Locomotive Systems Inspector Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Locomotive Systems Inspector

Best Schools to become a Locomotive Systems Inspector in U.S. 2024

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA

In-State Tuition:$10,258
Out-of-State Tuition:$31,370
Admission Rate:17%
Graduation Rate:93%
Total Enrollment:45,296

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

In-State Tuition:$9,718
Out-of-State Tuition:$28,520
Admission Rate:53%
Graduation Rate:83%
Total Enrollment:51,528

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX

In-State Tuition:$8,815
Out-of-State Tuition:$36,239
Admission Rate:63%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:74,014

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL

In-State Tuition:$4,478
Out-of-State Tuition:$19,810
Admission Rate:41%
Graduation Rate:76%
Total Enrollment:68,346

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

In-State Tuition:$11,564
Out-of-State Tuition:$41,636
Admission Rate:11%
Graduation Rate:94%
Total Enrollment:45,307

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

In-State Tuition:$4,477
Out-of-State Tuition:$25,694
Admission Rate:23%
Graduation Rate:90%
Total Enrollment:55,211
Locomotive Systems Inspector Job Description:
  • Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments.
  • May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains.
  • Watch for and relay traffic signals.
  • May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes.
  • May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Locomotive Systems Inspector

Job Duties for Locomotive Systems Inspectors

  • Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.

  • Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.

  • Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.

Technologies and Skills Used by Locomotive Systems Inspectors

Expert system software

  • Electronic train management systems ETMS

Route navigation software

  • Route mapping software

Time accounting software

  • Time tracking software

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Locomotive Systems Inspector

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Locomotive Systems Inspector

FAQs About Becoming a Locomotive Systems Inspector