Im 26yrs old and I am the main Engineer on Tweetsie RR in NC. Tweetsie is an Amusement Park which is centered around a train. I was interested in steam like many others when I was a kid. I became a fireman on Tweetsie at age 21, and a began training as a engineer in May '98 and was turned loose in June '99. In NC you do not have to take a test or carry qualification card. Tweetsie is NOT under the FRA either. But the way to become a fireman at TRR is first there must be an opening. If there is and you become fireman you have to fire for 3 season before you are concidered for engineer. And, that really is if we need one. Engineer training will take one full year or season. Before you are turned loose you must be able to operate #12 and #190 in most any conditions. There have been only a dozen men that have been Tweetsie engineers since 1957, 5 still work there. Tweetsie has very strict standards which are much tighter than most FRA rules. Although we have only 3-miles of track we have never had a derailment, or missed a revenue run due to break downs or the lack of motive power.
Tim S
TRR Engineer