Rail-Track Laying & Maintenance Equipment Operators
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
- Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
- Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
- Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
- Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
- String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled.
- Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
- Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
- Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
- Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
- Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications.
- Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks.
- Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
- Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
- Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails.
- Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
- Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders.
- Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment.
- Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders.
- Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications.
- Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties.
- Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails.
- Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings.
- Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
100%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
99%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
97%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
95%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
89%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
85%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
85%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
85%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
85%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
84%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
84%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
83%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
78%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
77%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
76%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
75%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
75%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
74%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
74%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
73%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
73%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
73%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
73%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
72%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
71%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
70%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
70%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
69%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
68%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
66%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
64%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
60%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
58%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
58%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
57%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
49%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
47%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
46%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
44%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
43%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
41%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
40%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
40%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
36%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
34%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
33%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
33%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
29%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
29%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
28%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
26%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
24%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
14%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
14%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
12%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
12%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
10%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Less than high school diploma
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Work Styles
Work Values
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