what's the difference between a train conductor and a train engineer?

Answer 1

On Americas Freight Railroads, Conductors are the ones in charge of the paperwork of the train, such as work orders, timebooks, consist papers etc... Conductors are the ones who get out in the weather to switch cars, and get a train put together and get it ready to move, Engineers are the men or women behind the throttles of the locomotive, They take there orders from the conductor as in when to go or when to stop. Engineers are responsible for checking the condition of the locomotives on their train seeing if the Horn, Bell, lights winshield wipers, etc... are working. The engineer is in charge of getting the train from point A to point B. The engineer also has his share of paperwork, such as watching the signals to make sure they are working properly and also providing safety for his/her crew.

Like Hoghead already mentioned The pay difference between a engineer and a conductor are about 25K. Engineers, based on experience and amount of time worked can make anywhere from 125K to 130K. Conductors make anywhere from 100 to 110K per year.

The training for the two jobs is very different. Condutors can go through The NARS or National Academy of Railroad Sciences course and get their rules and tests out of the way in 6 weeks, then go through 13 weeks of in-yard/train service where they work as switchmen or trainee conductors. Or they can get hired by any of the class-1 railroads and go through their training, I know that BNSF's is 13 weeks of rules, RCL, and in yard/train service followed by a week in Kansas City, KS for the final test, which you must pass in order to keep your Job.

Conductors can become engineers after 5 or more years as a conductor, Engineer training requires 6 weeks at NARS to get the knowledge of running a train, Systems and train handling, Air brakes and special systems. etc...

Answer 2

The conductor is the captain of the train and is responsible for everything including the paperwork. The engineer operates the locomotive.

Both engineer and conductor are responsible for a train's movement, so both are expected to know signals, schedules and train orders. If you ever see a passenger train do a long "back-up" move into a terminal, the person at the back end of the train controlling it is the conductor.

On long-haul Amtrak trains, engineer and conductor operate in crew districts and get changed out every few hundred miles. The on-board service staff (chief of on-board services, car attendants, chefs and waiters) stay on the train the whole run.

Answer 3

conductor punches tickets. the other one is the one that makes all the big money and drives the train.

Answer 4

Depending on seniority, around $25,000 a year..............