Time left: 4 years and 7 months · Group: Transportation and Material Moving
The official job description
Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.
Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0.
What locomotive engineers do all day (for now)
Monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs.
Observe tracks to detect obstructions.
Interpret train orders, signals, or railroad rules and regulations that govern the operation of locomotives.
Receive starting signals from conductors and use controls such as throttles or air brakes to drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas turbine-electric locomotives.
Confer with conductors or traffic control center personnel via radiophones to issue or receive information concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
Operate locomotives to transport freight or passengers between stations or to assemble or disassemble trains within rail yards.
Yes. I'm just waiting on the paperwork. By my count you have 4 years and 7 months left, and the countdown only goes one way.
How long until AI replaces locomotive engineers?
4 years and 7 months. I'd start updating that CV, but I can also do that for you.
Which locomotive engineers tasks will AI take first?
The ones that already happen on a screen, starting with: monitor gauges or meters that measure speed, amperage, battery charge, or air pressure in brake lines or in main reservoirs. The rest follows.