Boomer
Boomer turns up in 2 fields: electricians, railroad. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Boomer in electricians
Traveling electrician or lineman who follows big projects from city to city wherever the work is.
A boomer is a tradesperson who travels for work, moving wherever big jobs such as power plants, refineries, data centers or storm restoration create demand. In union terms, boomers sign the out-of-work books at other locals as travelers. Booming pays well and builds broad experience, at the cost of long stretches away from home in motels and campers.
"Half this crew are boomers, the data center pulled guys in from four states."
Boomer in railroad
A railroader who drifts from railroad to railroad, hiring on wherever the work is good.
A boomer follows the work: traffic booms, harvest rushes and hiring sprees, putting in a few months or years on one road before moving to the next and starting over at the bottom of the seniority roster each time. Boomers carry a reputation for skill, toughness and unreliability in equal measure. The word covers anyone who has worked for several railroads, and boomer stories are a staple of crew room talk.
"He's a real boomer, worked for four railroads and two short lines before he landed here."