Inside Amtrak's engineer training school
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Eleven weeks. That's how long it takes to go from average Joe to Amtrak engineer.
The transformation takes place at Amtrak's High-Speed Rail Training Facility, housed inside an unassuming beige building along a dead-end road just west of Wilmington, Delaware's Riverfront section.
It's here where hopeful engineers from around the country come to take an eleven-week classroom course. Some are former freight train engineers. Some are what Amtrak calls "off the street."
I’m considering on becoming a locomotive engineer for Amtrak after I graduate from college
Follow your dream..I wish I was 50 years younger. .I would have they are beautiful machines..can imagine operating one...it's probably an experience of a lifetime
Why would you go to college just to be a engineer go to college and become management
same
You need to go to college to operate a train????
@@thebfam6191 Higher chance of earning the job, its also a “preferred requirement”
This is literally my dream job
The best job in the World if you spend your time watching videos like this.
Went through this program in 2003, was 7 weeks classroom, then you went back to your respective crew base and begin your OJT training, your student license is good for 24 months, depending on territory and amount of trains, it may very well take over a year or more to attain required hours needed to become fully qualified and mark up. Took me 9 months in all, from January to September of 03’ until I got my class 1 license, then still lots to it, they just don’t throw you to the wolves.
I thought though this save training could be done on the west coast instead of paying for lodging for each trainee, but Amtrak has their reasons.
Could you tell me more about Amtrak? I'm interested in becoming an engineer one day, but im currently too young.
@@wherespie428 Ask away! Also note, while I don’t work for them any longer, I’ll try my best to answer your questions.
@@straightto8 how did you know when you were approaching a station?
@@wherespie428 It is all about knowing the physical characteristics of the route one works, knowing it in day, night, adverse weather conditions. They key is having land marks, and have air spots, like a particular tree, or some structure, etc.
It rages time, the route I was hired to work in, took me 6.5 months to learn the route, and get fully qualified, some routes take longer, there is a set number of hours you are required to have physically running and observing in cab.
@@straightto8 Thats interesting. Is there a high and low horn?
Listening to this guy talk. I've applied for over 30 yrs and never got a call or return email. Driving a truck 7-1000 miles a day, I think I can handle it
Anthony Windfield that’s because your black that’s how Amtrak plays you have a better chance driving freight train 🚂. My cousin went through same thing and now works freight train company.
j3pop never thought that I've met maybe a hand full. But didn't think many blacks enjoyed trains
j3pop That is not true, I’ve seen many African Americans driving Amtrak trains.
I live less than 300 yards from the Northeast Corridor. Almost all of the engineers ive seen on Amtrak trains, from NE Regionals to Acelas, were black.
Anthony Windfield there is a lot more to operating a locomotive than a tractor trailer. Plus you’re too old.
Just applied. Hope I get the job!!
Dam Son Hear anything from them?
acelakid94 Unfortunately, not. 😔 still holdin out, though.
@@BrawnyBuddha Good luck :)
Best of luck you'll have work your way up to Locomotive Engineer.
Are you currently an engineer for a different railroad? If not then apply for a different position. And then after that try your luck again.
This is a 40$+ an hour job btw for anyone wondering
Not worth it, considering all the federal paperwork you sign AND can be held personally liable for.
Strange coincidence with the posting date. They must have been working on this segment just before the Amtrak 188 accident.
Or the Amtrak 501 accident. Train was going to fast for a curve and derail above a freeway in Washington state
Much respect.
What is the requirements to be Amtrak Locomotive Engineer? because I’m thinking about becoming one after high school
You need to work for your local metro for acuple of years or state railway you don't need a cdl license the last time I checked
At 50 years old and a retired cop I don't think Amtrak would want me. But I've always wanted to be a Engineer and I'm used to long hours at work and getting called in without notice.
Go for it, don't doubt yourself
@@fartholemechanic9252 Thank you Brother
think you have best chance ever…i doing the same with 50 years and like it absolutely.
Let Amtrak tell you you're not qualified, not your head.
@seekunderstanding4280 Thanks Brother I hear you on that
What a cool career that is.
How the train engineer know witch station he have to stop for pick up people or got them out of train?
Probably communications from dispatcher or route knowledge. The conductors signal to the operator if they are ready to go.
Good question. Head on over to Amtrak and look up timetables for specific regions. Any station that is on the timetable is a stop for the train as long as it shows on the timetable.
Train 5 stops Naperville, Princeton, Galesburg , Burlington, Mt Pleasant and Ottumwa where the crew change point is.
On the way back, 6 can by pass Galesburg, Princeton and Naperville as those are drop off stations only. If no one is on that wants to get off, you just keep going.
The dispatcher has no clue what we are doing passenger wise unless we advise them.
All stops to pick up or discharge passengers are scheduled in the timetable.
