What is the job of a driver? Electric locomotive driver: the essence of his work on the railway. The main disadvantages of the profession

History of the locomotive driver profession

The railway is a complex transport enterprise that has all the technical means for transporting passengers and goods. Locomotive - from the Latin words "locus" - place and "moteo" - pull, i.e. literally “moving in place,” on rails. This name was coined by J. Stephenson. The profession of "machinist" is not as ancient as many others, and is associated with the advent of railways.

Although the prototype of the railway appeared in antiquity. These were rail (wooden or stone) tracks along which heavy loads were dragged. In the 16th century, cast iron and steel rails (“wheel tracks”) appeared for the movement of various carts and trolley carts. The traction on these ancestral railroads was either horse or human.

In 1769, ship mechanic James Watt patented a “steam engine,” and three years earlier, self-taught mechanic Ivan Polzunov patented his steam engine. This event led to the creation of a future engine for railways.

The world's first steam locomotive was invented and built in 1803 by English mining engineer Richard Trewick. The car weighed 5 tons and moved at a speed of 8 km/h. In 1825, George Stephenson built the world's first public steam railway between Stockton and Darlington in England. This date can be considered the date of the appearance of the profession "machinist".

Professionogram for locomotive driver

Name of profession	locomotive driver
Dominant way of thinking	application - regulation
	physics (pneumatics, thermal and electrical engineering, mechanics), level 3, high (theoretical)
	plumbing, kinematics, structure and design features of a heat or electric locomotive, its units and components, cars, shunting work, level 2, intermediate, (practical use of knowledge)
Area of ​​basic knowledge No. 3 and its level	Train driving skills, level 1, low (experienced knowledge, skills)
Professional area	transport
Interpersonal interaction
Dominant interest	realistic
Additional Interest	conventional

The dominant activities of the locomotive driver profession are:

• control of long-distance freight and passenger trains, suburban and local trains, special trains, industrial locomotives (on in-plant tracks, mines, mines, etc.);
• shunting movements;
• acceptance and technical inspection of the locomotive;
• ensuring a rational locomotive control mode;
• ensuring the correct operating mode of the locomotive, trailer cars and their components;
• monitoring signals, the condition of the railway track and contact network, indicators of instrumentation along the route;
• ensuring safety and compliance with train schedules;
• execution of operational orders of employees responsible for train movement and maneuvers;
• control over the safe boarding and disembarkation of passengers;
• informing passengers about boarding, disembarking and departure of the train;
• control over the safety and timeliness of cargo delivery and the safety of passengers along the route;
• making emergency decisions in case of using a stop valve;
• management and control over the work of locomotive crew members;
• timely elimination of faults identified along the route;
• performing service repairs of a locomotive as part of a locomotive crew.

Qualities that ensure the success of the professional activities of a locomotive driver:

Capabilities

good health (no heart disease, etc.); speed of reaction; speed and accuracy of movements; good coordination of movements; emotional stability (the ability to think “soberly” in critical situations); mental stability (the ability to overcome the effects of a monotonous landscape and the steady hum of devices for a long time); high level of switchability™, concentration, stability of attention; acute vision; visual perception skills during movement; accurate eye; efficiency of thinking.

intelligence; caution; observation; prudence; vigilance; determination; excerpt; discipline; organization; responsibility; self-control.

• inattention;
• irresponsibility;
• poor eyesight;
• poor reaction speed;
• indecision;
• heart disease;
• alcohol abuse.

• general network railways;
• mines;
• industrial enterprises (in-plant tracks);
• mines.

History of the profession of railway worker, car inspector and repairman

The profession of “railroad worker, inspector and wagon repairman” appeared with the emergence of public railways. The railway is a complex transport enterprise that has all the technical means for transporting passengers and goods. Moreover, an important component of the railway complex is the system of technical support for rolling stock, since without this the uninterrupted movement of trains is impossible.

