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Rail Car Repairers

Also called: Rail Car Mechanic, Rail Car Repairer, Rail Car Repairman, Rail Car Welder

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What they do:
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
  • design
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Business
  • management
Transportation
  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Skills

Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Technical
  • figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work
  • repairing machines or systems using the right tools

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
Visual Understanding
  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
  • see hidden patterns
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Innovation
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Internet browser software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$60,250
$37,430
$80,840
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about rail car repairers.