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APPENDIX C
OUTLINE OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TRAINING PROGRAM
| AMTRAK | PROGRAM NUMBER: | OEL-101 |
| HRD - 05/87 | PROGRAM LENGTH: | 20-25 WKS |
| REV - 07/89 | NO. OF UNITS: | 17 |
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TRAINING PROGRAM
MASTER SHEET
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Locomotive Engineer Training program prepares participants to become qualified locomotive engineers. The program consists of four phases.
Phase I is six to nine weeks in length and is primarily classroom activity presented by Human Resources Development (HRD). The variance in the Phase I length is because participants from Zones 1 and 2 require additional instruction on electric locomotives and NORAC operating rules. Participants are required to complete courses on Rules, Signals, the Diesel Engine, Head-End Power (HEP), Air Brakes, and Train Handling. Safety education is an integral part of each course. Upon successful completion of these courses, each participant is given instruction and laboratory experience on a locomotive simulator. Each lesson in Phase I concludes with a quiz and/or work exercises which are used to review the unit and evaluate the participant's understanding and ability. After each major unit (diesel, air brake and simulator, rules, etc.), there is a final examination and/or a list of exercises which must be completed. A minimum grade of 85% is required to pass each of these major unit exams. Upon successful completion of Phase I, the participant becomes an Engineer Trainee.
Phase II training varies in length and is carried out on each engineer trainee's home division. Each trainee is required to qualify on physical characteristics over designated portions of the home railroad within an allotted time frame. During this phase, they are under the supervision of and are evaluated and monitored by the division road foreman or his/her designee.
Phase III lasts a minimum, often longer, of twelve weeks and consists of on the job train handling (OJTH). During this phase, the engineer trainee is assigned to a Promoted Engineer selected by the division who functions as an engineer instructor. The trainee is required to operate the train frequently and for progressively increasing intervals. After each trip, the trainee is evaluated by his/her Engineer Instructor. Biweekly, the engineer trainee is evaluated by his/her road foreman who sends copies of the evaluations to HRD for training documentation and program evaluation. Upon successful completion of Phase III, the road foreman contacts the Transportation Training Group to arrange for the trainee's final evaluation (Phase IV).
