Rabbit on the Rails

After 14 years away from home, an unexpected opportunity finally opened the door for Rabbit and his family to return to Louisiana through a seniority swap. In this episode, Rabbit shares the long approval process, the frustrations that came with qualifying on a new territory, and the emotions of preparing for yet another family move. From chasing seniority across Texas to finally working trains cl...

In this episode of Rabbit on the Rails, I talk about the years that followed one of the hardest moments in our lives... welcoming our rainbow baby, raising a growing family, and trying to balance it all while chasing work across Louisiana and Texas. From living out of hotels and bouncing between terminals to finally putting down roots, this is the story of how we ended up calling Texas home... and...

A reflection on the pregnancy, birth, and passing of our 7th child. A journey that carried us from excitement and hope to heartbreak and grief, and the way it shaped us moving forward.

I share the story of my first time being called up to the engineer’s seat in 2015 — from tackling new territory in Bloomington and Houston, to missing a call because of bad phone signal, to earning the respect of an old head conductor, and even running through a switch. It’s a raw look at the challenges, mistakes, and lessons learned during my first months as an engineer.

This week on Rabbit on the Rails, I reflect on the early days of my railroad career and the adventures of juggling yard jobs, extra boards, and shifting schedules. But life on the tracks wasn’t the only thing changing—our family was growing fast. From late-night call-ups to welcoming new arrivals at home, I share the story behind my nickname, “Rabbit,” and the lessons learned balancing work, famil...

Thanking you all for the journey in this podcast! Sharing that life happens but we keep moving forward!

Now officially a certified engineer, I'm back in the conductor's seat. In this episode, I share what it was like returning to the ground after training, dealing with unexpected pressure to run, and getting back into the rhythm of the Avondale-to-Livonia turn. I also talk about my first experience working jobs closer to home... and the intense day I was involved in my very first on-duty accident. T...

After months of classroom work, simulators, and hands-on OJT, the day finally came: my qualifying run. In this episode, I take you through the nerves, the pressure, and one key moment that could’ve gone either way. From stopping with air to spotting autoracks and even failing an exam! This one’s got it all. Let’s get qualified.

Continuing my engineer class. finally getting to the OJT's. Going through the different areas of on the job training: yards, locals, and road trips.

A follow-up to the two weeks in engineer class. discussing simulators and tests. A little free time allowed us to explore some of Salt Lake while we were there. a thanks for tuning in!

This week on Rabbit on the Rails, I’m sharing what it was like stepping into engineer class, the training that turns conductors into locomotive operators. I break down why I chose to go, how the class is structured, and what it felt like walking into a simulator for the first time. From Salt Lake City sunrises to high-stakes testing pressure, this episode dives into the journey of leveling up on t...

A new addition to our family: the trials of being there for the birth of our 5th child.

From the extra board to a regular turn and back again. just enough seniority to stay out of the yard and where i want, on the road!

A look into life on call with the railroad.

This week I'll discuss being marked up during Mardi gras and then going through remote control training!

After months of training, the phone finally rings. In Episode 2, I share what it was like getting marked up as a new conductor, receiving my first call to work, and stepping into railroad life for the very first time. From nerves and uncertainty to excitement and opportunity, this was the beginning of a journey that would change my life forever. #RabbitOnTheRails #Railroad #Railroading #Conductor...

The beginning to my journey of working on the railroad!