Dream to drive many Cars in a series chained together? Become a Train Engineer / Loco Pilot. Trains are considered as best, safest, and efficient mode of transport for humans as well as cargo. Follow your love for trains/transit and work towards a career/career path as a Train Engineer and Operator. Education requirements are relatively less for the Locomotive Engineer positions on the railroad and job prospects are favorable. You will be working outdoors most of the time. This is a position best suited to people who enjoy the outdoors.
The following are the types of train engineers and operators:
- Locomotive
engineers drive freight or passenger trains between stations.
- Railyard engineers operate train engines within the rail yard. They move
locomotives between tracks to keep the trains organized and on schedule.
- Locomotive
firers are part of a train crew and typically monitor tracks and train
instruments.
- Railroad
brake, signal, or switch operators control equipment that keeps the trains
running safely.
Role of Train Engineers and Operators
- Check
the mechanical condition of locomotives and make adjustments when
necessary.
- Document
issues with a train that require further inspection.
- Operate
locomotive engines within or between stations.
Skills of Train Engineers and Operators
- Communication skills: All rail employees have to be able to communicate effectively with each other to avoid accidents and keep the trains on schedule.
- Decision-making skills: When operating a locomotive, engineers must be able to make fast decisions to avoid accidents.
- Hand-eye coordination: Locomotive engineers have to operate various controls while staying aware of their surroundings.
- Hearing ability: To show that they can hear warning signals and communicate with other employees, locomotive engineers have to pass a hearing test conducted by their rail company.
- Mechanical skills: All rail employees work with complex machines. Most have to be able to adjust equipment when it does not work properly. Some rail yard engineers spend most of their time fixing broken equipment.
- Physical strength: Some rail yard engineers have to lift heavy equipment.
- Visual ability: To drive a train, locomotive engineers have to pass a vision test conducted by their rail company. Eyesight, peripheral vision, and color vision may be tested.
Work Schedules
Trains are scheduled to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, meaning that many train engineers and operators sometimes work nights,
weekends, and holidays. Most rail employees work full time. Locomotive
engineers whose trains travel long routes can be away from home for long spans
of time. Those who work on passenger trains with short routes generally have a
more predictable schedule. Workers on some freight trains have irregular
schedules.
Some Job Titles
Engineer, Conductor, Railcar Switcher, Railroad Engineer,
Switchman, Equipment Operator, Car Repairman, Switch Crew Supervisor,
Transportation Specialist, Yard Engineer
Where to study
A diploma or degree in Railway Engineering or a related
field like a BS in Mechanical Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Physics etc.
is preferred. Prospective candidates must obtain training and
certification from a railway school to work as a Train Engineer / Train Operator
/ Loco Pilot.