Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

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Locomotive engineers operate trains, watch signals and track conditions, and work with conductors to move freight and passengers safely. Most start as conductors and train with the railroad. Schedules are often on call.

Open the locomotive engineer guide

The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.

High school courses that build toward it

• English 10 · English

  Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.

• Business Law · Career and Technical

  Builds law and government, which this job uses.

• Physical Education · Health and PE

  Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.

• Computer Science Principles · Computer Science

  Builds computers and electronics, which this job uses.

Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.