Signal & Track Switch Repairers

realistic interests test equipment repair railroad system bolt maintenance communication drive vehicles electrical units

Signal Inspector, Signal Maintainer, Signalman, Train Control Electronic Technician

What they do:
Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
On the job, you would:
  • Inspect and test operation, mechanical parts, and circuitry of gate crossings, signals, and signal equipment such as interlocks and hotbox detectors.
  • Inspect electrical units of railroad grade crossing gates and repair loose bolts and defective electrical connections and parts.
  • Test and repair track circuits.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical
  • product and service development

Transportation

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

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security

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

Problem Solving

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

Technical

  • figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work
  • planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use

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

Spatial

  • imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns
  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Controlled Movement

  • 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:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Integrity
  • Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Electronic mail software

  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology

Industrial control software

  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
no high school diploma/GED or
high school diploma/GED
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

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