Railroad engineer
A
railroad engineer,
locomotive engineer,
train operator,
train driver,
engine driver or
loco pilot is a person who operates a train on a railroad or railway. The locomotive / railroad engineer is in charge of and responsible for driving the locomotive as well as the mechanical operation of the train, train speed, and all train handling. The use of the term
engineer to describe this occupation should not be confused with professional engineer. For many United States railroads, the following career progression is typical: assistant conductor, conductor and finally engineer. In the US, engineers are required to be certified and re-certified every two to three years. In India, a loco pilot starts as a
diesel assistant or
electrical assistant. They then get promoted on a scale: goods, passenger, Mail/Express and Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto. In the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, train drivers are known as "locomotive engineers". In the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia, they are known as "train drivers", "engine drivers", "locomotive drivers", or "locomotive operators".