Ever Since I was a kid, I’ve always been interested in locomotives, trains and always wanted to drive one. Now that I’m older, I’ve always wondered how people are able to drive a train. Getting to drive the actual train is something that you actually have to work for and requires you to do certain jobs before driving the locomotive. First, you have to be the brakeman then conductor, then the fireman and then you could become the driver. There is no age where you can retire but, you have to be at least 18 or older to start working on railroads. There are many skills that you need to be able to do when you drive a locomotive. You have to concentrate and stay focused. If you make a mistake, you could either be in serious trouble,seriously hurt or worse. In the USA, drivers make about 13-35 dollars an hour which is about $46,165 to $96,183 a year! 

Now how did all of this happen you may ask. Well back when railroads were being built, there were only two types of ways to transport either horses or gravity. However, somewhere in England the man by the name of George Stephenson invented the first steam locomotive using the power of the steam engine. However in order to operate, this new machine was tricky and  someone would’ve to drive in the front and watch the track while putting in coal to power the locomotive however, as time went on and steam locomotives got bigger, there was now room for two people one would watch the track and check the gauges of the train as well as make it stop and make it go. While the other person would keep shoveling coal into the firebox. However when time went on, New locomotives were being made which were called the diesel engines ,where a fireman was no longer needed and it was only the driver who only had to control the locomotive. 

Now that you have been fed information about locomotives why not try to drive one. I can assure you that this job will be around for years to come so you don’t have to worry about this job going extinct anytime soon.