r/trains • u/AcrobaticVacation375 • 6h ago
How do you become a steam Engineer? Question
It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I can’t find a straight answer online so is there anyone who knows how to get a job working as a steam locomotive engineer? I’m just really curious.
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u/RailroadRae 6h ago
It will vary from place to place. At my railroad (in the US) we have you start as a hostler/shop help, then move to conductor, then fireman, then engineer. The more time you put in, the more likely you are to get promoted, but you have to do the work and show you're dedicated to learning the whole deal, not just the one position.
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u/PsychologicalCash859 5h ago
This is the answer. I’ve been in the industry for almost 6 years. I was basic labor the first few years, then got to be a shop rat, moving into T&E, became a conductor, and am now an ET. Kinda head shop rat right now over the winter because I’m there nearly every day to make sure the lights and heat stay on. Have a spot working with the M&W gang too. We’re a small operation, so they’ll put you where they need you.
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u/AcrobaticVacation375 5h ago
That makes sense. My dream is to one day be the engineer of either the UP big boy, the UP Challenger, the southern Daylight, or maybe the N&W 611 J Class.
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u/RailroadRae 5h ago
Find a heritage railroad near you and start volunteering. Put in those hours and get to know people. The more you network in the industry, the better.
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u/PsychologicalCash859 1h ago
Good Luck. That’s all I can say.
Im close friends with a lot of big names and a lot of behind the scenes people in the industry, and getting to see the steam shop is hard enough. Getting a job there is even harder. Also know that in an economic downturn, the fluff is the first to go. Steamshop ain’t making money moving freight, so they’re some of the first to get cut…
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u/pikatrushka 3h ago edited 3h ago
I know this is an out-of-the-box suggestion, but it might be worth considering if you’re American: Disneyland and Walt Disney World both run vintage steam locomotives and do their engineer training/licensing in-house (I used to work there).
Other theme parks have heritage steam locomotives, too (Knott’s Berry Farm’s DRGW and RGS C-19s come to mind, as do Dollywood’s Baldwins), but I’m not as familiar with whether they only hire pre-licensed engineers or if they pay for them to be trained.
It’s not the same as running a Big Boy on the mainline, of course. But if you’re just interested in indulging your dream of running steam, it may be more realistic and fulfilling than pursuing a railroad career in hopes of making it to a Heritage Fleet assignment.
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u/OdinYggd 1h ago
Join a museum that has steam. Be there regularly for work days, and be willing to get in and do what needs to happen no matter how dirty or difficult.
The traditional path of starting out as the guy who cleans and lubricates the engine after a run and making your way up is still very much alive. Museums have no shortage of people who want to drive, but are in dire need of people willing to come to the shop on a cold stormy Sunday to perform maintenance and keep the engine in good condition to perform for events.
As a revenue career, it probably won't be steam that you drive. But being certified by a class 3 or higher to operate the diesels means you already know the operating rules that steam must also comply with.
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u/MrDibbsey 5h ago
Paid is surprisingly difficult unless you happen to have a local operation that's hiring, volunteering is simpler but you will be expected to work up the progression ladder at that location. For me that's Loco Cleaner, Fireman, Driver which will take for me, perhaps 8 or 9 years but this varies massively but local practice and individual skill.