Abigail Cramm comes from the small town of Lewisporte in Central Newfoundland. Hailing from a province that hasn't had an active railroad since the late 1980s, Abigail's 2022 co-op with NBM Railways was a brand-new experience. It was the kind of challenge that brought her back for a second placement.

Abigail is a civil engineering student in her 5th year at Memorial University. She is halfway through her second "Careers in Motion" placement with NBM Railways. With a limited background in the industry, she was surprised about how many people and the diversity of roles which were required to keep the railway running. 

"I couldn’t believe the variety of roles required to make a railway operate. It seems so simple, but it requires so many people doing different things to keep the railway going. They even have a rail traffic control - just like with airplanes," said Abigail. 

She's been very appreciative of the opportunities that J.D. Irving, Limited's Careers in Motion students are offered. Not only do students spend their placement in the business, they are also toured around the rest of the division. This gives them a chance to see various operations and industries. After a placement and a half, she's learned that her opinions and ideas matter. 

"My work here has value and I feel like my ideas are being heard and implemented," Abigail said about her team. She was also quick to point out the support she's received from her team members particularly Kersti Lee. Kersti is a past "Careers in Motion" Civil Engineering student who is now a Professional Engineer with NBM Railways.

Check out our opportunities to become a Careers in Motion student with the Transportation & Logistics Division here.