Locomotive Engineer
Union Pacific Railroad · Pocatello, ID
Jun, 2018 · Present
Operate mainline manifest, intermodal, and unit coal/grain trains up to 15,200 tons and 9,800 ft over the Pocatello–Green River and Pocatello–Nampa subdivisions.
Handle Distributed Power consists (2x1 and 2x2) over 1.8% grades, cutting knuckle and drawbar failures on assigned trains 40% versus the subdivision average.
Applied Trip Optimizer and dynamic-braking best practices to cut fuel burn 7.5% per gross ton-mile on assigned pools in 2024.
Logged 6+ years with zero FRA-reportable decertification events, zero PTC enforcements, and 100% pass on efficiency tests (2,300+ observations).
Troubleshoot en route ground relays, air brake faults, and PTC initializations, keeping 96% of trains on schedule after mechanical issues.
Serve as Certified Locomotive Engineer Instructor; qualified 14 engineer trainees on territory, train handling, and GCOR rules.
Conductor / Remote Control Operator
Union Pacific Railroad · Pocatello, ID
Mar, 2015 · May, 2018
Directed crew movements for 60–120-car trains, ensuring compliance with GCOR, track warrants, and hazmat documentation.
Ran remote-control yard switching in Pocatello Yard, building 25+ outbound trains per shift with zero derailments over 3 years.
Conducted air brake tests, set-outs, and pick-ups; flagged and repaired 300+ defects before departure.
Selected for engineer training after top-quartile safety and on-time ratings.
Track Laborer / Machine Operator
Watco Companies (Eastern Idaho Railroad) · Idaho Falls, ID
Aug, 2013 · Feb, 2015
Operated tie inserter, ballast regulator, and spike puller on 270 miles of short-line track.
Supported crossing rebuilds and rail changeouts, finishing 18 projects inside track-and-time windows.