Locomotive Engineers

Career summary

Locomotive engineers drive trains between stations. They follow safety rules and time schedules. Most run diesel locomotives, while a few run electric ones.

Engineers check locomotives for mechanical problems. They make sure that necessary supplies are aboard. They move controls to drive the locomotive. They may call out signals to assistants to verify that they both understand them.

Engineers driving trains confer with conductors or control centers over radiophones. They exchange information about stops, delays, or oncoming trains. They interpret and follow orders they receive during these talks.

Engineers monitor gauges and meters in the locomotive. They watch for and interpret signals along the tracks. They also watch the track for objects in the way.

Engineers inspect locomotives after each run. They look for damaged or defective equipment. They prepare reports to explain accidents, delays, or unscheduled stops. They may drive a specialized machine over the tracks to find flaws in the rails.

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Airplane Pilots
• Bus Drivers
• Chemical Plant Operators
• Gas and Oil Drillers
• Gas and Oil Plant Operators
• Heavy Truck Drivers
• Material Moving Machine Operators
• Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
• Ship Pilots
• Subway and Streetcar Operators
• Train Conductors and Yardmasters

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to locomotive engineers.

• Follow safety rules and time schedules.
• Check locomotives for mechanical problems, before and after each run.
• Inspect locomotives to make sure they have supplies such as fuel, sand, and water.
• Receive starting signal from conductors. Move controls to drive locomotives.
• Call out or use hands, telephones, or radios to send train signals to assistants and crew members to verify they are understood.
• Confer with conductors or control centers over radiophones to give or receive information.
• Interpret orders, signals, and rules and regulations to drive locomotives or change routing of cars.
• Monitor gauges and meters in locomotives.
• Watch tracks to look for objects in the way.
• Inspect locomotives after run. Look for damaged or defective equipment. May perform routine repair and maintenance duties.
• Prepare reports to explain accidents, delays, or unscheduled stops.
• Drive special cars over tracks to find flaws in the rails. May help install or repair rails and ties.
• Apply and release hand brakes.
• Keep records of arrival and departure times, time on duty, and the number of cars available or under repair.

Common work activities

Locomotive engineers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Control machines and processes
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Get information needed to do the job
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Evaluate information against standards
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Handle and move objects
• Teach others
• Process information
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Document and record information
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Analyze data or information
• Coach others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Schedule work and activities
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, locomotive engineers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They talk to assistants and conductors throughout the day.
• Talk with others by telephone and face-to-face discussions.
• Have a substantial amount of responsibility for the health and safety of others.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.
• Are occasionally placed in conflict situations.
• Usually work as part of a team of engineers.

Physical work conditions

• Often are exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Often wear a special uniform.
• Regularly wear protective attire, such as work boots or ear plugs.
• Work both outdoors and indoors. Those who work exclusively in the rail yard primarily work outdoors. Train cars may not be temperature-controlled.
• Are exposed to contaminants on a regular basis.
• May be exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures, depending on the weather.
• Often are exposed to hazardous equipment.
• Are occasionally exposed to whole body vibration.
• Sometimes work in extremely bright or dim lighting conditions.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in their work. Errors could result in serious accidents.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Must allow the pace of work to be dictated by the speed of equipment.
• Sometimes make decisions that affect others. They often act independently, but may seek input from others before making large decisions.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without consulting another first.

Hours/travel

• Usually work full time.
• Often work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• May work irregular hours if not a full-time employee.
• May spend several nights at a time away from home.

Physical demands

Locomotive engineers frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for locomotive engineers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for locomotive engineers to be able to:

• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See objects in very low light.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Locomotive engineers need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand written information.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

• Operate and control equipment.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Heavy Equipment Operations

Training

To work as a locomotive engineer, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have one to five years of related work experience
• complete moderate-term, on-the-job training; and
• pass a written and hands-on exam.

Education after high school

No formal education is required beyond high school for this occupation.

Work experience

In most cases, this is not an entry-level job. Most locomotive engineers start out as a yard laborer or in other railroad jobs such as brake operator or conductor.

On-the-job training

Locomotive engineers generally receive two to three months of on-the-job training before they can operate a train on their own. During training, you ride with an experienced engineer who teaches you about a particular train route. You also learn about the track length, where the switches are, or any unusual features of the track.

In addition, railroad companies provide continuing education so that engineers can maintain their skills.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Diesel Mechanics and Repair
• Physical Education

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Positions for locomotive engineers are usually filled from within the company. These workers have experience in other railroad jobs.

Locomotive engineers must be at least 21 years old. They must have good hearing, eyesight, and color vision. They must pass a physical exam and drug and alcohol screening.

Once hired, locomotive engineers are tested for drug and alcohol at random intervals. They must also pass safety and efficiency tests that are given periodically.

If you first work as a rail yard engineer, hostler, or dinkey operator, you usually need a high school diploma to get hired. You must also have good hearing, eyesight, and eye-hand coordination.

Licensing/certification

Locomotive engineers must be certified by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The certification, conducted by the railroad that employs them, involves a written knowledge test, a skills test, and a supervisor determining that the engineer understands all physical aspects of the particular route on which he or she will be operating.

For more information contact:

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Locomotive Engineers 
• Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Most workers are paid according to miles traveled or hours worked, whichever leads to higher earnings. Those who have regular assignments earn more than those who work as substitutes. Regular engineers also have more opportunities to work overtime. In general, engineers who belong to a union earn more than non-union engineers.

Locomotive engineers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacations, sick leave, life and health insurance, and a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Railroad companies

National outlook

Demand for most railroad occupations is declining. Fewer people travel by train and more freight shipping is being done by long-haul trucks. As trains become more productive by pulling more cars or double loads of freight, fewer engineers are required. 

Job openings will occur to replace workers who retire or transfer to other occupations. 

Other resources

Association of American Railroads 
425 Third Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
202.639.2100

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen 
7061 East Pleasant Valley Road
Independence, OH 44131
216.241.2630

National Railroad Passenger Corporation 

Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Union 
1750 New York Avenue NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
800.457.7694
202.662.0800

US Railroad Retirement Board 
Provides monthly list of railroad job vacancies in the country

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupations

• Locomotive Engineers (53-4011.00) 
• Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (53-4013.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupation

• Locomotive Engineer (910.363-014) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Realistic/Conventional/Enterprising
• Realistic/Conventional/Investigative

COPSystem

• Technology Professional