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Locomotive Engineer

Locomotive engineers drive passenger or freight trains.

Tasks & duties

Locomotive engineers may do some or all the following:

drive trains safely to scheduled running times
stop at stations to pick up or drop off passengers
shunt wagons (push or pull them using a locomotive)
comply with all signal indications and speed boards
visually inspect the locomotive to detect any problems before starting a service
read bulletins (information about track work in specific areas and rule changes) before departing the station
act promptly and comply with safety rules in emergency conditions or breakdowns
identify faults in breakdown situations

Specialisations

Locomotive engineers usually specialise in either inter-city freight and passenger trains, or urban passenger trains. However, many skills for these specialisations are interchangeable.

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).

Entry requirements

To become a locomotive engineer you must pass a selection process that includes:

tests assessing your personality and intelligence
a medical test including hearing and eyesight
drug tests

You must also:

successfully complete a training programme that includes tests on the theory and practical aspects of locomotive driving
have a current driver's licence
have no criminal convictions

To drive freight trains you must be capable of shunting wagons to and from the train and be certified in train inspection duties before you can do further on-the-job training

KiwiRail website - information on becoming a train driver

Secondary education

A minimum of School Certificate or NCEA Level 1 English and maths is needed to become a locomotive engineer.

Training on the job

Locomotive engineers go through an extensive on-the-job training process. First, they must complete a six-week theory course at Woburn training centre in Wellington. After this:

urban commuter train locomotive engineers must complete 500 hours of on-the-job training, working alongside an experienced locomotive engineer – this usually takes between six and 12 months
freight train and long distance passenger train locomotive engineers must complete 1,040 hours of on-the-job training

Once they have gone through training, trainee locomotive engineers are assessed by a locomotive operation manager before being given charge of a train.