What does it take to drive a freight train?

What does it take to drive a freight train?

Rail companies typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, especially for locomotive engineers and conductors. Locomotive engineers generally receive 2 to 3 months of on-the-job training before they can operate a train on their own.

Is it difficult to drive a train?

Although he wouldn’t describe train driving as easy, he admits it’s a lot less stressful than his old job, where 12-hour shifts could become even longer depending on the situation he was called out to. Train driving is quite peaceful, as long as you don’t encounter any issues!

Why do freight trains take so long?

Some critics say the railroads are moving in the wrong direction, given the demand for faster, more frequent deliveries of smaller batches of raw materials and goods. Long trains take longer to assemble and disassemble in freight yards and can lead to delays on main lines.

Are Locomotive Engineers in demand?

Government economists expect jobs for locomotive engineers to grow more slowly than the average for all careers through 2020. Demand for rail transportation is expected to grow.

What qualifications do you need to drive a train?

You will have to complete a Personal Track Safety Certificate, as well as an NVQ Level 2 in Rail Transport Operations (Driving) before your training is complete. You will also need to be familiar with the rules and guidelines of working on the railroad.

Why are train drivers so well paid?

Train drivers have a very strong union. When a union is strong, the pay that the workers get is usually a bit better. Unions help to ensure a group of people who are working in the same trade have access to fair benefits and fair pay.

How heavy can a freight train be?

You can expect an average train weight to be about 3,000 to 18,000 tons or more depending on the load and number of cars in the train. Local trains designed for the transport of people or to carry less of a load may weigh anywhere from 1,500 to 6,000 tons or more.

How much can a freight train pull?

That totals 27 MILLION pounds of weight pulled (or 14,000 tons). Depending on the type of locomotive, steepness of the grade of track, and sharpness of the curve in the railroad track, a loco may pull more or less weight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJ5hb3vs8E