# 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. - Code: 53-4013.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 53-4013) - Family: [Transportation & Material Moving](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-53), one of its 57 occupations - Tasks: 23 tasks (19 core and 4 supplemental) - Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4013.00 - JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/53-4013.00.json ## What the work is made of 1. Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors. Core task · Task 10667 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 2. Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation. Core task · Task 10669 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 3. Apply and release hand brakes. Core task · Task 10670 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 4. Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones. Core task · Task 10666 · Rated by 78 people who do the job, August 2021 5. Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information. Core task · Task 10665 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 6. Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions. Core task · Task 10675 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 7. Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment. Core task · Task 10673 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 8. Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars. Core task · Task 10679 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 9. Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars. Core task · Task 10668 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 10. Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment. Core task · Task 10672 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 11. Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors. Core task · Task 10671 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 12. Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel. Core task · Task 10678 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 13. Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations. Core task · Task 10674 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 14. Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars. Core task · Task 10677 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 15. Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty. Core task · Task 10680 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 16. Perform routine repair and maintenance duties. Core task · Task 10685 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 17. Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied. Core task · Task 10683 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 18. Pull knuckles to open them for coupling. Core task · Task 10681 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 19. Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars. Core task · Task 10682 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 20. Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps. Supplemental task · Task 10676 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 21. Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed. Supplemental task · Task 10684 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 22. Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment. Supplemental task · Task 10687 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 23. Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties. Supplemental task · Task 10688 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2021 ## More in Transportation & Material Moving - [Air Traffic Controllers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2021.00): 23 tasks - [Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-1041.00): 6 tasks - [Aircraft Service Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6032.00): 18 tasks - [Airfield Operations Specialists](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2022.00): 27 tasks - [Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2011.00): 24 tasks - [Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3011.00): 11 tasks - [Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6031.00): 14 tasks - [Aviation Inspectors](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6051.01): 13 tasks - [Bridge and Lock Tenders](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6011.00): 18 tasks - 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[First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-1044.00): 19 tasks - [First-Line Supervisors of Transportation Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-1049.00): no tasks listed - [Flight Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-2031.00): 25 tasks - [Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7071.00): 13 tasks - [Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3032.00): 29 tasks - [Hoist and Winch Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7041.00): 13 tasks - [Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7051.00): 9 tasks - [Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7062.00): 13 tasks - [Light Truck Drivers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3033.00): 13 tasks - [Locomotive Engineers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4011.00): 14 tasks - [Machine Feeders and Offbearers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7063.00): 13 tasks - [Material Moving Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7199.00): no tasks listed - [Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3099.00): no tasks listed - [Motorboat Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-5022.00): 16 tasks - [Packers and Packagers, Hand](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7064.00): 12 tasks - [Parking Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6021.00): 15 tasks - [Passenger Attendants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6061.00): 12 tasks - [Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7072.00): 14 tasks - [Rail Transportation Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4099.00): no tasks listed - [Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4022.00): 26 tasks - [Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4031.00): 20 tasks - [Recycling and Reclamation Workers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7062.04): 14 tasks - [Recycling Coordinators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-1042.01): 23 tasks - [Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7081.00): 14 tasks - [Sailors and Marine Oilers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-5011.00): 28 tasks - [Ship Engineers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-5031.00): 17 tasks - [Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3053.00): 26 tasks - [Stockers and Order Fillers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7065.00): 30 tasks - [Subway and Streetcar Operators](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-4041.00): 10 tasks - [Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7121.00): 19 tasks - [Taxi Drivers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-3054.00): 16 tasks - [Traffic Technicians](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6041.00): 23 tasks - [Transportation Inspectors](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6051.00): 17 tasks - [Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6051.07): 14 tasks - [Transportation Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-6099.00): no tasks listed - [Wellhead Pumpers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/53-7073.00): 14 tasks ## Where this comes from Quoted from O*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0: free to copy and reuse, with credit. 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