Locomotive Engineers
Job description
These individuals drive passenger and freight locomotives. Locomotives can be operated on railways or in marshalling yards.
Environment
- Climatic conditions
- Vehicle or passenger compartment
- Noise
- Vibration
Main tasks
Locomotive Engineers
- Operate locomotive controls.
- Communicate with crew members and traffic control personnel.
- Ensure safe operation of the locomotive and adherence to the schedule.
- Examine locomotives to check controls and equipment.
Marshalling Yard Locomotive Engineers
- Operate locomotives to couple and uncouple cars.
- Execute the switch (track changes) according to the instructions received.
- Examine locomotives and perform routine repairs.
- Fill up with fuel.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $33.00
- Median
- $42.45
- Maximum
- $64.90
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
Good
All of Québec
Non available
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
800
All of Québec
na
Gender distribution
All of Québec
Not available.
- 4.6% Female
- 95.4% Male
Not available.
- 4.6% Female
- 95.4% Male
Job types
All of Québec
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Not available.
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
$115,000
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 48, 4963% of jobs
-
NAICS 2112% of jobs
-
NAICS 3315% of jobs
-
NAICS 235% of jobs
-
NAICS 814% of jobs
-
Others11% of jobs
All of Québec
Not available.
-
NAICS 48, 4963% of jobs
-
NAICS 2112% of jobs
-
NAICS 3315% of jobs
-
NAICS 235% of jobs
-
NAICS 814% of jobs
-
Others11% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
No specific training
Also required
Locomotive Engineers
- Experience as a conductor.
- Canadian Rail Operating Rules Certificate.
Sometimes required
- A secondary school diploma is usually required.
Marshalling Yard Locomotive Engineers
- Experience as a Conductor is sometimes required.
- Experience as a Marshalling Yard Worker may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Operations and control
- Monitoring operations
- Information processing
- Active listening
- Result evaluation
- Oral expression
- Critical thought
- Reading comprehension
- Judgment and decision-making
- Active learning
- Time management
- Solving complex problems
- Coordination
- Written expression
Abilities
- Distance vision
- Selective attention
- Control accuracy
- Response orientation
- Depth perception
- Awareness of issues
- Reaction time
- Near vision
- Oral comprehension
- Limb coordination
- Verbal skills
- Perception speed
- Auditory attention
- Speed control
- Information organization
- Processing flexibility
- Inductive reasoning
- Manual dexterity
- Speech recognition
- Hearing sensitivity
- Speech clarity
- Written comprehension
- Time sharing
- Deductive reasoning
- Spatial orientation
- Hand-arm stability
- Digital dexterity
- Written expression
- Colour perception and distinction
- Tolerance to bright light
- Visualization
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Critical thinking
- Focussed on results
- Autonomy
- Capacity to adapt
- Capacity to work in a team
- Rigour
- Attention to detail
- Intermediate knowledge of the English language
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Work in transportation and maintenance
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 73310
Railway and yard locomotive engineers
Job titles
- Yard engineer - railway
- Locomotive engineer - railway
- Railway locomotive engineer
- Passenger train engineer
- Train engineer
- Railway engineer trainee
- Switch engineer - railway
- Railway engineer
- Diesel locomotive engineer - railway
- Industrial locomotive engineer
- Locomotive hostler
- Freight train engineer
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026
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