Announced October 2026 · program begins 2027
Youth Maintenance of Way
TLE&W is opening a 2027 learning program for members ages 14 to 20. Participants learn track and shop skills on the job, beside more experienced peers and adults, under industry-standard safety rules. We are opening the program with 10 seats total. If you’d like to verify availability before registering, please contact us.
Ages 14–20 Membership required Parent paperwork required Starts 2027
Who it is for
- Younger TLE&W members who want to learn maintenance-of-way and related trades
- Anyone ready to work, learn next to more experienced peers in the program, and stay cooperative and respectful with the adults on the crew
Membership and parents
Participants must be members. In practice that means the parents are members too. Before a minor works on the property, parents sign documentation that states how that young person will take part. Participants 18 and older do not need to complete a parent packet. Simply register yourself.
Families set different limits, and we will honor them. Some parents are comfortable with their teen driving to campus and working the day’s assignments. Others only want their child on site if the parent is present. Say so in the paperwork.
What “on the job” means here
- Skills are taught while real railroad work is happening — ties, tools, shop habits, right-of-way awareness
- We follow industry-standard safety requirements. Participants who are not ready to work that way do not stay on the crew that day
- Learning sits beside more experienced peers in the same program, then beside the adults who already keep this line standing
- This is not a way around insurance, membership, or age limits on train-service jobs
How to start
Membership is required. Register for the program through the member resources portal.