Re: Question for the "Old Guys." And those who hope to be one soon.

Kelly Anderson Wrote:
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> For those under age 30, I can't recommend enough
> getting and staying on a job that pays into
> Railroad Retirement
> [rrb.gov]
> 0IB-2%20%28web%29.pdf. If you can put up with
> railroading for 360 months (30 years) and don't
> get laid off, you can retire with full benefits at
> 60! And when I say full benefits, I mean a
> monthly check virtually equal to my salary at the
> time I retired. My wife was also under RRB part
> time for about 12 years, and my 30 years benefit
> qualified her to retire at age 60 as well, at 50%
> of my generous check, ka-ching!!! Not to mention
> the 8% raise we got last January! I never got a
> raise that good while working!
>
> I am very fortunate to have been hired on at the
> Strasburg Rail Road, and not laid off one month my
> entire career. I guess that Cass is also under
> RRB. D&S, and C&TS used to be, but I don't
> believe they are any more. I don't know of any
> other steam railroads (except UP?) that are under
> RRB, so that leaves the "real railroads", which by
> all accounts are a living hell these days. Still,
> sitting in my recliner right now, the thought of
> having had to work another 7 years in another life
> is simply horrifying to contemplate! I'm sure
> glad I didn't quit those times that I was
> disgusted with my job.

Even if you aren't under 30 it's still not a bad idea for a second career. I spent 24 years in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club before I hired on to the railroad. If I stay until maximum retirement age of 67 (for me), which I intend to do, then I'll retire without penalty just as if I had been with the railroad for 30 years.

Scott