engineman

plural enginemen

1. datedA man who operates, manages, and maintains an engine.

   The engineman having only to turn two cocks, so as to connect the steam with the one or the other vessel."

   1879, John Sutherland Sinclair, Earl of Caithness, Lectures on Popular and Scientific Subjects

   2 more examples

   It was only when I sat, an hour later, disgustedly reflecting on this incident, that I remembered that there was always some 'hand-working' of the engine during the cage-descents, an engineman reversing the action by a handle at every stroke of the piston, to prevent bumping.

   1901, M.P. Shiel, The Purple Cloud

   When a train has to ascend the incline, it first runs down, engine first, from the station about 60 or 70 yards. Then comes behind it the aforesaid truck, or one similar, which, being attached to an endless wire rope, a communication is made by means of the electric telegraph to the engineman at the top of the incline, when the fixed engine begins to work, and the train, partly pulled by the locomotive before, and partly pushed by the truck behind, rapidly ascends, taking somewhere about three minutes to get up.

   1957 September 28, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 620, from Herapath's Journal

   1. datedrail transportA locomotive engineer; (sometimes) any footplateman.

      At one corner of the room three enginemen were lost in serious discussion; in other corners, mécaniciens and chauffeurs were quietly talking, playing draughts, reading or eating.

      1961 March, 'Balmore', “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 147

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      As an aid to this end, and that the railroad companies may derive the highest efficiency from the man employed as a locomotive engineman, a code of questions is given him, and it is expected that the preparation necessary to correctly answer the questions will indicate how well he has progressed.

      1911, anonymous author, The Traveling Engineers' Association

      A few keen enginemen, such as Driver Rosewarne of York, could coax good work out of them when engaged in heavy East Coast express service, but to most footplate crews, especially firemen, they were rather heartbreaking and backbreaking machines, and gradually were relegated to secondary or fast goods duties.

      1949 May and June, R. A. H. Weight, “A Short-Lived Pacific Class”, in Railway Magazine, page 196

   2. datedA navy sailor who operates, manages, and maintains engines and various other shipboard equipment (such as one with the United States Navy EN occupational rating).