On New York City Transit you do have to qualify to run the new technology trains, Especially on the (L) train where everything is automated and the wayside signals have largely disappeared. But in the old days, once you were qualifies for SMEE equipment, you could run anything.
Yo do have to qualify for the lines that you are running on.
ROAR
Henry6, as a railroader for nearly 40 years, I never once saw anyone come out to qualify an engineer on any certain type of locomotive nor did I ever get qualified myself when new models came out. What I did get qualified on was the radio control trains with mid-train power that Norfolk Southern once ran.
As I often point out, each railroad is different and their terminology is different, too. I’ve heard guys say they have to get qualified others get cleared, others get briefed, etc. I’ve heard the terminology from both the engineer and the supervisor be he TM, Road Foreman, superintendent, or GM.