Although the prototype of the railway appeared in ancient times - these were rail (wooden or stone) tracks along which heavy loads were dragged - the world's first steam locomotive was invented and built in 1803 by the English mining engineer Richard Trewick. In 1825, George Stephenson built the world's first public steam railway between Stockton and Darlington in England. It was at this time that railway cars began to be inspected before leaving. However, the first “inspectors” performed many different functions: they inspected not only carriages, but also locomotives, and carried out not only inspections, but also repairs. Therefore, people in this profession were required to have a large amount of knowledge on the design and operation of cars and locomotives and perfect technical skills.

Russia's first public railway, 27 kilometers long, was built in 1837 between St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo. It served for business and pleasure trips of the king and did not have much economic importance. In 1851, the world's first two-lane railway was built in Russia. Already in 1876, the first experiments on the use of electric traction were carried out by engineer Piromkiy. Accordingly, people inspecting rolling stock now had to have knowledge of electrical engineering. From this time on, the rapid development of railway transport began.

Professionogram for railway worker, car inspector and repairman

Name of profession	railway worker, wagon inspector and repairman
Dominant way of thinking	application - diagnostics
Area of ​​basic knowledge No. 1 and its level	physics (pneumatics, thermal and electrical engineering, mechanics), level 3, high (theoretical)
Area of ​​basic knowledge No. 2 and its level	plumbing, kinematics, structure and design features of a heat and electric locomotive, its units and components, various types of cars, level 2, intermediate (practical use of knowledge)
Professional area	renovation work
Interpersonal interaction
Dominant interest	realistic
Additional Interest	research
Working conditions	outdoor, mobile

The dominant activities of the profession of railway worker, inspector and wagon repairman:

• inspection of rolling stock (blocks, axle boxes, frames, hydraulic vibration dampers, car body, etc.);
• inspection of brake hoses and automatic couplers;
• identification and participation in the repair of hidden and obvious faults of rolling stock;
• transferring tasks to repair teams to eliminate identified defects;
• management of repair operations;
• determining the safety margin of certain components and parts of cars that do not yet require replacement;
• checking the volume and quality of work performed by repair teams;
• operational testing of repaired units;
• monitoring the condition of the fleet of freight and passenger cars;
• ensuring trouble-free operation of freight and passenger cars;
• drawing up schedules for supplying trains for maintenance.

Qualities that ensure the success of the professional activities of a railway worker, inspector and wagon repairman:

Capabilities

Personal qualities, interests and inclinations

high concentration and attention span; high level of stability, switching and distribution of attention; well-developed coordination of movements; good motor memory; developed technical thinking; developed sense of touch, acute vision and accurate eye; good hearing (signal discrimination skills); good health and physical stability (the ability to withstand physical stress in various weather conditions for a long time); good visual perception (the ability to identify a malfunction by eye); emotional stability.

attentiveness; observation; responsibility; intelligence; vigilance; prudence; patience; endurance; dexterity; accuracy; conscientiousness.

Qualities that hinder the effectiveness of professional activity:

• irresponsibility;
• sloppiness;
• negligence;
• inattention;
• underdevelopment of technical thinking;
• poor vision, hearing.

Areas of application of professional knowledge:

• depots (wagon, tram, electric depots);
• technical inspection points;
• technical inspection points at industrial enterprises and mines.

History of the profession of train dispatcher or railway dispatcher

The emergence of the profession “train dispatcher” is associated with the emergence of the railway network. However, if the first railway was built in 1825, the first telephone network to regulate train traffic was created in 1884. Before this, the movement of trains was controlled using special signaling by people who stood along the railway track at certain intervals.

Railway dispatch is the oldest and most developed form of dispatch control. It is most widespread in the USA. In 1925, the railway network employed 5,400 dispatchers who served 339 thousand km of railway track. The dispatch system in England was introduced in 1913-1920, and it is fundamentally different from other systems: here the dispatcher has only control, and not administrative functions.

In Russia, dispatch management on railways was introduced in 1915. Beginning in 1925, the dispatch system was introduced first on the Oktyabrskaya and Moscow-Kazan roads, and by 1934 it was already in effect on the entire Russian road network. Today, the work of a dispatcher is facilitated by a large amount of specialized equipment (the “auto-dispatcher” system).

