Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators - 53-4021.00

Operate railroad track switches. Couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Signal engineers by hand or flagging. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes.

Sample of reported job titles: Brakeman, Carman, Locomotive Switch Operator, Railroad Brakeman, Railroad Switchman, Switch Foreman, Terminal Carman, Trainman, Trains Service Conductor, Transportation Specialist

Tasks

• Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
• Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
• Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
• Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
• Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
• Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
• Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
• Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
• Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
• Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools.
• Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.
• Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.
• Refuel and lubricate engines.
• Watch for and relay traffic signals to start and stop cars during shunting.
• Monitor oil, air, and steam pressure gauges, and make sure water levels are adequate.
• Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.
• Adjust controls to regulate air-conditioning, heating, and lighting on trains for comfort of passengers.
• Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
• Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.
• Answer questions from passengers concerning train rules, stations, and timetable information.

Technology Skills

• Data base user interface and query software - Data entry software
• Expert system software - Electronic train management systems ETMS
• Route navigation software - Route mapping software
• Time accounting software - Time tracking software

Tools Used

• Diesel freight locomotives - Diesel freight engines; Diesel switch engines; Dinky engines; Remote control locomotives
• Electric freight locomotives - Electric freight engines
• Flags or accessories - Signal flags
• Flares - Signal flares
• Heavy rail turnout switch - Derailers; Ground throw switches; Railroad track switches; Switch handles
• Kerosene or propane or natural gas or butane lantern - Signaling lanterns
• Oil gauges - Oil pressure gauges
• Pressure indicators - Air pressure gauges; Steam pressure gauges
• Protective gloves - Safety gloves
• Rail couplers - Equipment couplers
• Rail switching systems - Automatic track switching systems
• Safety boots - Steel-toes boots
• Safety glasses - Protective glasses
• Safety horns - Safety air horns
• Scaffolding - Dock boards; Mobile scaffolding
• Specialty wrenches - Specialty wrench sets
• Train braking systems - Hand brakes
• Two way radios - Mobile radios
• Wheel chocks - Buffer stops; Locomotive wheel chocks
• Winches - Car pullers

Knowledge

• Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Skills

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• Auditory Attention - The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Gross Body Coordination - The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
• Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Gross Body Equilibrium - The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
• Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Interests

• Interest code: RC
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Context

• Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - 100% responded “Every day.”
• Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - 91% responded “Every day.”
• Exposed to Contaminants - 85% responded “Every day.”
• Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - 86% responded “Every day.”
• Consequence of Error - 80% responded “Extremely serious.”
• Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - 72% responded “Every day.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 85% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 75% responded “Every day.”
• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - 76% responded “Every day.”
• Contact With Others - 77% responded “Constant contact with others.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 73% responded “Extremely important.”
• In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - 62% responded “Every day.”
• Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting - 67% responded “Every day.”
• Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - 64% responded “Very high responsibility.”
• Time Pressure - 61% responded “Every day.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 57% responded “Every day.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 68% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 55% responded “Very important results.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - 39% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Exposed to Hazardous Conditions - 63% responded “Every day.”
• Telephone - 54% responded “Every day.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 38% responded “Important.”
• Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - 37% responded “More than half the time.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 46% responded “Extremely important.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 46% responded “Some freedom.”
• Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions - 37% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Exposed to Whole Body Vibration - 32% responded “Every day.”
• In an Open Vehicle or Equipment - 62% responded “Every day.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 42% responded “Extremely important.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 32% responded “Very high responsibility.”
• Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings - 35% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 37% responded “Less than half the time.”
• Spend Time Walking and Running - 37% responded “Less than half the time.”
• Spend Time Standing - 41% responded “Less than half the time.”
• Deal With External Customers - 26% responded “Important.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
87%	High school diploma or equivalent
7%	Less than high school diploma
6%	Post-secondary certificate

Work Styles

• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Work Values

• Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
• Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $27.53 hourly, $57,260 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 19,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Decline (-2% or lower)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 1,700