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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.

What you’d do

  • Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
  • Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
  • 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.
  • Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
  • Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
  • Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.
  • Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.

Skills that matter

  • Operations Monitoring
  • Monitoring
  • Coordination
  • Operation and Control
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking

How to get there

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

Also called

  • Brakeman
  • Carman
  • Railroad Switchman
  • Terminal Carman
  • Fireman
  • Locomotive Switch Operator

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