Railway and yard locomotive engineers – NOC : 7361

Unit Group

7361 Railway and yard locomotive engineers

Railway locomotive engineers operate railway locomotives to transport passengers and freight. They are employed by railway transport companies. Yard locomotive engineers operate locomotives within yards of railway, industrial or other establishments. They are employed by railway transport companies and industrial or commercial users of rail transport.

Example Titles

locomotive engineer – railway

railway engineer

switch engineer – railway

transfer hostler – railway

yard engineer – railway

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Main duties

Railway locomotive engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

Operate locomotives to transport passengers and freight on railways
Operate communication systems to communicate with train crews and traffic controllers to ensure safe operation and scheduling of trains
Inspect assigned locomotives and test operating controls and equipment.

Yard locomotive engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

Operate locomotives to switch, couple and uncouple cars for loading and unloading
Perform switching operations according to written switching orders or dispatched instructions
Inspect locomotives, replenish fuel or perform routine maintenance on locomotives.

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Experience as a conductor is required for railway locomotive engineers and may be required for yard locomotive engineers.
Experience as a railway yard worker may be required for yard locomotive engineers.
Railway locomotive engineers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.

Additional information

Mobility between railway transport companies or between establishments employing locomotive engineers may be limited due to seniority provisions of collective agreements.

Classified elsewhere

Subway and light rail transit operators (in 7512 Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators )
Supervisors, railway transport operations (7304)
Train dispatchers (in 2275 Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators )