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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

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.

Tasks
26 tasks20 core, 5 supplemental, 1 not rated
Family
Transportation & Material MovingOne of its 57 occupations
Code
53-4022.00SOC 2018: 53-4022

Read the 26 tasks Download this record as JSON

What the work is made of

20 core tasks, 5 supplemental and 1 not rated, each quoted as published, with where it came from.

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Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not allNot rated: O*NET has not rated it core or supplemental

  1. Task 1. Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.Core taskTask 23774Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  2. Task 2. Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.Core taskTask 23775Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  3. Task 3. Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.Core taskTask 23776Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  4. Task 4. Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.Core taskTask 23777Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  5. Task 5. Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.Core taskTask 23778Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  6. Task 6. Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.Core taskTask 23779Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  7. Task 7. Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.Core taskTask 23780Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  8. Task 8. Operate locomotives in emergency situations.Core taskTask 23781Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  9. Task 9. Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.Core taskTask 23782Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  10. Task 10. Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.Core taskTask 23783Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  11. Task 11. Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.Core taskTask 23784Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  12. Task 12. Inspect locomotives to detect damaged or worn parts.Core taskTask 23785Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  13. Task 13. Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.Core taskTask 23786Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  14. Task 14. Check to see that trains are equipped with supplies such as fuel, water, and sand.Core taskTask 23787Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  15. Task 15. Monitor oil, temperature, and pressure gauges on dashboards to determine if engines are operating safely and efficiently.Core taskTask 23788Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  16. Task 16. Set flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes in front and at rear of trains during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.Core taskTask 23789Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  17. Task 17. Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.Core taskTask 23790Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  18. Task 18. Start diesel engines to warm engines before runs.Core taskTask 23791Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  19. Task 19. Make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes, using hand tools.Core taskTask 23792Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  20. Task 20. Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.Core taskTask 23793Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  21. Task 21. Operate and drive locomotives, diesel switch engines, dinkey engines, flatcars, and railcars in train yards and at industrial sites.Supplemental taskTask 23794Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  22. Task 22. Refuel and lubricate engines.Supplemental taskTask 23795Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  23. Task 23. Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.Supplemental taskTask 23796Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  24. Task 24. Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.Supplemental taskTask 23798Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  25. Task 25. Provide passengers with assistance entering and exiting trains.Supplemental taskTask 23799Rated by O*NET analysts, November 2020
  26. Task 26. Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.Not ratedTask 23801Listed by O*NET analysts, November 2020

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
  1. Published by
    O*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
  2. Classification
    Standard Occupational Classification 2018, 53-4022
  3. License
    CC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
  4. Changed by us
    Nothing.

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