How does someone become a railroad engineer? Driving the locomotives and such.?

Question

How does someone become a railroad engineer? Driving the locomotives and such.?

Answer 1

Go fill out an application.

They train people. My Nephew got a job with the railroad about six months ago. I not remember what his starting position was, but, he just rides on the train and not work in the shop. He said they gave him training once he was hired.

Now, it good if you know someone working for them as a reference. Also, I think they give military preference or it at least it helps for a young person that not have a lot of work experience. My Nephew was just out of the military and back from Iraq so that may have influenced them hiring him and his military experienced may have had some educational value for the position.

Answer 2

You first need to get a job at the railroad. You will start out working on tracks and yard signals, along with clean up and what ever else is in your job description. Then you can work you way up to become a conductor, they will send you to school and then place you with a engineer and then finally you have it. This process could take any where from 3 years to 15 years and will require that you put forth 110% in all ways and continually advance in positions.

The only schools for this are owned by the railroad and they make sure that they have the cream of the crop when it comes to Engineers.

Best Regards.

Answer 3

Most railroads want all their train service people to become engineers after a certain time of employment. Train service often starts with employees being Yard Switchmen, then to Conductor, then to Engineer. I work for a short line railroad. One day I asked to be an Engineer. There wasn't the usual class room style training due to the fact we only have 14 employees. Just 30 days in the cab with a certified Engineer present - then a test. I had been a Conductor before that for two other railroads, and of course, that really helps. Railroading isn't really about the the work you do. You're getting paid for what you know.

Answer 4

The answers you received before are only partially correct. I have been working on a railroad for over 12 years now. First off, there are private companies that will train you for both conductor and engineer service and will then help with job placement. An alternative option is as the previous others have mentioned is to fill out an application and submit it. The normal procedure for this is you would get hired as a conductor trainee which includes several weeks of classroom education and then several more weeks of training in the field with another qualified conductor. Once you have attained conductor status, it will take several years before you get the opportunity for advancement to engineer. (The rule of thumb is: You will make a good engineer only if you can prove yourself as a good conductor.) Once you get the opportunity to advance to engineers status, you will again have several weeks of classroom study and several more weeks of training working with a qualified engineer.

Also, if you are truly interested, be prepared to re-locate to another area. And you will put in long hours with few days off, especially to begin with. But on the other hand, you should be able to make a comfortable living.

GOOD LUCK!