Would you take a railroad job in St Louis? (Kansas City: relocation, home)

[Tony1790]

Hi,

I'm currently working in Kansas City with the railroad and may soon be offered a "take it or quit" job relocation "request" from my employer to move to ST. Louis, MO.

My question,

How dangerous is working down by the tracks in ST. Louis? How far out from downtown do you have to live to find a safe area for kids, etc. And finally how bad is the traffic getting into town, what's the average commute time?

Thanks for any insight, if I say I won't go to St. Louis, then I'll be looking for a new job.

[2beamissourian]

I wont coment on the tracks .. personally I dont know .. hubby gave me a strange look when I said is the tracks safe ......... but neither of us work that direction ... (anymore and its been awhile)

as far as family there are other areas you can live and make a nice life nearby ...and just commute .........many do!

[CellarBelle]

Like 2Be, I don't know about the tracks. But St. Louis is a great city. Just do your research so you know where you want to live. I like my town, Edwardsville, Il. Great schools and about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown. Good Luck!

[ShadowCaver]

Biggest question I have, is exactly where is the location(s)? There are many tracks w/in and near StL, so then depends upon which area ya may be relocated to that impacts what part of StL to live within and then that gives idea of how relatively 'safe' it may be. Would you be working on any/all of the tracks w/in the StL area, or just a specific part, like for example those that parallel I-44 near Shrewsbury?

[Inoxkeeper]

Isn't their a big rail yard acroos the river in IL? We do need more info.

[2beamissourian]

Originally Posted by Inoxkeeper

Isn't their a big rail yard acroos the river in IL? We do need more info.

There is a dome in East Alton

and in Jerseyville there is a rail way repair place now ...

Im not sure .. tell me what I should be visualizing and then Ill go ohhhhhhhh yeaaaaaaaaaaa lol

What is the area in StL that is down by Fox Theater .. then u go around the bend .. and there is places where trucks park etc.......... No way would I be there at night!

dh aunts tell stories of beeing teens in the area and hitting rats with baseball bats ........ but there old ladies now surely there isnt rats still

[Tony1790]

Sorry, I'm not famaliar with St Louis and don't know exactly where the railyard is. Looking at the map, it looks like it's right down town near one of the bridges and close to the water.

My unfamiliarity is one of the reasons I'm asking on here, but from what I hear it's pretty dangerous to work in the railyard downtown, things go missing there, stuff and people or so say the other employees that tell me about their.

Tony

[ShadowCaver]

Tony - wish I could give you better news or more help, as it sounds you are in a pickle. However, just based upon what you are sharing in your last post along with what a friend that used to work w/ the RR has mentioned in passing in the past, but that area is indeed not all so great. Just to clarify, but is this the yard off of 2nd Street, downtown area [TRRA of StL], or the one near Hall Street, further north [Norfolk Southern]? Based on your first post, I take it you have children - guess maybe you need to ask, given the real potential of the hazards/dangers of what those you have heard from already, is if such a job is worth the possible risks? An idea is to also maybe check w/ the local police in that area - I've done such in the past when moving to an unfamiliar place. Best to you - let us know of specific area if you can.

[crazycatladyinmo]

Originally Posted by Tony1790

Hi,

I'm currently working in Kansas City with the railroad and may soon be offered a "take it or quit" job relocation "request" from my employer to move to ST. Louis, MO.

My question,

How dangerous is working down by the tracks in ST. Louis? How far out from downtown do you have to live to find a safe area for kids, etc. And finally how bad is the traffic getting into town, what's the average commute time?

Thanks for any insight, if I say I won't go to St. Louis, then I'll be looking for a new job.

My father is retiring from BNSF this week after working many many years there. He's never had a problem getting to work or getting home from work. My parents don't live near downtown....They live approx. 30 mins away in the suburbs of st. louis so safety isn't an issue. One thing I definitely wouldn't be doing is quiting my job at the railroad.

[Juice13610]

I doubt you will see any crimes committed towards you or your crew in broad daylight while doing work. Walking down the street in North St. Louis at 10 pm is probably a different story.