Conductor/Engineer - Charleston, IL

Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad, LLC; Charleston (IL); On-site; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid on-the-job training

Leadership and development programs

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Watco’s Railroad Operations is hiring a conductor/engineer in Charleston, IL. The role involves coordinating train movements in yards or industrial sites to load and unload railcars safely and efficiently for customers. It is a manual labor position with a structured training period and on-the-job instruction.

Starting pay is $24.00 per hour, with experience-based adjustments. You will join a team focused on safety, reliability, and meeting schedules across Watco's network.

Qualifications

• Ability to pass training and required testing

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance
• Read, write, and communicate in English and understand basic math
• Reads switching orders from designated person
• Supervises and coordinates the activities of train crews
• Observes signals and operates locomotive per rules and regulations
• Connects air hose to cars and couples/uncouples as needed
• Maintains records of cars switched and notes origin, destination, cargo

Skills

Ability to pass training and required

Job description

Requisition ID33918-Posted09/15/2026-Railroad Operations

Start a Watco Career and Discover the Difference

Keep the world's supply chain moving. That's what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs. Whether you're at one of these locations or in a support-services role, there's one thread that ties everyone together. We're all on the same team. One Watco .
Here's what you can expect from Watco:

• Outstanding culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Paid on-the-job training with peer trainers
• Training for conductors, engineers, mechanics, and MOW Team Members at Watco's Safe Performance Center
• Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University
• Career advancement opportunities

Job Summary

Starting Pay: $24.00 per hour, depending on experience

Theconductor/engineer position will control and coordinate the train movements while switching railcars whether in the yard of a railroad, industrial plant, or similar location to facilitate the unloading and loading of railcars in a safe and efficient manner to service our customers.This position is a manual labor position which requires that the individual become proficient in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance
• Follow written and verbal directions to complete assigned tasks on schedule
• Read, write, and communicate in English & understand basic math
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes and apply procedures using good judgment
• Reads switching orders from designated person
• Supervises and coordinates the activities of train crews
• Observes radio and hand signals in yard or in cab and operates locomotive in accordance with railroad rules and regulations
• Observes arm or lantern signal and moves controls to move locomotive backwards or forwards to switch and couple cars; or receives starting signal and moves control; such as throttle and air brakes to operate locomotive
• Reads and interprets wayside signals, track warrants and bulletins, and railroad rules and regulations to operate locomotive, following safety rules and regulations and time schedule
• Receives oral or written instructions from Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched
• Notifies engineer of switching orders and, whereby, which cars are to be moved to specified locations of yard, using radio, telephone, verbal or hand signals
• Talks to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information
• Confers with train dispatcher via radio to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains
• Gives instructions to throw track switches and to couple and uncouple cars
• May assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations
• Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well as apply and release handbrakes
• Observes track to detect obstructions
• Inspects locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment
• Maintains records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched
• May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower
• Raises coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars
• Throws track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signals Engineer to move cars, using lantern, arm signals or radio
• Connects airhose to cars when making up trains by bendingand applyingforce
• May set warning signals, such as flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes at front of and at rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains
• Sits or rides in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members
• May make minor repairs to couplings, and air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs
• May talk to Engineer via radio to give or receive switching information
• Performs other duties as requested or required

Qualifications

• Ability to pass training and required testing