Does a conductor drive a train?

What Does A Locomotive Engineer and Railroad Conductor Do? Locomotive engineers drive passenger and freight trains, while conductors manage the activities of the crew and passengers on the train. Conductors may take payments or tickets from passengers and assist them when they have any difficulties.



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The engineer is the one who actually drives the train, with the conductor climbing off and onto the locomotive to couple and uncouple train cars and checking for any problems.

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Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.

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The train driver drives the train. The Conductor on a train manages it movement, but the person who is actually at the controls in the cab is the Engineer. The Engineer is operating the train.

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Operating a train is the responsibility of a train driver. It requires a strong understanding of the workings of locomotives and railways to transport passengers and materials safely to their destinations. If you're interested in a career as a train driver, it can be helpful to understand what the job entails.

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Their employer does. In the case of Britain a driver will be rostered to drive trains on a route that he knows and has “signed. He may only work a set number of hours over a set period for safety reasons.

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Conductors work long days (anywhere from 11 to 13 hours, typically), they have to maneuver heavy machinery in sometimes terrible weather conditions, and they can't really plan time off for birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. A former conductor told Reddit: “It is a career that kills marriage.”

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No, the conductors and engineers do not sleep on the train. They are required by federal law from working more than 12 continuous hours and the assignments are usually less. They are relieved at designated crew change points by new crews.

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Highest paying cities for Conductors near United States
  • Tampa, FL. $29.55 per hour. 8 salaries reported.
  • San Antonio, TX. $28.16 per hour. 12 salaries reported.
  • Houston, TX. $27.01 per hour. 35 salaries reported.
  • Kansas City, MO. $26.82 per hour. 18 salaries reported.
  • New York, NY. $24.96 per hour. ...
  • Show more nearby cities.


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Locomotive engineers drive passenger and freight trains, while conductors manage the activities of the crew and passengers on the train. Conductors may take payments or tickets from passengers and assist them when they have any difficulties.

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Despite the image of the eagle-eyed engineer with his hand on the throttle, the conductor is the boss of a train crew.

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In the US, they're called “train engineers”. In the UK and other English-speaking countries, I believe they're called “train operators”.

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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.

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Traditionally, conductors have been stationed within the locomotive cab, which often led to unpredictable work schedules and extended periods away from home. On average, conductors spent around 89 days away from home each year due to the nature of their work tied to train movements.

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Typically crew runs are designed so that they finish at the same location where they started at. The typical work day for a day time run is about 10+ hours, and most have a sixth day of about 8 and 1/2 hours. The typical midday run is about 10 hours, and most of those also are six day runs.

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Do train drivers ever go home? Since both passenger and freight trains run long-distance routes and operate 24 hours per day, it may be common for train drivers to spend long periods away from home. Nighttime, weekend, holiday and overtime work may also be necessary.

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The average train driver salary in London is £58,795, with experienced professionals in the region having salaries that often exceed £69,000, while train driver salaries in Scotland start at £38,194 for newly qualified drivers, rising to £48,360 after the probation period has ended.

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