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Locomotive Firer

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What is a Locomotive Firer?

Locomotive Firer Example 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.

Life As a Locomotive Firer: What Do They Do?

  • 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.
  • Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.
  • Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
  • Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.
  • Receive signals from workers in rear of train and relay that information to engineers.

What a 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.

Other Locomotive Firer Job Titles

  • Passenger Locomotive Engineer
  • Electric Locomotive Firer/Fireman
  • Engineer Assistant
  • Roundhouse Firer/Fireman
  • Donkey Engine Firer/Fireman

Job Demand for Locomotive Firers

There were about 1,200 jobs for Locomotive Firer in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Locomotive Firer.

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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 Salary

Locomotive Firers make between $53,180 and $99,630 a year.

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Locomotive Firers who work in Alabama, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Locomotive Firers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $66,810

What Tools & Technology do Locomotive Firers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Locomotive Firers may use on a daily basis:

  • Data entry software
  • Route mapping software
  • Time tracking software

Becoming a Locomotive Firer

Individuals working as a Locomotive Firer have obtained the following education levels:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where Locomotive Firers Are Employed

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Below are examples of industries where Locomotive Firers work:

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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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