Professionogram for train dispatcher or railway dispatcher

Name of profession	train dispatcher or railway dispatcher
Dominant way of thinking	application - regulation
Area of ​​basic knowledge No. 1 and its level	shunting work, train work, signaling, train safety rules, train formation, level 3, high (theoretical)
Area of ​​basic knowledge No. 2 and its level	train operation, signaling, level 2, intermediate (practical use of knowledge)
Professional area	transport
Interpersonal interaction	frequent of the "together" type
Dominant interest	conventional
Additional Interest	realistic
Working conditions	indoors, sedentary

The dominant activities of the profession of train dispatcher or railway dispatcher:

• regulation of train traffic;
• ensuring train traffic safety;
• reducing or increasing the time trains stop at individual points;
• changing the order and points of non-stop crossing and overtaking of trains;
• creating conditions for non-stop crossing of trains;
• monitoring compliance with traffic rules;
• obtaining information about the passage of trains through stations of a certain section from the station duty officer;
• receiving information from locomotive drivers of moving trains via radio communication;
• monitoring the schedule of completed train movements and adjusting the planned schedule according to it;
• control over the reproduction of the train situation on the display;
• control over the readiness of routes, opening of signals, occupancy of station tracks, approach and departure sections;
• opening of entrance and exit traffic lights;
• setting routes for receiving and departing trains at intermediate stations;
• control over the operation of the "automatic dispatcher" system;
• receiving information about malfunctions and extreme situations;
• issuing orders on further actions of the driver in the event of a train malfunction or emergency situation;
• control over the operation of the station and the implementation of tasks for loading and unloading cars, forming trains.

Qualities that ensure the success of the professional activities of a train dispatcher or dispatcher on the railway:

Capabilities

Personal qualities, interests and inclinations

fast response; efficiency; imaginative thinking (the ability to mentally recreate a complex situation on the site); concentration (the ability to engage in a certain type of activity for a long time); high level of attention stability; good motor memory (for actions); good finger coordination; analytical thinking; acute vision; good hearing; clear diction; ability to quickly make decisions; ability to predict; high level of memory development (short-term, auditory).

emotional stability; endurance; mental balance; perseverance; punctuality; responsibility; observation; efficiency (quick response in emergency situations); organization; composure; resourcefulness.

Qualities that hinder the effectiveness of professional activity:

• irresponsibility;
• unclear diction;
• emotional instability;
• rigidity of thinking;
• inattention;
• lack of observation;
• anxiety;
• absent-mindedness;
• sloppiness;
• fatigue;
• slowness.

In our country, the profession of a machinist is currently one of the most popular professions. The professional activities of machinists are usually associated with managing a wide variety of types of railway transport. Who is a driver? The driver is the most important person in a railway locomotive. His team also includes an assistant driver, whose job responsibilities include less qualified and less responsible functions related to the superficial inspection and testing of the railway locomotive and its control.

In those distant years, when railway transport had just appeared and was rapidly developing, stokers/diesel workers were also included in the team. The first of them provided combustion support in fuel boilers. The latter were entrusted with responsibilities related to monitoring the proper operation of the diesel systems of the locomotive.

The history of the driver's profession begins with the creation of the first train and the laying of the first rail railway. Then a very tough question arose about the need for professional management of rather complex new equipment. In order to ensure a safe trip and provide for all kinds of emergency situations, knowledge, professional skills, a sufficiently high reaction speed and, of course, enormous resistance to stress were required. In connection with all of the above, before placing someone behind the control of a railway locomotive as a driver, professional training was required.

The very first specialist whose profession is a machinist in the Russian Empire has been known since 1834, three decades after this profession became known in the world.

Later, many people were trained as machinists. Initially, they had to drive a train on the Tsarkoselskaya Railway, which consisted of only four small cars. In those early years, train speed averaged 32.8 km/h, but by 1860 it reached 42.7 km/h. During this period, the main route along which passengers and all kinds of cargo were transported was from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

During the existence of the Soviet Union, the profession of a machinist was in demand more than ever. Industrial production grew and developed at a stunning pace, widespread construction took place, and many new railways were laid. More and more new trains had to be created to transport numerous loads on time over long distances, which required professional drivers. A similar trend continues to this day.

