Locomotive Engineers

Locomotive Engineer, Passenger Locomotive Engineer, Railroad Engineer, Transportation Specialist

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Railway Specialist (USAR only)
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What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
  • Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
  • Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives.

Knowledge

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • quickly decide if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Visual Understanding

  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Expert system software

  • Electronic train management systems ETMS

Word processing software

  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Below Average
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about locomotive engineers.