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Career Details :: Locomotive Engineers
Description
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Drives diesel-electric rail-detector car to transport rail-flaw-detecting machine over railroad.
- Inspects locomotive before run to verify specified fuel, sand, water, and other supplies.
- Receives starting signal from conductor and moves controls, such as throttle and air brakes, to drive locomotive.
- Prepares reports to explain accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.
- Confers with conductor or traffic control center personnel via radiophone to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
- Interprets train orders, train signals, and railroad rules and regulations to drive locomotive, following safety regulations and time schedule.
- Synchronizes watch with that of conductor to ensure departure time from station or terminal is in accordance with time schedule.
- Observes track to detect obstructions.
- Inspects locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment.
- Calls out train signals to assistant for verification of meaning to avoid errors in interpretation.
Related Careers
- Bridge and Lock Tenders
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
- Motorboat Operators
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
- Railroad Inspectors
- Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Operating Vehicles or Equipment
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Material
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Communicating With Other Workers
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Responsible for Others' Health & Safety
- Consequence of Error
- Frustrating Circumstances
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Degree of Automation
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Contract Major |  [ add ] |
| Elected Studies | [ add ] |
| Elective Studies | [ add ] |
| Independent Major | [ add ] |
| Independent Scholar | [ add ] |
| Independent Studies | [ add ] |
| Individual Major | [ add ] |
| Individual Studies | [ add ] |
| Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies | [ add ] |
| Individualized Major | [ add ] |
| Individualized Majors | [ add ] |
| Individualized Programs | [ add ] |
| Individualized Studies | [ add ] |
| Individualized Study | [ add ] |
| Individually Designed Major | [ add ] |
| Individually Designed Programs | [ add ] |
| Individually Planned Major | [ add ] |
| Interdepartmental Major | [ add ] |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | [ add ] |
| Selected Studies | [ add ] |
| Self-Designed Major | [ add ] |
| Self-Designed Majors | [ add ] |
| Self-Determined Majors | [ add ] |
| Self-Planned Program | [ add ] |
| Special Divisional Major | [ add ] |
| Special Major | [ add ] |
| Special Majors | [ add ] |
| Special Studies | [ add ] |
| Specialized Studies | [ add ] |
| Student-Designed Major | [ add ] |
| Student-Initiated Interdepartmental Major | [ add ] |
| Topical Major | [ add ] |
| Tutorial Studies | [ add ] |
| University Major/Individualized | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.