What's the difference between an Amtrak conductor on a locomotive and the other conductor who rides in the coaches? Or are they called something different now.
If they're are same can they switch positions between locomotive and coach?
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Hi, The person in the locomotive is an engineer. He is the one that controls the physical movement of train. The conductor is the boss of the train. He gives orders to the engineer. I think you are confused because the engineer and conductor ride together in the cab on freight trains. The conductor and engineer must both know the road: stations, speed restrictions, etc. The conductor is in charge of the train: the movement, the safety of the passengers, collecting fares, emergency situations, etc. On a freight train, again, the conductor is the boss, again responsible for the safe operation of the train, handling any tasks that concern switching moves, paperwork collection and organization, filling out any reports concerning operation of the train, etc.
Another thing that causes confusion is the media. Being uneducated for the most part, they constantly call the person in the locomotive the conductor. "The conductor ran the red signal". Conductors don't run signals. Engineers do.
On a passenger train there are usually assistant conductors. They report to the conductor. They are his extra hands and eyes. They also have responsibilities in assisting operation of the train. They will go out and align track switches and flag crossings if needed. They can collect fares and direct people for various reasons.
To recap: Each train, (passenger or freight) has one conductor. The conductor is the boss. He gets his orders from the dispatcher. The engineer and assistant conductors all report to the conductor. The engineer only can move the train after receiving the go ahead from the conductor.
I remember hearing when I was a kid that the engineer was the boss on freight trains, and the conductor was the boss on passenger trains. Of course, that was over 60 years ago, and things may have changed. (Or I may have heard bad info.)
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Here is a link to an article here on the TRAINS magazine website. http://trn.trains.com/railroads/abcs-of-railroading/2006/05/the-people-who-work-on-trains
Paul of Covington I remember hearing when I was a kid that the engineer was the boss on freight trains, and the conductor was the boss on passenger trains. Of course, that was over 60 years ago, and things may have changed. (Or I may have heard bad info.)
The current practice wherein you start in road service as a conductor--with authority over the movement of your train but none over the operation of the engine--and later become qualified as an engineer--who is under the conductor's authority so far as movement of your train--seems strange to me, but I can see that it is proper, for the engineer needs to absolutely know the grades and curves in his territory--and he learn these only by going over the road. Brakeman and fireman were apprentice positions, and we no longer have these positions.
Johnny
Via Rail is different, in that the train is operated by railroad crews who normally remain in the engine cab while Via has a train host and assistants who collect the fares and manage the passengers. The railroad crew recieves clearance to proceed from the Via crew but follows the Dispatchers train direction. Leaving Toronto on the Canadian, one engine crew person rides in the Park car until after the back up move west of Toronto, then returns to the engine. I think that both are qualified as engineers but one is called a conductor. Feel free to correct me on that. Different union rules in Canada.
[quote user="Electroliner 1935"]
[quote user="Deggesty"]
Electroliner 1935 Via Rail is different, in that the train is operated by railroad crews who normally remain in the engine cab while Via has a train host and assistants who collect the fares and manage the passengers. The railroad crew recieves clearance to proceed from the Via crew but follows the Dispatchers train direction. Leaving Toronto on the Canadian, one engine crew person rides in the Park car until after the back up move west of Toronto, then returns to the engine. I think that both are qualified as engineers but one is called a conductor. Feel free to correct me on that. Different union rules in Canada. Isn't that backup move north of Toronto, where the westbound train leaves what seems to me to be a freight bypass of Toronto for Montreal traffic and enters the line to the North? OK. It is NW geographically but RR West. Are you picking nits?
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