The job responsibilities of a railroad engineer
Railroad Engineers receive a decent salary for the work they perform. Their average salary is around 94K annually. Along with the salary, the Engineers are expected to have certain qualifications and must be able to perform their duties safely and accurately for the protection of the public, because one mistake could mean disaster for a commuter train or a load full of Hazmat.
To be qualified as a Railroad Engineer, they must have excellent critical thinking and on the spot decision making skills, as well as communication, time management, a team player, and very keen observation skills. Aside from the educational requirements, like passing the Engineers program and becoming licensed, the observation and critical thinking are of the utmost importance. These two skills will allow them to operate the enormous equipment to the best of their abilities.
The Engineers are responsible for transporting hundreds of passengers to and from their destinations safely and/or thousands of pounds of freight cross-country. They must stay in constant synchronicity with the train by monitoring the speed, conditions inside and out, checking the gauges and instruments, scanning the tracks for debris, and communicating with the conductor and assistant.
They must also check the train before and after a trip to ensure it is in proper working order. The Railroad Engineer is also responsible for being knowledgeable of the route he/she will be taking as they will need to adjust speeds and braking depending on the terrain. In order to prevent the train from derailing the Engineer is responsible for learning how to handle all train types, such as freight and passenger. This is because each will handle quite differently.
The high-stress job of Railroad Engineers comes with a ton of responsibilities that have to be executed with precision to maintain the safety of the public.