# Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators > 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. - Code: 47-4061.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 47-4061) - Family: [Construction & Extraction](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-47), one of its 65 occupations - Tasks: 26 tasks (17 core and 9 supplemental) - Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-4061.00 - JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/47-4061.00.json ## What the work is made of 1. Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported. Core task · Task 13643 · Rated by 64 people who do the job, July 2015 2. Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts. Core task · Task 13645 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 3. Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs. Core task · Task 20798 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 4. Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks. Core task · Task 13654 · Rated by 64 people who do the job, July 2015 5. Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails. Core task · Task 13655 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 6. Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together. Core task · Task 13653 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 7. Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws. Core task · Task 13648 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 8. Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels. Core task · Task 13646 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 9. Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills. Core task · Task 13651 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 10. Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes. Core task · Task 13644 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 11. Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks. Core task · Task 13658 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 12. Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement. Core task · Task 13649 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 13. Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications. Core task · Task 13650 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 14. Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders. Core task · Task 13647 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 15. Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment. Core task · Task 13657 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 16. Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders. Core task · Task 13652 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 17. Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties. Core task · Task 13660 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 18. String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled. Supplemental task · Task 13665 · Rated by 61 people who do the job, July 2015 19. Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges. Supplemental task · Task 13656 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 20. Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails. Supplemental task · Task 13659 · Rated by 63 people who do the job, July 2015 21. Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained. Supplemental task · Task 13661 · Rated by 61 people who do the job, July 2015 22. Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications. Supplemental task · Task 13662 · Rated by 60 people who do the job, July 2015 23. Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved. Supplemental task · Task 13664 · Rated by 60 people who do the job, July 2015 24. Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails. Supplemental task · Task 13666 · Rated by 61 people who do the job, July 2015 25. Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings. Supplemental task · Task 13667 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 26. Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering. Supplemental task · Task 13663 · Rated by 62 people who do the job, July 2015 ## More in Construction & Extraction - [Boilermakers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-2011.00): 17 tasks - [Brickmasons and Blockmasons](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-2021.00): 14 tasks - [Carpenters](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-2031.00): 29 tasks - [Carpet Installers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-2041.00): 16 tasks - [Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-2051.00): 26 tasks - [Construction and Building Inspectors](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-4011.00): 19 tasks - [Construction and Related Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-4099.00): no tasks listed - [Construction Laborers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-2061.00): 27 tasks - [Continuous Mining Machine Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-5041.00): 15 tasks - [Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-5011.00): 15 tasks - 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