Can anyone drive a train?

Question

I Love Trains

Answer 1

Running a train can be learned by anyone.Running it well takes lots of practice.Some people have a natural aptitude for it,others run them for years and never get to be what i consider good.Trains have a lot of slack in them and controlling it is the key to a smooth ride.Uncontrolled and you run the risk of a break in two.Stopping is probably one of the tougher things to learn as you have to plan so far in advance when to start stopping.Taking a train that weighs up to 18,000 tons(that's the heaviest i've ever run) and stopping it within 20 feet of where you planned is a work of art.Conductors whine when they have to walk to far.

Amazing how big those reds can look isn't Bob?

And your right nothing like a nice heavy fog or a blizzard to make for a fun day!Getting about 1 second to see a signal will keep you on your toes.And yes you're also right about it being on going learning experience.We have a few guys here that think they know it all.After they suck a little seat upholstery they think differently.

Jetdoc have you ever ran a train?

Answer 2

Sure anyone can. Just go buy the MSTS, and download it into you computer. Then you can drive a train.

Answer 3

No, it's not for everyone...

Physical limitations are factors :  Poor eyesight, poor hearing, any condition that may cause loss of consciousness (such as diabetes, epilepsy, etc.), a bad back, tobacco user, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, etc.

The things that will make for a successful career as one of the better engineers is the ability to read, write and retain at college level, good eye-hand coordination, be a "self starter" and have some leadership ability.  You will be trained, but it is a life long learning curve and, for maximum proficiency you will have to spend a lot of time studying on your own.

A little intestinal fortitude goes a long way as well.

And Andy is spot on.  I would like someone to explain to me what I'm missing about it being "easy" to cram a 6,000 foot long train into a 6,010 foot long siding on the side of a hill with that big RED signal getting closer and closer, bigger and redder...  unless you're trying to do it in heavy fog as well, in which case you won't even see the signal untill you're right on top of it, with your pay check as well as life and limb riding on the brawbar.  (You don't get to get on the radio and say, "Gee, dispatcher, I don't really wanna try to do thaaaat.")

Yup.  Piece o' cake...

Answer 4

It takes years of training to drive a train, as other posters have said, it is a highly skilled job, but anyone with the aptitude and the willingness to learn can do the job.

Answer 5

Anyone with the proper training and education...  It's not that difficult.

Answer 6

I say jet doc is right but lots and lots of reading and fully understanding what you have read and remember

Answer 7

course someone can drive a train.

Answer 8

Yes,why not.

In India our trains r drive by the driver.

It is quite hard.

But in Foreign trains r drive by the computers.

Answer 9

I'll be a the pesky school-teacher I once was...

Of course anyone CAN drive a train, but only after proper instruction and training MAY you drive a train.

I'm glad you love trains... we need more people to enjoy the trains so we can get more people off the highways.

Answer 10

No, not just anyone can drive  a train.  As Andy said, you need a natural apptitude/talent for it.  Some of the things you need are a good understanding of machinery, a good sense of depth perception, good nite vision, and A LOT of common sense.  If you dont have the knack for it, you will generate a lot of scrap iron.  It takes practice, concentration and good training to really get where you can take 10000+ tons up and down the hills at 50 or 60 mph and keep it all together...

Answer 11

Yes, they have people trained called Train Engineers who are educated and can drive trains ...... you could learn too ...... = )

Answer 12

Sure, show up at a railway museum, and volunteer to help. It takes awhile to get necessary qualifications, but within a year, yes you can be running trains.

Answer 13

yup, I will agree with Andy 100 %

if you are interested, that is half the battle, you could probably become a locomotive engineer, there are lots of women engineers now, just like the men, some are good, some are not so good.

That is the difference between just being an engineer and being a hoghead.