train driver
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train driver
A person whose job is to drive and operate a train or locomotive. The female form is 'die Lokführerin' (female train driver).
Der Lokführer kündigte über die Lautsprecher eine kurze Verzögerung an.
The train driver announced a short delay over the loudspeakers.
The word consists of 'Lok' (short for 'Lokomotive', locomotive) and 'Führer' (from 'führen', here in the sense of 'to control' or 'to drive'). A Lokführer is therefore literally someone who drives the locomotive.
Schon als Kind wollte er Lokführer werden.
Even as a child, he wanted to become a train driver.
The word element '-führer' has a neutral meaning of 'leader' or 'driver' in job titles such as 'Lokführer' (train driver), 'Reiseführer' (tour guide), or 'Bergführer' (mountain guide). Here it has no negative historical connotation.
Der Bergführer zeigte uns den sichersten Weg zum Gipfel.
The mountain guide showed us the safest way to the summit.
Common verbs connected with this profession are 'als Lokführer arbeiten' (to work as a train driver) or 'einen Zug steuern/fahren' (to operate/drive a train). You can also say 'Lokführer von Beruf sein' (to be a train driver by profession).
Er arbeitet seit über 20 Jahren als Lokführer bei der Bahn.
He has worked as a train driver for the railway for over 20 years.
conductor
'Lokführer' and 'Schaffner' both have to do with trains and public transportation. That is why they are easy to confuse. The 'Lokführer' drives and operates the train. The 'Schaffner' works on a train or another means of transportation and checks or sells tickets. If it is about driving the train, 'Lokführer' is correct. If it is about tickets and passengers, 'Schaffner' fits.
Der Lokführer bremste den Zug langsam vor dem Bahnhof ab.
The train driver slowly braked the train before the station.
Im Zug zeigte Maria dem Schaffner ihre Fahrkarte.
On the train, Maria showed the conductor her ticket.