Engineer for the Day

Cost for 2025: $325.00 + 13% HST (rate subject to annual increases)

This unique opportunity makes a great gift or surprise!

Our special Surprise Certificate will be emailed to you with the name of the recipient and who it is gifted from. Once you have given the Surprise Certtificate, MHP staff will contact the recipient and provide them with the sign-off forms, interview details, and confirmation. If a tentative date has been selected, the recipient will ensure that the date selected is satisfactory or select a new one from the availability list.

All Engineer for a day (EFAD) program applicants must be at least 16 years of age and must produce a valid driver’s license.

Step 1: Get started

• Contact the Manager for availability and forms
• The safety of the crew and passengers and protection of the equipment is our priority, therefore MHP reserves the right to refuse an application or terminate the program at any time. Pre-booked EFADs will be refunded in this case.

Step 2: Date selection

• A tentative program date can be selected at any time from the list of available dates
• A program date will be confirmed, following the interview and receipt of full payment
• Available dates will up quickly so secure your spot by selecting, paying, and confirming a date as soon as possible

Step 3: Interview and confirmation

The applicant will understand and agree to the terms and conditions of the program; this can be done by email or telephone.

Step 4: Training material

• Once we receive payment, the participant will receive our General Operating Procedures and Expectations (GOPE) which explains the EFADs role and responsibilities
• A short test will be administered on the morning of the program date, based on the GOPE material
• Contact the Manager at any time for clarification on the program or material questions

Step 5: Written exam and orientation

• You will receive an email with a map and directions to the MHP Rail Shed Machine Shop at 24 Park Drive, Huntsville
  • 10:30 am (steam locomotive)
  • 11:00 am (diesel locomotive) program day
• You will meet with Greg Smith (Chief Engineer) is a qualified diesel or steam locomotive Engineer Instructor
• You will take a brief test on GOPE
• You will be introduced to all employees and volunteers, as they are available throughout the day
• You will take a tour (orientation) of the workplace, including rail shed, washroom facilities, first aid stations, and fire extinguisher locations as well as the location of evacuation area (Forbes Hill Drive parking lot)

Upon passing the GOPE test, the EFAD will receive a hands-on, one-on-one instruction of the operation of the train by the Engineer Instructor

You will learn the fueling and watering process, how to read and understand the gauges, terminology, and language necessary to communicate with other rail crew, and how to operate the controls smoothly

The EFAD will observe the Engineer Instructor for the first run of the day at 12 noon, as the Engineer Instructor demonstrates and explains all aspects of the mechanical process of moving the locomotive and coaches to Fairy Lake Station and back.

Following the first run, the EFAD will take the controls of the locomotive. Under the strict supervision of the Engineer Instructor, the EFAD will take the locomotive down the tracks to practice point stopping, smoothness with controls, and familiarity with the equipment.

If the Engineer Instructor is confident in the EFAD’s ability to take the controls with coaches and passengers, the EFAD will be given controls to drive for the subsequent runs under the Instructor’s direct and close supervision.

The Engineer Instructor assesses if the EFAD is proficient enough to maneuver the locomotive through coupling, switching or turntable mounting as the day progresses

If the Engineer Instructor does not feel the EFAD is ready to progress, the EFAD will observe subsequent runs until the Engineer Instructor is confident in the EFAD’s ability

Note: The EFAD will be under the direct supervision of the Engineer Instructor throughout the entire process and while controlling/operating the locomotive. The EFAD will never be left alone.