Philadelphia, PA Train Conductor

Norfolk Southern Corp. • Philadelphia, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Norfolk Southern Train Conductors are responsible for the safe and efficient movement of freight trains. The work includes building trains by coupling railcars, delivering railcars to customers, transporting trains over long distances, and managing electronic documentation and inspections. Conductors are trained to troubleshoot train issues, report incidents, and follow safety procedures; prior railroad experience is not required.

This is a seniority-based position. New conductors start on the extra board, filling in where needed, and may bid on a regular assignment after building sufficient seniority. Employees must be available on-call 24/7 with as little as 90 minutes’ notice and should expect to spend two to three days away from home each week. Employees must join a union within 60 days after completing training.

Training lasts about 20 weeks and may take longer depending on the assigned location. It combines classroom instruction, field training, and on-the-job experience. The first five weeks are at Norfolk Southern’s Training Center in McDonough, Georgia; the company provides hotel accommodations, weekly meal stipends, and travel reimbursement from the hire location. Remaining training takes place at the assigned location. Successful completion requires passing classroom, field, and on-the-job requirements, including written exams and field evaluations covering physical characteristics, operating rules, safety, hazardous materials, and signal rules.

The position involves working outdoors in all weather, irregular schedules that include on-call work, nights, weekends, and holidays, and constant alertness around heavy, moving, potentially hazardous locomotive engines. Physical requirements include lifting and carrying up to 85 pounds, walking several miles per shift over uneven terrain, and meeting specified railcar ladder hang-test and FRA medical standards.

Conductor trainees earn a minimum of $240 per shift during on-the-job training, with overtime at $30 per hour. First-year conductors average $70,000 annually, while experienced conductors average $84,000. The posting also describes locomotive engineer compensation, but that is a separate role. Medical insurance for employees and eligible dependents begins in the second calendar month of employment. Dental insurance, life insurance, and 401(k) eligibility begin after one year. Employees are covered by Railroad Retirement benefits and taxes. A $5,000 retention bonus is listed as effective July 1, 2026, paid in installments upon training completion and at six and 12 months after training. Vacation eligibility increases with years of service, from two weeks after two years to five weeks after 23 years.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation.
• Must be able to report to work within 90 minutes.
• Must have a clean driving record in the past 36 months, without a license suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial resulting from a drug- or alcohol-related incident.
• Must not have been involved in diversion or probation or pleaded guilty to a drug- or alcohol-related driving incident.
• Must not have refused a drug or alcohol test related to operating a motor vehicle.
• Must pass pre-employment Federal Railroad Administration drug and alcohol screening.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Must pass all classroom, field, and on-the-job training requirements, including written exams and field evaluations.
• Must be available for on-call work 24/7 with as little as 90 minutes’ notice, including irregular schedules, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must join a union within 60 days after completing training.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 85 pounds and walk several miles per shift on uneven terrain.
• Must pass the hang test: hang from a railcar ladder with three points of contact for 1 minute and 15 seconds per side.
• Must meet FRA visual acuity requirements of at least 20/40 in each eye separately and both together, with or without corrective lenses.
• Must pass FRA color vision tests; lenses used to improve color vision are not permitted.
• Must meet FRA hearing requirements: no more than 40 dB average hearing loss at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hz in the better ear; hearing aids may be used.
• Must remain constantly alert while working around heavy, moving, potentially hazardous locomotive engines.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Experience with heavy equipment or in physically demanding roles.
• Experience working non-traditional shifts, on call, and/or 12-hour-or-longer shifts.

Responsibilities

• Build and inspect trains, railcars, and equipment for safe operation.
• Operate remote control locomotives and perform tasks such as coupling, aligning drawbars, applying hand brakes, and riding railcars.
• Communicate effectively with crews, dispatchers, and yard controllers.
• Maintain accurate documentation and comply with Federal Railroad Administration and company safety regulations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.
• Deliver railcars to customers and transport trains across long distances.
• Manage electronic documentation and inspections.
• Troubleshoot train issues and report incidents.

Benefits

• Medical insurance for employees and eligible dependents beginning in the second calendar month of employment.
• Dental insurance eligibility after one year of employment.
• Life insurance eligibility after one year of employment.
• 401(k) eligibility after one year of employment.
• Railroad Retirement benefits and taxes.
• Retention bonus of $5,000, effective July 1, 2026, paid in installments: $1,000 upon completion of on-the-job training, $1,500 six months after training completion, and $2,500 12 months after training completion.
• Vacation eligibility: two weeks after two or more years of service; three weeks after six or more years; four weeks after 15 or more years; and five weeks after 23 years.
• During the first five weeks of training, hotel accommodations, weekly meal stipends, and travel reimbursement from the hire location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed