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.

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. Do not show up to a work day unannounced with a minor.

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

Family membership is required. Sign up through the member resources portal. Then tell us the young person is interested in Youth MOW so the parent documents can be completed before any 2027 work day.