Bringing a drinking bird to the simulator is an automatic disqualification.
im 20... future engineer?
Nice graphics
So how do I get a job as a train engineer Steve I'm very interested in becoming an Amtrak train engineer it has been a dream of mine to be a train engineer how do I turn my dream into a dream job reality and have a job that I'm proud of and a job that I want to go to every day because of the opportunity and the adventure and I understand that the risks of hitting a vehicle are always going to be there but I'm going to deal with that I'm willing to deal with whatever I got to deal with it and take it by the horns and say you know what I got this.
Hey do know if it's too late but create a profile on Amtrak career website and you will get notifications.
I wonder 'WHYY' it's so important
*wheeze*
It would actually be great IF we allowed Japan to build and run our rail system in the USA. We could have Shinkansesns High Speed Rail, NOT that is worthless one train per day Amtrak.
gunsliniger titan texas is doing that
You'd have to start all over again from scratch. The japanese had a chance to rebuild a whole new system from the rubble. A unique opportunity we never had. You'd have to design a whole new network within and around the current northeast corridor, interstate and freight networks and spend the rest of your life fighting off eminent domain pushback from all the land you'd have to grab to do it.
Goddamn hilarious!!
Would it be possible to become an engineer at around age 50?
yes
Where can I get more information?
Yes, I work for Amtrak and iv seen engineers in the 60s that’s started
How do you apply for the school and become an engineer for Amtrak. Can anyone recommend or hep me ?
Apply first to be a conductor if you have no railroad experience.
Then after a couples years just apply for an engineer position within the company.
Or go become an engineer at a different railroad company.
Then apply to Amtrak.
Amtrak is known for poaching employees who are already certified from other railroad companies.
Wow I wish I could
I hope to see you soon I have applied to three job announcements
Even train sim world has better graphics
What age i need to be a train engineer?
Technically 18. But you won't be hired off the street at 18 to be an Engineer at Amtrak.
wow
Eleven weeks?? Here it's 60...
Björn Lillpers Where is "here"?
Sweden.
What in gods name are you talking about. Sweden builds their own stock, and Amtrak isn't using heritage rolling stock for regular revenue service, they just introduced the brand new ACS-64 which replaced the swedish design based AEM-7. What do you even mean by 70's-80's type trains?
Do they work everyday???
It's usually 6 days a week when your on the extra list ( AKA on-call).
I Love You Amtrak Acela Express Trains And I Wish I Could Be A Engineer To
Just get into the company!!! It takes time but you can work your way up.
@@HouseDancerNyC Yes And I Want To Be With The Amtrak Acela Express Trains And I Am Really In Love With The Amtrak Acela Express
@@HouseDancerNyC this kid is annoying
He goes on every acela video and says how much hes in live with it
MSTS?
That simulator is cool. I run freight on Run8 simulator so, I pretty much know what I'm doin'. Just give me the keys and show me my train and route stops. I'm good. Also with me it won't just be a ride to work, it'll be like a roller coaster. Show up to work wide awake, no coffee needed.
Bruh, wtf 🤣🤣🤣
How much does train drivers make
Depends on the railroad. Amtrak Engineers make around 100 K for a base salary at 40 hours a week.
Do I need college
No, but it’s recommended.
@@NortheastCorridorFilms why
@@IndigosClothing Railroads will find you more responsible and more smarter if you went to college.
It’s just a better chance that you will get in if you went to college. But it’s not a requirement
@@NortheastCorridorFilms ahh okay
Absolutely not. Just show you have a decent work history and can hold down a job. Having a college degree doesn't make you smarter or more desirable as an Engineer candidate then someone who hasn't gone. They simply want people with a good work ethic.
🤗👍👍👍
I know how to drive Amtrak thanks to Train sim World 2 simulator
Not the same
@@king_tony215 what do u mean? ☹ I can't be a train jacker.
I don't know what a train jacker is but the sim that your talking about has a very watered down version of the trains
Not the same.
I have the ability to retain information for instance I can retain the information that might seem irrelevant but that is a relevant skill mean that means that I have the ability to retain relevant information that would suit me if anybody knows how I can get into this job position and get the training necessary please give me an email let me know how I can get the information required to become a train engineer for Amtrak and get to your training facility as quickly as possible I'm ready to go and I've got to get there I want to know how I get there and what I got to do Steve just tell it to me for real because I really want this job and I will do whatever is necessary and if I have to start as someone who cleans locomotives or cleans the train I'll start at the Bottom Rung until it's time for me to move up and I can retain information very well
Lol I play train sim world so I think I’m good
Panda Fish -_-
Same
Not the same.
