What does a railroad engineer do?

A railroad engineer drives trains along routes to deliver passengers or cargo to different destinations. As a locomotive engineer, your job duties include controlling the speed of the train to account for weather and track conditions, monitoring controls and equipment, maintaining train inspection logs, communicating with other railroad employees in person and over the radio, managing time to keep trains on schedule, and responding appropriately to emergency situations. You must be able to think logically and make quick decisions. You also need strong time management and communication skills to work as a railroad engineer.