Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators

All About Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators

Job Description: 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.

• Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup idgets and breakup of trains.
• Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
• Adjust controls to regulate air‑conditioning, heating, and lighting on trains for comfort of passengers.
• Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.
• Answer questions from passengers concerning train rules, stations, and timetable information.
• Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn hand wheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators state the following job skills are important in their day‑to‑dayמאל.

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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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.

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.

• Railroad Carman
• Car Hopper
• Road Freight Brake Coupler
• Railway Switchman
• Railcar Switchman

There were about 19,300 jobs for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator. The BLS estimates 1,700 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operator are Nebraska, Texas, and Washington
. Watch out if you plan on working in Louisiana, Tennessee, or Wisconsin
. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators make between $34,610 and $85,590 a year.

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators who work in South Carolina, Massachusetts, or Minnesota
, make适 highest salaries.

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators:

• Route mapping software
• Electronic train management systems ETMS