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Rail Car Repairers

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

What you’d do

  • Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
  • Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
  • Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
  • Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
  • Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
  • Test units for operability before and after repairs.
  • Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
  • Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.

Skills that matter

  • Repairing
  • Troubleshooting
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Critical Thinking
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Quality Control Analysis

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Rail Car Mechanic
  • Rail Car Repairer
  • Rail Car Repairman
  • Rail Car Welder
  • Freight Maintenance Specialist
  • Locomotive Repairman

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