Aptitude for electronics leads to a new career in freight rail
Kevin Mohwinkel
Electrician
Canadian Pacific
St. Paul, MN
3 months in the industry
18 years in the military
Base: Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station
By his junior year in high school, Kevin Mohwinkel knew he wanted to be an electrician in the U.S. Air Force. He'd taken electronics courses in vocational school and realized he enjoyed, and had an aptitude for, working on electrical equipment. That talent served him well throughout his 18-year career in aircraft maintenance. What he didn't know then, but knows now, is that a career in the freight rail industry both complements and expands on that talent and experience.
“After being in the Air Force most guys go into the airlines,” Mohwinkel says. “But I wanted to try something new. I was more intrigued by the railroads; I have always had them in the back of my mind.” Three months ago, Mohwinkel was hired by Canadian Pacific (CP) to be an electrician in their St. Paul, MN, yard. So far, he's excited by the challenge of learning maintenance and repair of diesel locomotive engines. “When I worked on the electrical systems of aircraft it's a set power, but with diesel locomotives everything varies,” he says. “With locomotives, it's all dependent on what the engineers are calling on the engine to do, like sending power to the wheels, activating air brakes or regulating airflow in the cabin. It's much more complex and definitely keeps you on your toes.”
As Mohwinkel adjusts to his new career, his reservist commitment to the Air National Guard is always in the back of his mind. What makes life easier is spending time with friends and family and the fact that CP is fully supportive of Mohwinkel's reservist responsibilities. He was happy to discover the many similarities between the military and freight rail in terms of teamwork and a shared culture of safety. “Had I had an opportunity to look into the freight industry before I went into the military, it would have been a tough call,” Mohwinkel says. “The salary and benefits here are pretty phenomenal. They're stars and stripes above everything else I've seen.”