Engineer hiring process
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Do you have prior railroad experience? Are you planning on starting in another craft and want to be promoted to Engineer? Or, are you hoping to be hired off the street, w/o experience, as an engineer?
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Cho Cho Charlie
Engineer
Just wondering... does it list qualifications?
For the last one you usually have to know someone (father, brother, uncle or babysitter works at Amtrak).............LOL
I know some who were hired off the street w/o experience or knowing anyone. (they may have been lying about not knowing anyone though) They were veterans. Veterans get preference.
[SIZE=1em]PREFERRED EDUCATION:[/SIZE]
Some college or vocational training.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Some work experience demonstrating the ability to maintain alertness, awareness and vigilance, as well as clear, effective verbal communication skills in the performance of work. Satisfactory attendance and safe work record. Prior railroad operating experience and work history that demonstrates ability to adapt to variable and often changing work hours preferred. Preference given to individuals who were trained by a Class 1 carrier or equivalent passenger railroad and are currently certified as Class 1 Train Service Engineers.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
1. Although a driver’s license is not required, applicants with a driver’s license must provide a certified copy of motor vehicle driving record from the chief of the state driver’s licensing agency in which the applicant was last issued a license and any license(s) issued or reissued from other state(s) within the preceding 60 months. Motor vehicle records must be void of any drug and alcohol violations within the previous 36 months. 2. Must have a motor vehicle driving record void of any convictions or state action canceling, revoking, suspending or denying a driver’s license for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or a controlled substance within the last 36 months or a record of refusal to undergo such testing as required by state law within the last 36 months. 3. Must sign a release of records authorizing all previous railroad employers to provide Amtrak with background information, if applicable. In accordance with FRA regulations, previous railroad service records must be void of any drug and alcohol violations within the previous 60 months.
OTHER:
If selected, incumbent will be required to successfully complete Engineer Training as follows: Individuals not previously certified as Class 1 Train Service Engineers: 7-10 weeks classroom and field work while headquartered at Amtrak’s Training Center in Wilmington, DE; followed by extensive qualifying and on-the-job training associated with the Crew Base for which hired; paid at the student training rate until incumbent achieves certification as a Class 1 Train Service Engineer.
Individuals currently certified as Class 1 Train Service Engineers: 9-12 weeks classroom and field work while headquartered at Amtrak’s Training Center in Wilmington, DE, followed by additional qualifying associated with the Crew Base for which hired; paid at the rate determined by the agreement schedule.
Incumbents are subject to periodic medical examinations including random drug and alcohol screenings.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No
COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Hiring off the street as an engineer, is a tough undertaking due to the sheer volume of things you need to learn, ie railroad operating rules, operating an engine, and qualifying on railroad characteristics.
I strongly suggest starting a career as an asst. Conductor, giving you a chance to learn "railroading" more gradually. This will also increase your chances of being selected when Engineer positions are available.
I strongly suggest starting a career as an asst. Conductor, giving you a chance to learn "railroading" more gradually. This will also increase your chances of being selected when Engineer positions are available.
Keep these things in mind.
1. You may have to work in the middle of the night, your off days will be subject to management decisions and union agreements, etc.
2. Whatever "home" means for you, you will spend a lot of time away from it... in hotels that are not five-star.
3. Engine service is a very demanding occupation. One slip up and people get killed. One slip up and your career could be over, even if no one gets killed. There are literally hundreds of rules and restrictions to be memorized. Management will go after your throat in a heartbeat.
4. The work is quasi-outdoors in all kinds of weather. Locomotive cabs are often unpleasant places... dirty, noisy, smelly, hot/cold, etc.
5. Unless you work exclusively in the northeast corridor, you will eventually be at the controls during a grade crossing accident or a suicide-by-train.
6. Kids will throw rocks at you, or worse. Keep those windows closed.
7. Depending on where in the country you work, you could go on and off duty in some dicey neighborhoods.
8. Maintenance of locomotives is sometimes not the best, and you will be under pressure when problems occur on the road.
9. There is a lot of sitting and waiting on signals, etc. Also, you may find that you run up and down the same section of track for months/years on end.
Now, if you still want to pursue the job, go ahead. Many people do. Some love it, and for others it's just a job.
1. You may have to work in the middle of the night, your off days will be subject to management decisions and union agreements, etc.
2. Whatever "home" means for you, you will spend a lot of time away from it... in hotels that are not five-star.
3. Engine service is a very demanding occupation. One slip up and people get killed. One slip up and your career could be over, even if no one gets killed. There are literally hundreds of rules and restrictions to be memorized. Management will go after your throat in a heartbeat.
4. The work is quasi-outdoors in all kinds of weather. Locomotive cabs are often unpleasant places... dirty, noisy, smelly, hot/cold, etc.
5. Unless you work exclusively in the northeast corridor, you will eventually be at the controls during a grade crossing accident or a suicide-by-train.
6. Kids will throw rocks at you, or worse. Keep those windows closed.
7. Depending on where in the country you work, you could go on and off duty in some dicey neighborhoods.
8. Maintenance of locomotives is sometimes not the best, and you will be under pressure when problems occur on the road.
9. There is a lot of sitting and waiting on signals, etc. Also, you may find that you run up and down the same section of track for months/years on end.
Now, if you still want to pursue the job, go ahead. Many people do. Some love it, and for others it's just a job.
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It should also be kept in mind that after the two or so months of classroom training in Wilmington there is a long qualifying period at training rate pay. Really long......
Thirdrail7
Engineer
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- Jul 9, 2014
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One thing that they seem to have left out in the posting that will likely come up in the interview: Are you able to reach the crew base in which you are hired within two hours of receiving a call to report for work? Are you able to do this all year round?
Keep that in mind.
Keep that in mind.
BCL
Engineer
There was that engineer who stopped when rocks were thrown at his train in West Sacramento and got out to confront the attackers. Didn't end up well for him. I don't think he was supposed to get out of the cab though. I would have thought he could have contacted dispatch or the conductor would have called for the police. Amtrak claimed he didn't follow procedure and the assault on his person was a direct result. Not sure if the ruling is final yet.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article4303135.html
Acela150
Super Buff
1. True
2. This depends on hire location. NEC crews go home at the end of the day AFAIK
3. Fair point. But ask if every railroader has the entire rule book memorized. That's why you must have your rule book close by in a bag while O/D. For reference.
4. Dirty sometimes, noisy depending on type of locomotive, some can smell bad, and hot or cold can vary. If it's got good A/C and Heat nothing to worry about. Good thing about Amtrak units is that the units aren't black like at NS. I was on a Dash-9 yesterday and it had no working A/C. Thing was hot as hell.
5. Even in the NEC suicides happen weekly. It's not IF but WHEN.
6. I've been given the finger a couple times, but it's not a big deal. Rocks are more so of a bigger deal.
7. True fact. I've been on trains that go On and Off duty in Camden, NJ. Pavonia is not in a good hood.
8. This is true to the point where I know NS has a center that can be called by phone or radio.
9. Running up the same sets of trackage is part of getting qualified PC's. Knowing where you are.
Yes. This engineer should have keep going if it was safe for him to do so. This engineer committed a decent amount of rule violations and he'll walk with some cash.
BCL
Engineer
I heard that he was back on the job in 2010, and the incident was in 2007. Wondering if there was any discipline for him for what should seem to be a clear breach of procedure.
In any case, I heard that eventually Amtrak Police had a few officers based in the Sacramento area to provide a specific response to issues.
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