Just like in any other profession, working as a driver has its pros and cons. The “advantages” include:

– the romance of the profession and the possibility of new experiences. Any person likes to visit unknown, previously unfamiliar places. The profession of a machinist provides him with such an opportunity;

– what is the salary of a Russian Railways driver? Stable and fairly high salary. For precise, trouble-free work and strict adherence to regulations, the driver can receive fairly impressive bonuses, which for most of them turns out to be a very pleasant gift;

– incredible pleasure from the feeling of self-importance, because you have to manage huge and extremely complex equipment.

The “disadvantages” of being a driver are as follows:

– great stress on physical and mental health. The driver is forced to work 12-14 hours during one shift;

– the need for a long stay in the cramped enclosed space of the locomotive;

– many of the drivers, during long trips, have to stay away from their home for several weeks;

– the profession of a driver has a rather narrow specialization. If he suddenly wants to change his qualifications, he will certainly have to start everything from scratch.

What are the benefits of being a machinist? To make sure that the machinist profession is still in demand, it will be enough to look at the relevant statistics: for example, according to research conducted recently by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the machinist profession is taking a leading position in a long list of working professions. Internet data says that on the most popular employment portals, about 33% of requests were from all kinds of employers who needed highly qualified machinists.

We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the professions of driver, waiter and underwriter.

Now a little about the salary this profession allows you to earn. The driver, as we said above, receives a fairly high and, most importantly, timely salary. On average across the country it starts at about 50 thousand rubles. Naturally, depending on the complexity and importance of the route and the professional skills of the specialist himself, the salary can easily reach 100 thousand rubles. And this is without any consideration of all kinds of bonuses and incentives, which can sometimes turn out to be significantly more than the salary itself. Agree, this is quite a decent salary for quite difficult, responsible and at the same time extremely complex work, which requires perseverance, extreme attentiveness and great emotional tension from a specialist.

In order to ultimately gain access and all the necessary permissions to operate rather technically complex equipment, the future driver needs to undergo special training. In different educational institutions, such training is carried out and lasts differently. However, as a rule, this occurs on the basis of general education. It is quite natural that a student’s higher or some kind of special education will be quite a big advantage for him. The course of study is more than six months. During this time, the future driver must attend classes five times a week and study from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (not counting time for homework).

You can learn more about the profession in the video:

On the modern railway there is a wide variety of vehicles, which differ in their technical characteristics, purpose or other parameters. For example, an electric locomotive. This type of equipment belongs to locomotives, and it has an electric motor. Electric locomotives are used most often for freight transportation. This equipment is operated by an electric locomotive driver.

Description of the profession

An electric locomotive driver is a skilled worker. He has all the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out maintenance, repair work, and operate an electric locomotive. His responsibilities include the process of preparing the car for entering the route. In order to ensure the functionality of the equipment entrusted to him, the driver checks the serviceability of the equipment, chassis, and signaling system.

To obtain permission to work independently, an electric locomotive driver must undergo a medical commission, which should determine the absence of contraindications to work. Subsequently, the worker will undergo inspections before each shift. His vision, reflexes, and fine motor skills will be tested. They will also take a blood test; if traces of alcohol or drugs are found in it, the driver cannot be allowed to work. Moreover, the specialist will be subject to penalties for violations of labor discipline.

Before starting work, the driver must undergo a series of instructions on labor protection, safety precautions and how to provide first aid to victims. The specialist undergoes such training regularly, according to the schedule. However, if an emergency situation arises or new equipment is purchased, unscheduled briefings will be conducted. Based on their results, the driver passes certification. In case of unsatisfactory results, he cannot be allowed to work.

An assistant driver works together with the electric locomotive driver. Most often, this function is performed by a young specialist with no work experience. Thus, he undergoes an internship, adopting knowledge and practical skills from a more experienced colleague. Typically, trainees are assigned to employees who have more than three years of experience as a driver. The internship itself lasts on average about three months. In addition, inexperienced specialists also practice their practical skills on special simulators under the guidance of a driver-instructor.

