Locomotive Firers
On the Job
Locomotive Firers monitor locomotive instruments and watch for dragging equipment or other obstacles. They watch for traffic signals from yard workers and relay them to the yard engineer.
Physical Demands 
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
- Monitor engine operation or functioning.
- Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
- Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
- Monitor traffic signals.
- Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
- Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
- Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Monitor availability of equipment or supplies.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Working in a closed vehicle or equipment.
- Sitting.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Working with a group or team.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Exposure to hazardous conditions.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
