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Locomotive Engineer - Personal requirements

Mataaro Rerewhenua

Skills & knowledge

Locomotive engineers need to have:

understanding of the basic mechanics of locomotives, including the air brakes and electrics
knowledge of rail operating codes and signals
understanding of rules and regulations that cover the safe operation of locomotives
knowledge of procedures and protocols for operating radio equipment
problem-solving and decision-making skills
communication skills.

If locomotive engineers drive freight trains, they should also have shunting skills (pushing and pulling wagons or carriages).

Warren Reeves checking the coupling mechanism of a locomotive

Warren Reeves inspects the couplings on a locomotive

Personal Qualities

Locomotive engineers need to be:

safety-conscious
alert at all times
punctual
able to think ahead and anticipate potential problems
able to work well under pressure.

"You've got to be mature. You're responsible for equipment and freight worth millions of dollars, and people's lives are at risk if something goes wrong."

Warren Reeves - Locomotive Engineer

Physical Requirements

Locomotive engineers need to have good hearing and eyesight (with or without corrective lenses), and accurate colour vision. They also need good reflexes and a high standard of general health and fitness.

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Updated September 2009

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