering principles, ASME and NBIC codes and experience as a certified conductor or engineer are desirable.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Full-time, minimum forty (40) hours per week. Regular shop hours are 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Shift has regular variations due to changing projects, priorities, and other factors.
• Work is primarily indoors, though many duties will require occasional outdoor work in all weather conditions in all seasons.
• Work requires regular social contact with Team Members, customers, and vendors.
• Occasional exposure to very hot or very cold temperatures.
• Frequent exposure in a shop setting to soot, dust, oil, paint, and other potentially hazardous substances.
• Frequent work in confined spaces.
• Frequent need for personal protective equipment.
• Extended periods of walking or standing.
• Frequent lifting in excess of 50 pounds.

INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTION:
Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified Team Members are selected. They are also essential to an effective appraisal system and related promotion, transfer, layoff, and termination decisions. Well-constructed job descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks only incidentally related to each position have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. Supervisors as deemed appropriate may assign additional functions and requirements. In accordance to the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the Team Member or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Team Members can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

If interested, contact the Strasburg Rail Road at 717-687-8421 or at Jobs@strasburgrailroad.com

 

The guy they're looking for wears a blue outfit with his red underpants worn on top !

Bob.

 

That seems to be another go at advertising the position as it was originally posted back in mid-August on one of the US forums - It was posted again on there yesterday.
At least Strasburg is in a very nice part of the US and the quality of their work there is outstanding.

 

Not sure I'd leap at a job that includes in the job description "team members can be terminated for any reason"!

Tom

 

Did it specify knowledge of working in American or Metric?

 

Would you not need to be a US Citizen or be eligible for a Green Card (needs a sponsor) for anyone from this country to be able to apply?

 

the joys of working in (parts) of The Land Of The Free...

I'd be worried about "Complies with all policies outlined in the Employee Handbook or supplemental policy or guideline memos from the President."
Which president...?

Overall, the spec seems to be an amalgam of Bob Meanly, Colin Furze, and superman...

 

Were all steam locomotives in Britain built in metric then?

 

This job description could also be applied to any of the heritage railway workshops in the UK. In addition it would be expected that the post holder would be capable of first line fault-finding and fixes on associated plant and equipment, rail cars, diesel locomotives and anything else that moves. Unfortunately the changes in the engineering sector ( what's left of it) and training makes this range of skill sets very difficult to come by in one person, as a number of railways have found to their cost.

 

Aaaaargh! Nooooo. ............ please don't go there @ross. We've already got the Great Livery Debate, Brexit and West Somerset threads to give us all some sense of perpetual stasis!

 

Can someone explain what a "septic forum" is? I wondered about "separate", but that would be extreme even for auto-correct.

 

“Septic tank” = yank. i.e. an American forum.

Tom

 

No, but they also weren't built to USA customary measures (Short Ton, Queen Anne Gallon,etc). When "Imperial Measures" were standardized in UK by Weights & Measures Act 1824, USA was already independent and went its own way.

 

My experience of working in the states showed the biggest issue is getting a visa. In my case it got as far as leaning on a congressman by the railway owner because of the specialist nature of work to be done.

 

In the USA the guy that does oil changes and fits light bulbs is an engineer,if you can drill and tap a hole you would be a machinist etc
Don’t pay too much attention to the descriptions used we don’t get what they really mean as they are Derived from litigation of the past transposed to job roles of today.
I have worked in that area of the USA for 6 years in the past and it’s a nice place to live to be honest,
Visa wise they will most likely support you and you may get a “legal alien certificate” as I did on the basis of knowledge.
Kicking. The green card thing down the road a year or two.
My experience is that most competent loco fitters volunteers or not will be streets ahead of the normal skill levels
Of USA born applicants,
Watch out for the level of medical covered and check it includes dental, it’s grim there if your insurance is too thin.
Would I go for it if I was younger? I probably would, an English accent north or south is a bonus, the ladies love it.
If you are out of work here why not lol you would be working on some chunky kit, and they do some things differently.
From the local population they probably had zero candidates so a repost is not unusual.

 

Thank you. I ought to have thought of that.

 

Last line is spot on, and furthermore far fewer potential qualified throughout the country in proportion to the UK or Germany. Nearest full workshops would probably be at Scranton and Cass, perhaps Churston would be equivalent in England.

 

That's the case in most jobs in the US - employers can terminate you at any time for any reason. I made myself very unpopular in the five years I was a manager over there by refusing to dismiss female employees who became pregnant.

Life over there can be very good though.

 

"STRASBURG RAIL ROAD OVERVIEW
The Strasburg Rail Road is the oldest continuously operating railroad in the western hemisphere and the oldest public utility in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The staff at Strasburg Rail Road come from unusually diverse demographic backgrounds. The company is 27.5% female and 39.7% ethnic minorities. Even though it has great demographic diversity, Strasburg Rail Road notably lacks in political diversity. It has an unusually high proportion of employees who are members of the Republican Party, at 72.2%. Despite having coworkers who agree with each other about politics, employees at Strasburg Rail Road tend to have relatively short tenures. Staff members usually stay with the company for 2.7 years. The average employee at Strasburg Rail Road makes $58,067 per year. Pay at Strasburg Rail Road is significantly lower than some of its highest paying competitors, like O'Currance Teleservices, Just Energy, and Dunham's Athleisure, which pay $95,595, $79,299, and $69,751, respectively.
Based in Pennsylvania, Strasburg Rail Road is a small transportation company with only 45 employees and an annual revenue of $5.5M."

Not bad for five miles of track and only one staffed station, only a run round loop at the other end. No signals, hand thrown points, no hi-vis, lots of smoke, train staff riding on footsteps. 300,000 passengers a year! I don't think any volunteers are used either.

 

I've been there several times and it is certainly a well run outfit based in a particularly nice, "touristy" area (Amish country)...
And yes, they do run with 9 well filled coaches on most of the trains I've seen in the past!



The engineering side of things is capable of a very high standard of work from what I have seen on one of the US Preservation forums, even if they can actually be held responsible for coming up with this....