Railroad Brake, Signal, & Switch Operators & Locomotive Firers

Brakeman, Locomotive Switch Operator, Railroad Switchman, Trainman

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
  • Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
  • Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.

Knowledge

Transportation

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

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

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

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

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Hand and Finger Use

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

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say

Personality

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

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Self Control
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Independence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Expert system software

  • Electronic train management systems ETMS

Route navigation software

  • Route mapping software

Time accounting software

  • Time tracking software

Education

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

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

Salary:

$67,540
$43,830
$79,580
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