[dls2016]

> "The rise of precision scheduled railroading has resulted in resource and staffing cuts; to compensate railroad companies have enacted strict attendance policies for employees. These policies eliminate any free time which workers have, requiring them to be effectively on-call for weeks at a time. Workers have complained of increased levels of stress and fatigue."

My brother went to a recruiting drive last year for railroad engineer job openings (coincidentally along the Pittsburgh-Harrisburg corridor). He said they started the meeting by kicking out anyone who was even ten seconds late. The job description only got worse from there. I could see how the pay and benefits would be worth it for some small slice of the population... but you have zero outside life.

[pessimizer]

Working on the railroads is one of those professions in the US traditionally done by slaves or near-slaves. Just like agricultural work, food service, cleaning, and household help.

[dls2016]

I don't know, I've worked countless 60-70 hour weeks at a restaurant... some days both opening and closing the place... and food service just doesn't seem comparable.

Perhaps fishing or working on a boat is similar, but many of those jobs allow for weeks or even months off at a time.