Railway and Yard Locomotive Engineers

Nature of work

Railway locomotive engineers run railway locomotives to transport passengers and freight. They work for railway transport companies. Yard locomotive engineers run locomotives within yards of railway, industrial or other businesses. They work for railway transport companies and industrial or commercial users of rail transport.

Job duties

Railway locomotive engineers:

• Run locomotives to transport passengers and freight on railways.
• Use communication systems to communicate with train crews and traffic controllers to make sure trains are scheduled and run safely.
• Inspect assigned locomotives and test controls and equipment.

Yard locomotive engineers:

• Run locomotives to switch, couple and uncouple cars for loading and unloading.
• Carry out switching tasks according to written switching orders or dispatched instructions.
• Inspect locomotives, refill fuel or carry out routine maintenance on locomotives.

Sample job titles

• locomotive engineer
• railway engineer
• switch engineer
• transfer hostler
• yard engineer

Skills

• You should be responsible, reliable, and in good physical health. You must also be able to work on your own and carry out instructions given by your employer. Physical strength, stamina, and attention to detail are also assets.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.
• Experience as a conductor is required for railway locomotive engineers and may be required for yard locomotive engineers.
• Experience as a railway yard worker may be required for yard locomotive engineers.
• Railway locomotive engineers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.

Other considerations

• Movement between railway transport companies or between businesses that hire locomotive engineers may be limited due to seniority provisions of collective agreements.

Regulations

Contacts

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