What is the function of the second operator in a diesel engine?

My guess is the--the Conductor/Brakeman/Switchman.

The engineer is on the right side. The other guy on the left depending on the year is a brakeman or conductor.  . All are responsible for the safe operation of the train , the brakeman would do the switching  if required, (lifting and setting off cars) lining switching , inspecting his own and other trains. Calling out signals in signaled territory.

 Each remind each other of railroad rules applicable at the time.   

Thanks Gregg, so I need to yell at the guy on the left for constantly forgetting to close switches.

When regulations required two people in the cab (plus three more to be on each train) the "other guy" in the cab was generally the fireman.  He generally was in training to be promoted to engineer as job openings appeared.  But the fireman also watched for track conditions, called out signal indications, picked up orders passed to the engine, and would give the engineer a 'break" to use the facilities, etc.  He also would check on the engines, try to repair any faults that might occur on the road and act as a co-pilot on an airplane might.

As time went on, trains developed newer safety systems, cabooses were eliminated, requiring finding a location for the rear end crew, and laws were changed to permit over the road trains with only two crew members: the engineer and the conductor.

On my layout, cabooses are required on all freight trains and 1/48" five man crews are required.  Old fashioned?  You bet!

Paul Fischer

Thank you Paul for the info. and clearing up the different positions of a train crew and with regard to certain time periods.

You're correct about a caboose being required!!!!
I like and run cabooses, too.

Ralph 

In the context of today's railroading, that 2nd guy is the conductor. He is responsible for all the paperwork relating to cars in the train. When they make set-outs or pickups, it is his job to keep the paperwork straight so that the computer knows where all the various cars are. This is critical for billing purposes.

When switching, he is the guy on the ground giving movement commands to the engineer, throwing switches, making joints, connecting air hoses, setting hand brakes, etc.

Back in the era of five-man crews there would be two additional men aboard the locomotive. One was the fireman and the other was the head brakeman. The conductor and flagman/field man rode in the caboose.

Also thanks Paul and Rich.

Having a crew with more than one set of eyes on the road certainly makes sense. Trains are like giant sea ships on land. Once you figure out you've screwed up it's typically too late.

While I like to watch engines just "run" on my layout, I believe I have to earn the privilege. So before I get to watch the consist cruise, I have to build it using switchers. To date, this has never been executed mistake free. Either a switch is open or closed when it shouldn't be, power to a block is on or off at the wrong time and so on. There should be a sign on my layout that says "Days Without a Safety Violation or Accident: 0". Maybe if I thought more like a "crew" I could execute better and there would be less swearing in the train room.  Yeah, I know it's just a hobby but I'm that with anything I'm passionate about.

This depended on the railroad. Back when I was doing OJT on the Reading side of Conrail, the Conductor rode up front with the head end brakeman and the rear brakeman rode in the hack (caboose) with the flagman.

If the little 1:48 guy happens to be wearing a tie, it is the Road Foreman of Engines making a ride with the crew that trip.

The wearing of neck ties has been a safety violation on every railroad that I have been on, for more than 20 years now.

Also for wood shop teachers.  Safety first.

Haha, yes.  Thank goodness.

In 1984, when I first became a Road Foreman of Engines, The Santa Fe dress code for Division officials was a jacket and necktie in the field or in the office.  They had just done away with the requirement of a hat.  It was expected that you would know enough to wear a suit if you went to a large meeting (especially if customers were present), were accompanying a business car movement, or if you had business in the General Office.  It was also expected that, if you were a Santa Fe official, you would have the sense to keep your tie away from rotating machinery.

My first territory was the Needles District, between Barstow and Needles, California, all of it in the Mojave Desert, where daytime temperatures in summer are routinely 110 degrees, and sometimes get above 120.  The Trainmaster and I had a special exemption from the dress code.  The Superintendent (with the blessing of the General Manager, because the railroad was like the military in those days) granted us permission to wear a good quality short sleeved dress or polo shirt from Easter until Labor Day.  Even so, that did not cover the entire hot season, and I had ties that I only wore to work, because they had sweat stains.

After Robert Krebs took us lean and mean around 1989, in order to greenmail ourselves away from the corporate raiders who wanted to take us over, everybody gradually abandoned neckties except when dealing with customers, and Mr. Krebs later made business casual the official dress code, except when dealing with customers.

Thank you, Number 90. 

I grew up beside the Slaton Division near milepost 682, and saw many wonderful sights including men in real RR attire.

My trainmaster on the SLSF / QAP wore a suit every day.

In other words, the Santa Fe management of that era had enough sense to know they had employees who could THINK for THEMSELVES. Good for them. I always wore a tie when I was Youngstown Division Superintendent for the Ohio Central.

Unfortunately that situation doesn't exist today. American industry (not just railroading) has successfully dumbed everything down to the lowest common denominator. The LAST thing they want employees to do is think for themselves. They want mind-numbed robots.

That's a sad situation for America because you don't get innovation, new ideas and out-of-the-box thinking from robots.

Im the guy who sits in the chair on the left..i do all the above that has been said...im also the last trainman in the cleve oh to buff ny freight pool that still wears railroad bibs to work !!THE LAST ONE !!!im looked upon as an icon of sorts from another time...its interesting...but thats just me...RAILROAD CLOTHES TO THE BITTER END !! conrail john