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Locomotive Firer

All About Locomotive Firers

Occupation Description 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.

Daily 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.
  • Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.
  • Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand.
  • Operate locomotives in emergency situations.
  • Receive signals from workers in rear of train and relay that information to engineers.

Locomotive Firer Required Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Locomotive Firers say are important on the job.

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.

  • Donkey Engine Firer/Fireman
  • Dinkey Engine Firer/Fireman
  • Diesel Locomotive Firer/Fireman
  • Steam Locomotive Firer/Fireman
  • Locomotive Firer

Job Demand for Locomotive Firers

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,200 jobs in the United States for Locomotive Firer. 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 Average Salary

The typical yearly salary for Locomotive Firers is somewhere between $53,180 and $99,630.

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

How much do Locomotive Firers make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $66,810

Tools & Technologies Used by Locomotive Firers

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

How do I Become a Locomotive Firer?

What kind of Locomotive Firer requirements are there?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Locomotive Firer?

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

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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