Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

People in this career often have these skills:

• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
• Response Orientation - The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
• Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
• Monitor traffic signals.
• Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
• Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.

• Monitor engine operation or functioning.
• Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
• Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
• Monitor availability of equipment or supplies.
• Test mechanical systems to ensure proper functioning.
• Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
• Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.
• Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
• Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
• Arrange maintenance activities.
• Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
• Connect hoses to equipment or machinery.
• Record operational or production data.
• Record service or repair activities.

• Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

• Locomotive Engineers

• Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

• Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

• Subway and Streetcar Operators

• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

• Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

• Helpers--Extraction Workers

• Highway Maintenance Workers