Pros
no expectation of high performance no education required, just coast until retirement, decent pay, some modest union protection, usually friendly co-workers, good job for RR fans, ideal employee was CPA, spent 2 years as conductor / railfan, then got real job with IRS, also retired marine, had military pension, fire proof, been to Afganistan, when higher management (no college, no military, nepotism, worthless) tried to bully him it failed. Military friendly company .
Cons
average pay considering hours, nepotism, tuition reimbursement effectively denied to field employees harsh attendance policy, declining health benefits and worthless dental, suggestions / improvements met with hostility, frequent layoffs and punishments, weird hours and schedules mean obesity, alcoholism, divorce are standard features, . lower management treated like dogs, and pass that on to troops. JAX culture and jobs totally different world, no field opportunities to help community, ,