Pros
Get paid good money without a college degree. Good coworkers. Co-workers have a family type bond. You can start from the ground and move up in the company. Benefits are good.
Cons
The pay is good, but you're selling your social life for an easy buck. Co-workers become like family because you spend more time with coworkers than your family. If you have a college degree and no nothing about the railroad you can move up and be a boss. This is a pro and con depending on your point of view. While people that have years of railroad knowledge and experience get left behind because of the BS charges on their work history or they don't know the right people. Benefits are good, but it's not cheap working for the railroad. Benefits, union dues, run off insurance adds up.