The driver of an electric locomotive can only allow the following persons to be present in the cabin: a driver-instructor, an assistant driver who gains experience in driving a train. The same principle applies when transferring control. You can entrust the control of the locomotive to either an instructor driver or an assistant driver.

An electric locomotive driver has no right to leave the locomotive during his shift. If such a need arises, it should be agreed with the train dispatcher or station duty officer.

Where can you learn to be an electric locomotive driver?

In order to work as an electric locomotive driver, you must obtain a specialized education. Machinists are trained in secondary specialized educational institutions. Applicants take exams and undergo a medical examination. If health indications do not correspond to the stated standards of the profession, the applicant cannot be admitted to study. Upon completion of training, a certificate for the right to operate an electric locomotive is issued.

After receiving a diploma of education, the young specialist gets a job where he undergoes an internship as an assistant driver. On average, such an internship can take three months.

In addition, the driver must regularly confirm his level of qualifications. If he has the first qualification level, then certification for professional suitability will take place once every 5 years, if the second class - once every 4 years, and with the third category - once every three years.

Periodically confirm qualifications with the locomotive depot commission: drivers with the first qualification class - at least once every 5 years, with the second qualification class - at least once every 4 years, with the third qualification class - at least once every 3 years.

Classes of the profession of electric locomotive driver

The specialty electric locomotive driver has three qualification categories: first, second, third. The driver must conduct the entire process of technological maintenance of the locomotive, control it, and while driving, monitor the situation on the railway and read the signs. In addition, the driver’s responsibilities include training the assistant driver and monitoring his actions.

Personal qualities of the profession of electric locomotive driver

An electric locomotive is a type of transport that moves at a fairly high speed, so to control such equipment, the driver must have keen vision, good hearing, quick reflexes and developed motor skills.

It is prohibited to drive an electric locomotive if you are feeling unwell, as well as if you have problems with vision, motor skills, or the cardiovascular system; this is a violation of safety rules.

The following qualities are highly valued in representatives of this profession: responsibility, discipline, attentiveness, and observation. In addition, the driver works in tandem with an assistant, who most often needs to be taught practical skills of the profession, so the worker also needs teaching talent. It is necessary to competently and clearly express your thoughts, specifically set a task, and monitor its implementation.

Salary of the profession electric locomotive driver

Every month, an electric locomotive driver earns from 60,000 rubles. In many ways, the salary depends on the qualification level of the worker, as well as the routes he performs.

Pros and cons of being an electric locomotive driver

TO positive aspects The following specialties must be included:

demand in the labor market;

high level of wages;

Opportunity for on-the-job training.

TO negative aspects professions should include:

difficult working conditions;

Most often, employers give preference to male drivers.

Driver is a profession associated with driving a train on the railway. Drivers are people who operate all types of railway equipment: steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, electric locomotives in the metro, trams, regardless of whether they transport goods or passengers.

Responsibilities and Requirements

The work of a driver often involves an irregular schedule and difficult working conditions, great physical and mental stress, but at the same time the salary of a driver is quite high compared to other working specialties. Almost all drivers are men.

Every day before going to work, all drivers must undergo a medical examination, which checks parameters such as blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature and, of course, a test for the absence of alcohol in the blood.

In addition to daily health checks, drivers undergo a full examination every few years and upon entry into training.

Working in difficult conditions allows drivers to retire five years earlier (but this is only after achieving a certain length of service as a driver or his assistant).

A distinctive feature of the driver’s work is the strict requirement to comply with train schedules. For example, in the Moscow metro during rush hours, 10–15 seconds is already a very serious delay!

The train is usually controlled by a team consisting of a driver and his assistant. But in modern trains, even one person can easily operate them, so experienced drivers often work alone.

Employment

The work of a driver is required wherever rolling stock is used. This could be a subway system or passenger rail lines. Do not forget that trains are used to transport not only people, but also goods. Often, machinists work at industrial enterprises, resource deposits and large construction sites.

How to become a machinist

To work as a train driver, you must obtain secondary vocational education in the field of “Technical operation of rolling stock.” It is available in many technical schools and colleges. You can also obtain the necessary qualifications through courses directly at your future place of work, for example, in the Moscow Metro.