Life As a Locomotive Firer
Example of Locomotive Firer Job Monitor locomotive instruments and watch for dragging equipment, obstacles on rights-of-way, and train signals during run. Watch for and relay traffic signals from yard workers to yard engineer in railroad yard.
A Day in the Life of a Locomotive Firer
- Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently.
- Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
- Receive signals from workers in rear of train and relay that information to engineers.
- Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.
- Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs.
- Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
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What Every Locomotive Firer Should Know
When polled, Locomotive Firers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Types of Locomotive Firer
- Engineer Assistant
- Fireman
- Locomotive Firer
- Assistant Engineer
- Assistant Passenger Locomotive Engineer
What Kind of Locomotive Firer Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 1,200 jobs for Locomotive Firer in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Locomotive Firer.

The states with the most job growth for Locomotive Firer are Idaho and Indiana. Watch out if you plan on working in Indiana or Idaho. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Locomotive Firer Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Locomotive Firers is somewhere between $53,180 and $99,630.

Locomotive Firers who work in Alabama, make the highest salaries.
How much do Locomotive Firers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $66,810 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Locomotive Firers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Locomotive Firers:
- Data entry software
- Route mapping software
- Time tracking software
How to Become a Locomotive Firer
Education needed to be a Locomotive Firer:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Locomotive Firers?

The table below shows the approximate number of Locomotive Firers employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Locomotive Firer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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