@@Railoffroader2you literally train on a simulator in Wilmington
My ability to retain information is the storage capacity of the enterprise-d computer storage that is how I retain information if anybody has information on how I can get the process of applying for a train engineer job at Amtrak please send me an email or reply as soon as I can whether it's from the nice man Steve or whether it's from someone who was an engineer directly please respond with positive information and information on how to get started in the application and interview process and what is expected of me aside from being drug-free and alcohol-free and being the best I could possibly be
you don't need to go to school to become a train operator
I've heard this o plenty. Just getting in when you're seemingly not qualified
Yes you do. It’s a federal requirement that any railroad issuing licenses must have a locomotive engineer training program. Amtrak’s program is the longest and most advanced in the US. 13 weeks of classroom and then as long as 2 years OJT
💃👍
Where is this located
Wilmington Delaware
It takes just 11 weeks? Seriously? It took me 1.5 years to become a train driver. It seems that driving a train in america is no challenge at all and can be done by anybody.
The program i'm in is over two years (in America). It seems that you're wrong.
We call them locomotive engineers around here....And you don't "drive" a train, you OPERATE a train.
Well, 11 weeks is what they've said in the video. I know that becoming a tramway "operator" takes just 8-10 weeks, so it didn't sound completely wrong to me, although 11 weeks is nothing. As I said, it took me 1.5 years to become a train driver (sorry bud, it's what I am and what we call it on this side of the pond), I am trained on half the country (route knowledge) and 6 completely different train types. You couldn't learn this knowlege in less than a year, never.
As stated within the first 25 seconds of the video: "The Engineer training program basically has two phases, phase ONE is the classroom portion and is approximately 11 weeks". Looks like they caught you sleeping.
The program that i'm in is almost two years total for the hiring/testing process, and it only covers HALF of a state (NY). They hire people and test them rigorously on their attention to detail (you would have just failed, bud).
1.5 years for half a country? Sounds like they'll let anyone operate a train over there!
I did not re-watch the whole video after your comment, but even if, the theory part took us 11 *months*. We were not allowed to operate a train before that. The remaining approx. 7 months is driving, shunting, doing the job on the rails before getting tested and approved to drive by yourself.
I live in Switzerland, our whole country is 3.5x smaller than just the State of NY alone, but we definitely have more than 3.5x as much railroad lines. What brings inequality into the whole thing is the fact that I work for one of the most frequently used and most respected railways in the world. Maybe you've heard of us, maybe not, it's not that we're really known in the US, but whoever you ask in Europe what the best railroad company is, you'll hear our name a lot. Take a look: www.sbb.ch
Sorry buddy, you've tried to bash me or what do I know. In the end, I work for a railway company that transports a fifth of all inhabitants of the whole country every single day to work and back in absolute perfection. Our schedules are laid out to the second and we're 97% on time. What makes you think I did not get tested on vigilance or detail? The recruiting process alone took half a year, plus 1.5 years of class, training on the job and multiple examens during the whole time.
If you're interested in knowing more, I'll be glad to tell you more. If you're just about to be better or sound smarter, then not. What you're doing here would be the same as going to a japanese railroad guy and telling him you know better than he does. He'll laugh, because as you may know, the Japanese and us, the Swiss, we're famous for the best public transport. I am not saying you don't what you're doing, but public transport and railroad in the US is not exactly world famous.
From an engineer to an engineer in training, I wish you safe trips and great journeys on the railroad. Maybe be a bit more considerate next time, I'm not the best, I am not god, but where I work, things work out really well and we know our business like only one other country on face of planet earth does, so we got that going for us.
And either military or Caucasian. There are other's like myself and those of color with experience and they can't get hired. I've been applying for as long as I've been an OTR truck driver. Talked to executives on the train, nothing. SMH
You are 110% false about having to be Caucasian to be hired. That's an excuse. And "those of color with experience"? You just said you are on OTR truck driver. How does driving a truck make you experienced to be a locomotive engineer? What is this experience you have that makes you more qualified? I have been an Engineer with Amtrak for close to 20 years. Yes, prior Military gets preference and 100% rightfully so. But being a Caucasian helps you get hired?🤣🤣 Not at Amtrak. You have that backwards.
@@FFred-us9tw I know people who work there they told me. Both races. So I've moved on and have a better job now. Pays more and less bull. I look down at that used to do and wanted to do job everyday.. I'm not one dimensional and educated. God is good 👍
That's a false statement..the best way to get in is know someone and even better was in the armed forces..I'm a person of color.
@@anthonywindfield8439 You're pretty delusional to think you can go from being a Truck Driver to a commercial passenger train engineer just like that... as Fred said. What train experience do you have besides being a passenger lol? It's good you have a good job. But you were naive and extremely delusional to think you could just go from being a truck driver to a train engineer without any type of train experience (heck even being a ticket agent on the train, or a conductor could have helped). You applied for 30 years but haven't done anything in those 30 years to get some kind of train experience or foot in the door.
U.S trains are the most boring thing out there. Much better in Europe, electric, routes, locomotives etc.
Ur wrong