How do you become an Amtrak train engineer?

Question

I live in Seattle and am interested in pursuing a career as a train engineer with Amtrak. I need to know, well, all there is to know. Where do I start? What experience is minimum? Etc...

Answer 1

Norfolk Southern, I believe, is the only major railroad that actually pays you to learn to be conductor/engineer. Others require you to get your engineers license at your expense by attending classes designed specifically for that purpose.

Answer 2

Amtrak gives hiring preference to current engineers that were trained on a Class I RR, but they hire other candidates for engineers also.

If they do not get enough qualified applicants with previous railroad experience their next choice for hiring is internal transfers from other departments.

You may want to talk to their nearest human resources department and ask them about an entry level position and then transfer to the first available engineer training position.

They will privide the required job training through their training programs, as do all major railroads.

If you have gone through one of the railroad academies all that does to a prospective employer is show a desire to work in the railroad industry and gives you a leg up on other applicants.

The railroad company will still require you to go through their own training program and they pay you while you are training.

You DO NOT have to provide your own training.

here is address to the amtrak job link,

Good Luck!!