Do railroad conductors get vacation?

Do railroad conductors get vacations? Seriously, I wondered that the other day! I mean, imagine the life – constantly on the rails, seeing the country whizz by but never really experiencing it. So, yeah, I looked it up. And guess what? They do get vacation time! Phew! That's a relief, right?

It's not like they just stroll into the office and say "See ya next week!" though. Apparently, it takes a while to accrue enough vacation days; something like 150 to 180 qualifying days, I think I read somewhere. That's, like, half a year, maybe more! That seems like a long time to wait, especially if you're pounding the rails day in and day out. My cousin's a truck driver, and he's always complaining about being away from his family, so I can only imagine what it’s like for conductors, constantly shifting schedules.

It makes sense, though, doesn't it? These folks are responsible for enormous amounts of cargo, and even more importantly, people's lives! That kind of pressure is immense. They deserve those vacation days, even if it takes a while to earn them. I mean, a good, long rest and a chance to reconnect with loved ones? It's the least they deserve. Honestly, I'd be a wreck without some time off myself! Just thinking about it, makes me want a vacation, and I just sit at a computer all day. So yeah, conductors definitely earned it.