Modoc Railroad Academy School - Railroad Training Center - Railroad Academy

Q. I have lost my job. Aren't railroads a drying industry also?
A. The future for railroads has never looked brighter. New rail projects are being started across the country. California voters just approved a new Bullet Train from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The new President has expressed strong support for Amtrak, and has even chartered a train to take him and the new vice president to their inauguration in Washington D.C.. New changes in Federal Law will require thousands of new train crews starting in 2009. If there ever were a time to get into railroading, man or woman, young or old, this is it.

Q: Are there any state or government job retraining grants to attend Modoc Railroad Academy?
A :Modoc Railroad Academy is qualified to provide job retraining under the "WORK FORCE INVESTMENT ACT"
A nationwide fund to provide displaced workers, and others who have lost their job with money to learn a new skill. You must check with your local states job development office or employment office and ask to see if you qualify. To date the school has training contracts in place with New Jersey, Minnesota, California, Maine and Virginia

Q: What does it cost to attend?
A: For 2009, the basic nine week Conductor Class is $5992. For 2009, the sixteen to twenty week Locomotive Engineer class is $18,992. To attend Locomotive Engineer class, you must be either a graduate of the Modoc Railroad Academy Conductor program, or a current railroad conductor employee. The total cost for 2009 for a new Locomotive Engineer student is $24,984.
( $5992 plus $18,992 ) ( conductor class plus engineer class ).....All prices are subject to change.

Q: Why attend Modoc Railroad Academy and not some Junior College that has a train class?
A: New changes in Federal Law require that ALL railroad conductors be certified. Since 1995, Modoc Railroad Academy has been and still is the only school to graduate certified conductors. It is now pointless to attend any other program. Modoc Railroad Academy meets and exceeds the 2009 Federal requirements for certified conductors.

Q. How do I start the process to become a railroad conductor or locomotive engineer?
A: Go to the "APPLY" page and first look at the class dates for a class date that works for you. Then, download the "pre-application" fill it out and send it to the school. Include a deposit in the form of check or money order. After 2 to 3 weeks from the date you mailed your application, you should receive an acceptance notice and other information from the school. Remember, space is very limited and you may not get the class you applied for.

Q: What are the qualifications to attend?
A: Minimum age is for conductor training is 18, and the person should have at least two years of any type of work experience. There is no maximum age limit. You must have a high school diploma or G.E.D...You must be able to lift 60 pounds and climb a ladder ten feet tall. A clean criminal record for the last eight years and no drunk driving convictions in the past three and a half years. Minimum age for locomotive engineer students is 24. The same above standards apply. International students should contact the school.

Q: I am a mature worker (over 40 years old). Is there any future in railroading for me?
A: We do very well with mature students. To date the oldest person we have placed was 63 years old and he graduated as a locomotive engineer. We strongly recommend that mature students attend both conductor and locomotive engineer classes to get the strongest resume possible. As a very practical matter, conductor is more of a young person's job.

Q: Does your school guarantee a job?
A: No. Any reputable school, such as the Modoc Railroad Academy will not and can not guarantee any type of employment.

Q. I saw a book that said it would teach me tricks to get a railroad job.
A. We have boxes filled with that book that students have donated to the school. Money wasted. Railroads want railroaders, not tricksters.

Q: Does every student who attends your program graduate?
A: No. Modoc Railroad Academy is the hardest and most intense educational program of it's kind. College level reading assignments, mandatory homework assignments and physical train operation classes leave little free time. Some students have simply never had to contend with the responsibility of personal performance. The current failure rate is less that 3%.

Q: What is the success rate for your school?
A: The school averages 94% job placement. We have 100% job offers since January 4, 2000.

Q: Do I need to go to your school to work for a railroad?
A: Starting in 2009 all conductors, on every railroad, will need to be certified. Modoc Railroad Academy is the only school in the country to offer conductor certification.

Q: Do any railroads hire people from your program?
A: Yes. Students from this program work on BNSF, Amtrak, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, CSXT and many other regional and shortline railroads.

Q: Can I just take the engineer program only, since I only want to be an engineer?
A: No. You must take and pass the conductor program first, before you can enroll in the locomotive engineer program.

Q: What type of certification or license will I get when I graduate?
A: Conductors will get a Certified Conductor Card. Engineer’s get a Class One - Train Service Locomotive Engineer License. Both are valid for two years after issuance.

Q: Are there student aid, grants or scholarships available?
Scholarships have been offered in conjunction with Trains magazine. Federal Student loan program and Pell Grants are in development. Please watch web site for the latest information.

Q I am a Veteran. Can I use my G.I. Bill College funds to pay for railroad training?
A: We do not accept the G.I. Bill at this time for payment, but we are working with the federal goverment to change that however we have made special arragenments with the "North Coast Veterans Resource Center" in Eureka, California to provide funding when available to all veterans. Veterans only should call 707-442-4322 and inquire as to the availability of funding.

Q: I am from out of state. What about places to live while I go to school?
A: Please go to the apply page and click on the housing icon. This list has been put together after years of trial and error.. But we always urge that all students come out and check out the area at least 2 or 3 months before the start of your class. Do Not start looking for a place to stay on the first day of class

Q: What is a typical day like at Modoc Railroad Academy?
A: Most class days are 6 to 7 hours a day, however classes have gone as long as 17 hours. Classes will start at any time of the day or night to get students used to the railroad lifestyle. Classes are often five days a week, except when students are working on track, repairing freight cars or locomotives, running trains or other normal tasks on a railroad.

Q: What else can you tell me about Modoc Railroad Academy?
A: Modoc Railroad Academy is the only school of it's kind. Founded in 1995, over 500 people have graduated from our program and work on railroads across the country. Most students say that Modoc Railroad Academy is like no other school they have ever attended and are glad to have made us the start of their railroad career. Many on site reviews of the school have been conducted by officials from Amtrak, BNSF, Union Pacific and other railroads. All these railroads approve and support this program.