How does a person go about becoming a locomotive engineer?

Question

...always wondered....that and their pay scale. It is a job I've never heard much about.

Answer 1

they do the locomotion

Answer 2

Buy a black and white stripy hat and a set of blue dungerees

2 points   Kaaaaching!

Answer 3

Check out a website of a major railroad like Norfolk Southern or BNSF. Look under career opportunities and you can find out all you need to know. Everything from pay scale to everything involved in training.

Answer 4

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement [About this section]  Back to Top

Most railroad transportation workers begin as yard laborers; later they may have the opportunity to train for engineer or conductor jobs. Railroads require that applicants have a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent. Applicants must have good hearing, eyesight, and color vision, as well as good hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and mechanical aptitude. Physical stamina is required for entry-level jobs. Employers require railroad transportation job applicants to pass a physical examination, drug and alcohol screening, and a criminal background check. Federal regulation requires that the driving record of anybody applying for a job operating an engine be checked for evidence of drug or alcohol problems. Similarly, under Federal regulation, all persons licensed to operate engines are subject to random drug and alcohol testing while on duty.

Applicants for locomotive engineer jobs must be at least 21 years old. Employers almost always fill engineer positions with workers who have experience in other railroad-operating occupations. Federal regulations require beginning engineers to complete a formal engineer training program, including classroom, simulator, and hands-on instruction in locomotive operation. The instruction usually is administered by the rail company in programs approved by the Federal Railroad Administration. At the end of the training period, engineers must pass a hearing and visual acuity test, a safety conduct background check, a railroad operation knowledge test, and a skills performance test. The company issues the engineer a license after the applicant passes the examinations. Other conditions and rules may apply to entry-level engineers and usually vary with the employer.

To maintain certification, railroad companies must monitor their engineers. In addition, engineers must periodically pass an operational rules efficiency test. The test is an unannounced event requiring engineers to take active or responsive action in certain situations, such as maintaining a particular speed through a curve or yard.

Engineers undergo periodic physical examinations and drug and alcohol testing to determine their fitness to operate locomotives. In some cases, engineers who fail to meet these physical and conduct standards are restricted to yard service; in other instances, they may be disciplined, trained to perform other work, or discharged.

Conductor jobs generally are filled from the ranks of experienced rail transportation workers who have passed tests covering signals, timetables, operating rules, and related subjects. Seniority usually is the main factor in determining promotion to conductor. Entry-level conductors generally must be at least 21 years of age and are either trained by their employers or required to complete a formal conductor training program through a community college.

Newly trained engineers and conductors are placed on the “extra board” until permanent positions become available. Workers on the extras-board receive assignments only when the railroad needs substitutes for regular workers who are absent because of vacation, illness, or other reasons. Seniority rules may allow workers with greater seniority to select their type of assignment. For example, an engineer may move from an initial, regular assignment in yard service to road service.

For brake and signal operator jobs, railroad firms will train applicants either in a company program or—especially with smaller railroads—at an outside training facility. Typical training programs combine classroom and on-site training and last between 4 and 6 weeks for signal operators and between 10 and 18 weeks for brake operators.

For subway and streetcar operator jobs, subway transit systems prefer applicants with a high school education. Most transit systems that operate subways and streetcars also operate buses. In these systems, subway or streetcar operators usually start as bus drivers. Applicants must be in good health, have good communication skills, and be able to make quick, responsible judgments. New operators generally complete training programs that last from a few weeks to 6 months. At the end of the period of classroom and on-the-job training, operators usually must pass qualifying examinations covering the operating system, troubleshooting, and evacuation and emergency procedures. Some operators with sufficient seniority can advance to station manager or another supervisory position.

For yard occupations, a commercial driver’s license may be required because these workers often operate trucks and other heavy vehicles. For more information on commercial driver’s licenses, contact your State motor vehicle administration and see the Handbook statements on truck drivers and driver/sales workers or bus drivers.

Earnings [About this section]  Back to Top

Median hourly earnings of rail transportation occupations in May of 2004 were relatively high, as indicated in the following tabulation:

Locomotive engineers $24.30

Subway and streetcar operators 23.70

Railroad conductors and yardmasters 22.28

Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators 21.46

Most railroad workers are paid according to miles traveled or hours worked, whichever leads to higher earnings. Full-time employees have steadier work, more regular hours, increased opportunities for overtime work, and higher earnings than do those assigned to the extra board.

Eight out of 10 railroad transportation workers are members of unions. Many different railroad unions represent various crafts on the railroads. Most railroad engineers are members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, while most other railroad transportation workers are members of the United Transportation Union. Many subway operators are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, while others belong to the Transport Workers Union of North America.

Answer 5

I don't know, but you could probably google or froogle is and find out.

Answer 6

Union Pacific has a huge website about working for their railroad company.  I forget what it's URL is, but they usually have brochures all over at colleges, high schools, and libraries within about 500 miles of their railyards.  There's one around Rialto CA.

FYI, the website has lots of job descriptions, all of which include some of the least pleasant sounding job descriptions around, such as "Applicant must be able to lift and operate heavy machinery, and will be required to work indoors and outdoors in all kinds of heat and weather around dangerous moving machinery..."

I guess that would be true, seeing as how locomotives are dangerous moving machinery, but still...

Answer 7

The railroad industry is one you do not hear much about. I have done some research about becoming a railroad engineer myself. And you cannot just become an engineer. The railroad it looks still does thing the old school way. Starting at the bottom and working your way up from there.

     Now I am sure you can probably test out of some positions.

Here is a great website that will answer all your questions about the industry.

http://www.bnsf.com/careers/faqs.html

   If memory serves me correctly, I think there are only two schools that offer training.

   Here is another good website to help you. It is the Association of American Railroads.

http://www.aar.org/

    Hope this helps. I wanted to become a railroad engineer myself. I am getting too old now, I think.

     Good Luck.

Answer 8

Pay depends on who you work for and what runs your seniority can hold.  

For Union Pacific western lines, the avg pay is 65-80k for pool jobs, and if you stay marked up 100+ for extra board jobs.

For UP, you must start off as a brakeman/conductor and when your seniority allows, you can transfer into a engine class.

Answer 9

That's what I always wanted to be when I grew up!

I'd talk to the human resources people at Norfolk Southern & CSX & Amtrak and see what information they can provide you.  Small shortline railroads are coming back into play a lot more these days and I would think the supply of locomotive engineers is probably dwindling over time, so it might be a good potential career field.  I would think it'd probably be easier to "break in" with a big company and then move to a smaller one later.

Answer 10

All the above and one other thing.

Luck.

These are coveted jobs and the competition for them is considerable.

Answer 11

At the UPRR here in North Platte they'll force you out of Switchman class to engine service on the third district. So yes its easy to become one. Secondly they have engineers that are 19 and 20 so the age restriction is a lie. Thirdly I hired with a gentlemen that is 47  and he and I became engineers this last year. They are not in anyway concerned about your age as much as your health, ability to see color, and criminal record.