Rail-Track Laying & Maintenance Equipment Operators

realistic interests operate machine repair rails heavy equipment sand pits welding replacement installation align tracks

Track Inspector, Track Laborer, Track Maintainer, Track Repairer

What they do:
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
On the job, you would:
  • Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
  • Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
  • Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.

Knowledge

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical
  • building and construction

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Skills

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady

Controlled Movement

  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Cautiousness
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software

Time accounting software

  • Timekeeping software

Education

high school diploma/GED or
no high school diploma/GED
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Below Average
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Salary:

$70,070
$45,640
$87,420
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about Rail-Track Laying & Maintenance Equipment Operators.