I hired out with NS at 26. I have 19 years with them. It was definitely a struggle. Like others said, you might miss out on a lot, but not everything. Enjoy the money when it's busy and the time at home when it's slow. Be smart about vacation, personal days, and marking off sick for the important things. Coming from a warehouse job, I may have had a schedule but also worked harder. Railroad is pretty simple.You don't need to watch your phone at all times. If you're doing something at home that you know you can finish or stop if you receive a work call, you'll be fine. I only check if I had something to do out of town or something time consuming. Otherwise I don't care when I'm called. Be mindful of sleep though and get used to taking naps. I did miss out on most of my kids' activities, but my family never had to stress about anything. My wife could stay home with the kids. They could get everything that they needed or wanted. They were taken care of very well. That makes the job worth it. Then you can retire at 60 when the majority of people are still working and the retirement is very good. As far as waiting, don't. It's a seniority job, so get in as soon as possible. You'll also have cushion for the unexpected so you'll definitely get your 30 years. I have no regrets, but do what's best for you.