Locomotive Engineer - Conductor

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all train orders, signals, and railroad rules and regulations for safety, operations, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
• Review instructions from dispatchers and yardmasters; discuss with locomotive engineer and train crew.
• Inspect all equipment on cars prior to departures.
• Accurately receive and transmit information by radio and telephone.
• Read and understand bulletins, work orders, and switch lists.
• Safely assist and instruct train crews to couple and uncouple cars, operate switches, and make minor repairs to railcars, including replacing heavy couplings or air brake hoses.
• Safely and professionally work with customers to ensure accurate movement and placement of cars.
• Maintain awareness of surrounding area and suspicious activity to ensure rail safety.
• Comprehend color and/or hand signals and systems.
• Make precise adjustments in moving the controls of a machine or vehicle to exact positions.
• Quickly and accurately respond to visual symbols, signals, and displays (sound, light, picture, etc.).
• Maintain responsibility for safe and efficient operation of the locomotive.
• Perform manipulation of throttle and brake controls as well as interpreting gauges and controls.
• Manipulate valves and switches both inside and outside of the cab.
• Apply and release handbrakes.
• Ascend and descend steps and ladders to get on and off equipment.
• Take directions from conductors and brakemen.
• Line switches.
• Perform maintenance services to the locomotive (brake shoes, oil, sand, and fuel).
• Comply with all new and outstanding railroad instructions regarding the operation of the train.
• Comply with all federal regulations regarding the operation of train air brakes.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by operations and/or management.

Conductor Specific Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all train orders, signals, and railroad rules and regulations for safety, operations, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
• Understand and review instructions; effectively communicate these instructions with locomotive engineer and train crew.
• Efficiently receive and transmit information by radio and telephone.
• Read and understand bulletins, work orders, and switch lists.
• Safely assist and instruct train crews to couple and uncouple cars, operate switches, and make minor repairs to railcars, including replacing heavy coupler knuckles or air brake hoses.
• Safely and professionally work with customers to ensure accurate movement and placement of cars.
• Maintain awareness of surrounding area and suspicious activity to ensure rail safety.
• Comprehend color and/or hand signals and systems.
• Quickly and repeatedly make precise adjustments in moving the controls of a machine or vehicle to exact positions.
• Quickly and accurately respond to visual symbols, signals, and displays (sound, light, picture, etc.).

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• 2 years verifiable work experience and/or college; railroad industry experience strongly preferred.
• Must pass all required assessments.
• Must pass a background screening.
• SLGW employees will be subject to the Everifile background check and must acquire the ERailSafe Badge.
• Federal regulations require random testing for drugs and/or alcohol.
• No driving violations involving alcohol or drugs within the past 3 years.
• Knowledge of and skills in using hand tools, including wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, measuring tapes, etc.
• Skills in using power tools and hydraulic equipment, including portable grinders, rail saws, spike pullers, track wrench machines, power drills.
• Prefer experience reading and comprehending safety manuals, operating and maintenance instructions, test materials, drawings, schematics, and procedure manuals.
• Must be able to meet physical requirements of the position.
• Position requires flexible work schedule and the need to work overtime on occasion.
• Must report to work as called on a 24-hour schedule.

Skills

• Verbal Comprehension: Understands oral and written communications (both general and technical).
• Communication Skills: Provides clear instructions/directions. Listens and adheres to operations and management guidance.
• Reasoning Skills: Demonstrates high level of skill to effectively use problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Time Management: Values and manages time effectively. Prioritizes, manages, and organizes workload and a broad range of activities.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to communicate and collaborate with diverse personalities.
• Organizational Skills: Demonstrates high level of organization.
• Resourcefulness: Ability to find innovative ways to overcome obstacles, problems, and unforeseen/challenging situations.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

Locomotive Engineers must meet and maintain the following physical requirements:

• Must meet and maintain color vision requirements as described in the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Regulations.
• Must meet and maintain all hearing requirements as described in the FRA Regulations.

The physical nature of the work will vary from day to day based on operational needs; however, the job requires the ability to perform the following:

• Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, bending, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, typing, grasping, handling, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motion.
• Work in cramped, confined, enclosed, or awkward places.
• Walk long distances over uneven terrain.
• Heavy work requiring occasional lifting, carrying, frequent pushing, and pulling of up to or greater than 80 lbs.
• A wide range of motion is required for throwing ground and waist-level switches.
• Outdoor position requiring tolerance to extreme heat, cold, and wet conditions.
• Work outside in all weather conditions.
• Perform activities in the proximity of moving equipment.
• Good auditory and visual acuity/tracking/inspection, accommodation, field of vision, and depth perception for successfully performing duties and ensuring general safety.
• Color vision necessary for perceiving signals.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including but not limited to hearing protection, safety-toe boots, and safety glasses.

This is a Safety Sensitive Position.