Railway and Yard Locomotive Engineers

(NOC 7361)

in All Trades and Transportation

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 Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

  • Estimate 4040 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 8425 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$26.10

Minimum

$38.09

Median

$49.31

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$92,744

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$24.00

Median

$37.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,580

Minimum

$37,269

Median

$79,787

Maximum

About the job

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.

By the numbers

Quick look

< 50

employed in 2016

100.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

0.0%
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100%
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55.9

median age

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

57,925

employed in 2016

85.9%

employed full-time

11.8%

self employed

5.3%
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94.7%
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46.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

75.0%

Halifax

N/A
25.0%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

100.0%

Transportation and warehousing

What is the age of Employment?

56.0%

55-64

22.0%

25-34

22.0%

35-44

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

24.4%

45-54

22.1%

55-64

17.7%

35-44

17.7%

25-34

10.9%

15-24

Top levels of education

44.4%

College Diploma

N/A
33.3%

Trade Certification

N/A
22.2%

High school

N/A

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

29.2%

Trade Certification

$46,494 median annual income
25.5%

High school

$31,260 median annual income
22.3%

College Diploma

$42,050 median annual income
18.7%

Less than high school

$28,319 median annual income
2.8%

Bachelor

$30,527 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Locomotive Engineer

Not Provincially Regulated: This job may be regulated by a federal regulatory body.

Regulating body:
Transport Canada - Rail Services
Moncton, NB

Contacts

Railway Association of Canada
Ottawa, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.