Job Description:

• 1) Drives electric, diesel-electric, or gas-turbine-electric locomotive, interpreting train orders, train signals, and railroad rules and regulations, to transport passengers or freight: Inspects locomotive before run to verify specified fuel, sand, water, and other supplies.

• 2) Synchronizes watch with that of CONDUCTOR, PASSENGER CAR or CONDUCTOR, ROAD FREIGHT to ensure departure time from station or terminal is in accordance with time schedule.

• 3) Receives starting signal from CONDUCTOR, PASSENGER CAR or CONDUCTOR, ROAD FREIGHT and moves controls, such as throttle and airbrakes to drive locomotive.

• 4) Interprets train orders, train signals, and railroad rules and regulations to drive locomotive, following safety regulations and time schedule.

• 5) Calls out train signals to FIRER, LOCOMOTIVE for verification of meaning to avoid errors in interpretation.

• 6) Confers with CONDUCTOR, ROAD FREIGHT or traffic control center personnel via radiophone to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.

• 7) Observes track to detect obstructions.

• 8) Inspects locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment.

• 9) Prepares reports to explain accidents, unscheduled stops, or delays.

• 10) May lubricate moving parts of locomotive.

• 11) May drive diesel-electric rail-detector car to transport rail-flaw-detecting machine over railroad and be designated Rail-Flaw-Detector-Car Operator.

• 12) May be designated according to type of locomotive driven as Locomotive Engineer, Diesel; Locomotive Engineer, Electric; or according to type of traffic assigned as Road Engineer, Freight; Road Engineer, Passenger.