Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
- Tasks
- 23 tasks19 core, 4 supplemental
- Family
- Transportation & Material MovingOne of its 57 occupations
- Code
- 53-4013.00SOC 2018: 53-4013
What the work is made of
19 core tasks and 4 supplemental, each quoted as published, with the survey it came from.
Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not all
- Task 1. Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.Core taskTask 10667Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 2. Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.Core taskTask 10669Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 3. Apply and release hand brakes.Core taskTask 10670Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 4. Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.Core taskTask 10666Rated by 78 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 5. Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.Core taskTask 10665Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 6. Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.Core taskTask 10675Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 7. Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.Core taskTask 10673Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 8. Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.Core taskTask 10679Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 9. Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.Core taskTask 10668Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 10. Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.Core taskTask 10672Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 11. Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.Core taskTask 10671Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 12. Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.Core taskTask 10678Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 13. Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations.Core taskTask 10674Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 14. Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.Core taskTask 10677Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 15. Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.Core taskTask 10680Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 16. Perform routine repair and maintenance duties.Core taskTask 10685Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 17. Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.Core taskTask 10683Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 18. Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.Core taskTask 10681Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 19. Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.Core taskTask 10682Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 20. Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps.Supplemental taskTask 10676Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 21. Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.Supplemental taskTask 10684Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 22. Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment.Supplemental taskTask 10687Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
- Task 23. Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties.Supplemental taskTask 10688Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021
Where this comes from
Quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor, and credited. Nothing on this page is written by us.
How we copy and credit sources- Published byO*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
- ClassificationStandard Occupational Classification 2018, 53-4013
- LicenseCC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
- Changed by usNothing.
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