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Career Details :: Railroad Yard Workers
Description
Perform a variety of activities such as coupling railcars and operating railroad track switches in railroad yard to facilitate the movement of rail cars within the yard.
Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a general office clerk even if he/she has never worked in an office before.
Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Tasks
- Connects air hose to car, using wrench.
- Throws track switches to route cars to different sections of yard.
- Opens and closes chute gates to load and unload cars.
- Opens and closes ventilation doors.
- Signals engineer to start and stop engine.
- Receives oral or written instructions indicating which cars are to be switched and track assignments.
- Raises lever to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Attaches cable to cars being hoisted by cable or chain in mines, quarries, or industrial plants.
- Rides atop cars that have been shunted and turns handwheel to control speed or stop car at specified position.
- Watches for and relays traffic signals to start and stop cars during shunting, using arm or lantern.
Related Careers
- Crane and Tower Operators
- Fallers
- Hoist and Winch Operators
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Logging Tractor Operators
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Controlling Machines and Processes
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Frustrating Circumstances
- Job-Required Social Interaction
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Contract Major |  [ add ] |
| Elected Studies | [ add ] |
| Elective Studies | [ add ] |
| Independent Major | [ add ] |
| Independent Scholar | [ add ] |
| Independent Studies | [ add ] |
| Individual Major | [ add ] |
| Individual Studies | [ add ] |
| Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies | [ add ] |
| Individualized Major | [ add ] |
| Individualized Majors | [ add ] |
| Individualized Programs | [ add ] |
| Individualized Studies | [ add ] |
| Individualized Study | [ add ] |
| Individually Designed Major | [ add ] |
| Individually Designed Programs | [ add ] |
| Individually Planned Major | [ add ] |
| Interdepartmental Major | [ add ] |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | [ add ] |
| Selected Studies | [ add ] |
| Self-Designed Major | [ add ] |
| Self-Designed Majors | [ add ] |
| Self-Determined Majors | [ add ] |
| Self-Planned Program | [ add ] |
| Special Divisional Major | [ add ] |
| Special Major | [ add ] |
| Special Majors | [ add ] |
| Special Studies | [ add ] |
| Specialized Studies | [ add ] |
| Student-Designed Major | [ add ] |
| Student-Initiated Interdepartmental Major | [ add ] |
| Topical Major | [ add ] |
| Tutorial Studies | [ add ] |
| University Major/Individualized | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.