Most freight trains on most railroads today have a crew of two: one engineer and one conductor. Railroad companies continue to press for reduced operating and labor costs and this threatens to eliminate second men.
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Most train engineers do not work a standard 40-hour workweek. Their work hours tend to vary with irregularly scheduled days off. Many train engineers are required to work weekends, nights and holidays. Some train engineers are paid hourly, while others receive an annual salary.
Today, most road freights operate with just two crew members, a conductor and an engineer. Many local freights that deliver and collect cars along their routes also have one trainman, and some have two, to help with the “ground work” of throwing the ground switches and uncoupling the cars.
Neither the conductor nor the engineer is allowed to sleep on the train. They must be awake and alert throughout their entire shift. So, where do they sleep? After their shift, conductors and engineers sleep either at home or in a motel at an away terminal.
Because train engineers receive additional training and typically have more experience than conductors, they may earn a higher salary. Consider your budget and cost of living to decide whether a lower salary is enough for your needs if you're considering becoming a conductor.
What is the first car on a train called? The engine is the first car on a freight train, and the last car is usually the caboose. Besides being last, the other feature of a caboose is its use by the crew.
Freight train conductors can't listen to music, books on tape, or do anything else that could potentially help them stay awake. Each freight train has two crew members, a conductor and an engineer.