If you want to work on the railroad, and live and work in a very scenic area of the San Francisco Bay Area, now is your chance. SMART, the Sonoma Marin Area Rapid Transit will be operating brand new commuter trains along 43 miles of track, stopping at 10 stations, beginning late 2016. SMART’s two-car trains are currently being manufactured and undergoing testing. 2015 & 2016 will bring final operating and service plans and schedules, completion of regulatory testing requirements and the ramp-up to the start of service. In a newspaper ad run May 18th, 2014, SMART stated: “Check out the SMART website at http://www.sonomamarintrain.org for project information and updates--and to get on board! SMART will be hiring for Operations positions in 2014 -- click on the ‘Employment’ link on our home page to get more info.” SMART also stated: “Key construction milestones over the next year include remaining track, crossing and bridge construction, seven segments of Pathway for station access, strengthening of the Puerto Suello Tunnel in San Rafael, replacement of the Haystack Bridge over the Petaluma River, construction of the Operations & Maintenance Facility, completion of systems & signal work, and station platforms & finishes.” If our economy keeps improving, the SMART trains will eventually run from the San Francisco Bay on the south to Cloverdale in the north. This route is through Wine Country. Lots of luck, Jim
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Naw.... Wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly good hobby :-)
Nor do I want to Live in Cali, Land of taxes and politics I disagree with.
Has nicer weather than New England tho...
I'd live in California in a heartbeat, but I think I've aged out of the job market....
Jeff C
Yes, but. I flunked the N&W back xray in 1975 and have no expectation that my L2 disc (or lack there-of) looks any better today....
Gilly
Speak of the N&W (Norfolk and Southern, same-same) They are hiring like crazy as well right now.
Jim,
I'm interested, do they have an age limit???
FREDSTRAINS
You have to make more money to live in San Francisco than New York or any other U.S. City.
I grew up on that line. It's great to see it running again. Don
Attachments
Could a person afford to live in the Bay Area on the salary of a commuter train operator ?
I don't think so. Two people would have to be working full time and good luck buying a house. Don
Guys,
Are you serious?Am I dreaming???????????????? If I wasn't tied down, I'd go in a heartbeat....Family business to run, 34 year marriage and all, if I were much younger(35 years) I'm 57!!!!! Jeez-Louise, this opportunity is about 35 years late!!!!
**** of an opportunity for a young man or woman though!
Mike Maurice
I have no idea what the jobs would pay, but making enough to live comfortably in the SF area is tough. The climate, restaurants, and entertainment opportunities are awesome, but the taxes and political climate are pretty severe in my view. I had a great business opportunity in Oakland and while I thought long and hard about it, decided that it didn't make good economic sense.
Art
Well, I'm not politically sensitive nor do I need a million dollar house. That would be pretty cool. But, my wife would say NOOOOOOO, ARE YOU CRAZY? So, I guess I can't.
Rick
This will most likely be a well paying job with excellent benefits. Yes, prices are high in the Bay Area but so are the salaries. It balances out. I think that they will have many more applicants than positions available. Hopefully this will ease some of the traffic congestion on U.S. 101 north of San Francisco.
Joe
Always wanted to be a locomotive engineer (but never did). My uncle had me in the cab of an N&W GP30 when I was about 14 and I learned to "drive" it.
Rapid Transit? That's the same as light rail isn't? Probably more like a streetcar conductor than a real engineer! LOL
Thanks for the info, but I'll stick with IT.
I would tell anyone young and ambitious enough to DO IT - take the chance!!!! Why not? Sounds like a fantastic opportunity...plus, as Forbes reminds us in the LIONEL article http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2 ... gital-age/  , trains are once again the future in the 21st century.
BTW, housing prices in coastal California - from Mendocino south to San Diego - are a bit of a shocker. The "million-dollar house" in Santa Barbara or on the SanFran Peninsula will net you 1400 - 1700 sq.ft. Costs will probably be less north of San Fran, however. Good luck!!!
Speak of the N&W (Norfolk and Southern, same-same) They are hiring like crazy as well right now.
Now that would be an opportunity for a young ambitious person. Maybe I'll try it in my next life. Oil and gas career was a good one in this life.