Practice traveling with a mission! Geocaching is an activity where you find a hidden object using GPS--then log your discovery and re-hide it for others to find. Sign up and try it!

Find hidden treasures all around you with geocaching!

Locomotive Engineers

Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Locomotive Engineers and Operators

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Rail Transportation Workers

Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.

Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.

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.

Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.

Call out train signals to assistants to verify meanings.

Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.

Check to ensure that brake examination tests are conducted at shunting stations.

Respond to emergency conditions or breakdowns, following applicable safety procedures and rules.

Inspect locomotives to verify adequate fuel, sand, water, or other supplies before each run or to check for mechanical problems.

Inspect locomotives after runs to detect damaged or defective equipment.

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.

Monitor train loading procedures to ensure that freight or rolling stock are loaded or unloaded without damage.

Drive diesel-electric rail-detector cars to transport rail-flaw-detecting machines over tracks.

Locomotive Engineers

Overview

Career

What Locomotive Engineers Do

Other Job Titles Locomotive Engineers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Locomotive Engineers

Overview

Career

What Locomotive Engineers Do

Other Job Titles Locomotive Engineers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Locomotive Engineers

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders