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Version:
OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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73310.01 – Railway locomotive engineers

Railway locomotive engineers Railway locomotive engineers operate railway locomotives to transport passengers and freight.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Freight train engineer
  • Passenger train locomotive engineer
  • Railway engineer
  • Railway locomotive engineer

Core competencies

  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to maintain optimal locomotive functionality and prevent mechanical failures or breakdowns by actively monitor performance metrics, engine diagnostics and environmental conditions
  • Operation and Control to efficiently operate and monitor the locomotive's controls, ensuring smooth train movement, speed regulation and response to track signals and conditions
  • Control of Settings to adjust and fine-tune train controls to regulate speed, braking and traction, ensuring safe and efficient train operation in varying track conditions and weather environments
  • Multi-Signal Response to promptly anticipate and respond to situational cues in a fast-changing environment, including braking mechanisms or adjustment of locomotive speed as required
  • Attention to Detail to meticulously monitor train controls, track conditions and signals to ensure safe and precise operation
  • Knowledge in Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment Operations to understand expert operating, monitoring and troubleshooting locomotive systems, safe and efficient handling of complex

Main duties

This group performs 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.

Additional information

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

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Railway traffic controllers (72604.01)
  • Subway train and light rail transit operators (73301.03)
  • Supervisors, railway transport operations (72023)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

73 – General trades

Sub-major group

733 – Transportation occupations

Minor group

7331 – Train crew operating occupations

Unit group

73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers

Occupational profile

73310.01 – Railway locomotive engineers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.