Employers
Locomotive engineers may be employed by passenger lines or freight lines. They may work for one of the major railroads, such as BNSF Railway Company, Norfolk Southern Corporation, or CSX Corporation, or they may work for one of the more than 500 smaller short-line railroads across the country. Many of the passenger lines today are commuter lines located near large metropolitan areas. Locomotive engineers who work for freight lines may work in a rural or an urban area and travel more extensively than the shorter, daily commuter routes that passenger locomotive engineers travel. There are approximately 27,500 locomotive engineers employed in the United States.
Starting Out
The only way to become a locomotive engineer is to start at a lower level and work up to the position. For many railroads, union/railroad agreements dictate the specific steps required to become a locomotive engineer; many locomotive engineers started out as conductors. To find an entry-level job with a railroad, aspiring engineers should apply directly to railroad employment offices, as well as to state employment offices.