Does anyone have a copy or link of the Switching quiz sheet that you use 2 or 3 coins on a loop a spur and a bridge? its just a piece of paper with instruction telling you the rules on how many times you can go around the loop with all the cars / coins and set one out in the spur and only go under the bridge so many times. thanks

Electric trains don't make smoke. And most railroads don't allow smoking on the train.

The smoke is going whichever way the wind is blowing, because the smoke is coming from the cigarette of a person standing on the platform, not on the train.

First check the Website for Norfolk Southern and they will tell you their requirements.
You are a little young still . There are other jobs at the railroad look into some of them too as a start. A locomotive mechanic for example.

Now the salary is not bad. The hourly rate of pay not bad.

Why not so good for some.

When you start you usually work in the yard sorting the cars and making up trains. Over time you get the trains that go from town to town.

The railroad runs 24 hours a day seven days a week. Freight trains DO NOT run on a regular schedule. When going the longer distances you get some time off for sleep and then return on the next train. The next train could be a one hour wait or a day.

The railroads use a "Pool" of workers you rotate each taking a turn for next train out. You might wait a few hours or a few days . Your next train could be at 7 AM Noon or 9 PM You are away from home days at a time not sure when you come home.
Hard to plan things like a date a birthday party or something else like that.Your family has to adjust to your schedule. Your schedule changes week to week and often with just a few hours notice. That is the most difficult part of the job.

Now the excitement of going to this or that place soon wears off as you go there week after week in the fog in the rain or snow. Middle of the day or middle of the night.
You do get to see a lot of scenery. Over time you get trains to different places. It is a job. At times very boring waiting on a siding for a train coming the other way. It can be a long day in particular when not sleeping at home.. You do get more days off than most jobs. You can work the extra shifts for extra pay.

The lifestyle on the train is okay a bit of adventure watching the world pass by. The hard part is being away from home.and how it affects your family life at home.. You have the Birthday party a day early. You cancel plans for the night out with your special someone. You make plans for someone else to escort your wife to the Christmas party just in case.
You get someone to video your child at the game or school play. You learn to plan for the next few hours. Maybe next week not sure what day but we will do something..

You either like it and stay for many years or leave after a year or two as you have issues with the work schedule and home life.

There are many rules of how to do things most of these are safety things. There is no tolerance for showing up drunk for example.

See if you can go to one of the dispatch centers in your area. A rail yard talk to some of the employees to get a view but the workers in your town. Talk to more than one. A newer guy and one with a few years experience.

http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en/...

Maglev (MAGnetic LEVitation) trains use two separate sets of electromagnets. One set comprises those in the track and beneath the train with the same polarity, to levitate the train.

The second set is a Linear Motor, comprising poles of varying polarity under the train, and poles of the same polarity (or alternate polarities) along the track. A linear motor (as the name suggests) is the same as an ordinary electric motor, but rolled out flat. The principles are more fully described in Wikipedia.

The diagram attached to Bikerboy's answer is translated into 'pigeon English' from another language, and not very helpful!

There are two early morning trains from Lynchburg to Washington Union Station. You would then take a combination of the Metro subway system and shuttle buses to Dulles Airport.

http://www.amtrak.com
http://www.wmata.com