How to become a locomotive engineer?

Question

How to become a locomotive engineer?

Answer 1

As far as a freight train engineer, you would have to be hired as a switchman/conductor (there's private schools for that). Once, you're hired with the company you'd have find out if there's opening for engineers. The railroad should send you to their school for that.

Answer 2

Most railroads hire new people as conductors. After about two years on the job, you are required to become an engineer. The railroads want trainmen to be able to do any job function. Don't run out of people that way.

Answer 3

How about buying a Lionel?

Answer 4

Short answer: luck, fitness, and hard work.

Long answer: You'll need to be lucky enough to get a trainee engineer job, these are usually quite sought after and several people apply for one job. You need a degree of skill in mechanics, engineering and computer operation. You need to demonstrate capability in team and solo work.

You also need to pass a strict medical physical fitness exam, which concentrates particularly on hearing and eyesight. They also have strict requirements for drugs and alcohol limits. You must also be over 21 yrs old.

And if you get through all that, a lot of hard work, studying, passing exams and an aptitude for learning will be the only way to get passed out finally as a fully fledged engineer.

Visit the Railroad Retirement Board's web page with railroad vacancies at:

http://www.rrb.gov/PandS/Jobs/rrjobs.asp