Locomotive Engineers Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Locomotive Engineers

The main tasks and work activities of Locomotive Engineers are to monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation, monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards, receive information or instructions for performing work assignments, operate locomotives or other rail vehicles. In general, for the Locomotive Engineers, operation and Control, operation Monitoring, active Listening, monitoring and other 10 skills are required.

Locomotive Engineers Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Locomotive Engineers jobs. 67.84% of Locomotive Engineers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 23.21% of Locomotive Engineers have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

2.37%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

67.84%

Post-Secondary Certificate

23.21%

Some College Courses

6.58%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

0.00%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Locomotive Engineers

Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.
Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives.
Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.
Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations.
Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.
Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.
Prepare reports regarding any problems encountered, such as accidents, signaling problems, unscheduled stops, or delays.
Check to ensure that documentation, such as procedure manuals or logbooks, are in the driver's cab and available for staff use.
Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment.
Drive diesel-electric rail-detector cars to transport rail-flaw-detecting machines over tracks.
Monitor train loading procedures to ensure that freight or rolling stock are loaded or unloaded without damage.

Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Respond to transportation emergencies.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor availability of equipment or supplies.
Prepare accident or incident reports.
Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
Monitor loading processes to ensure they are performed properly.

Skills and Abilities for Locomotive Engineers

Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Response OrientationThe ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Depth PerceptionThe ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable hand wrenches
Adjustable widemouth plierse.g. Adjustable widemouth pliers
Rail switching systemse.g. Automatic track switching systems
Rail couplerse.g. Car coupling devices
Claw hammere.g. Claw hammers
Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
Diesel freight locomotivese.g. Diesel freight engines
Diesel passenger locomotivese.g. Diesel passenger engines
Electric freight locomotivese.g. Electric freight engines
Electric passenger locomotivese.g. Electric passenger engines
Train braking systemse.g. Freight car air brakes
Electric freight locomotivese.g. Gas-turbine-electric engines
Train braking systemse.g. Locomotive air brakes
Rail switching systemse.g. Manual rail switches
Thin client computerse.g. On-board computers
Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
Screwdriverse.g. Phillips head screwdrivers
Socket setse.g. Socket wrench sets
Steam enginese.g. Steam engines
Screwdriverse.g. Straight screwdrivers

TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Locomotive Engineers Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Locomotive Engineers

Skills and Abilities for Locomotive Engineers