Jobs / Physical work / 47-4061.00

Rail-Track Laying and 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.

US jobs
19,580
Median wage
$70,070 a year
Job family
Physical work

Can agents do the work of rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Physical work:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.
  • Project levelUnexploredNo benchmark in our collection covers this work yet.

Unexplored territory

No benchmark in this atlas covers this work yet.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
  • Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
  • Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
  • Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
  • 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.
  • Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
  • Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
  • Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
  • Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
  • Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
  • Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders.
Other job titles for this occupation (35)

Machine Operator · Track Equipment Operator (TEO) · Track Inspector · Track Laborer · Track Maintainer · Track Repair Person · Track Repairer · Track Service Person · Track Walker · Trackman · Ballast Cleaning Machine Operator · Portable Grinding Machine Operator · Rail Maintenance Worker · Rail Track Layer · Rail Track Maintainer · Railroad Track Mechanic · Railway Equipment Operator · Section Hand · Section Laborer · Special Equipment Operator · Track Dresser · Track Grinder Operator · Track Layer · Track Laying Equipment Operator · Track Laying Machine Operator · Track Machine Operator · Track Machine Operator Repairer · Track Man · Track Mechanic · Track Moving Machine Operator · Track Repair Worker · Track Service Worker · Track Surfacing Machine Operator · Track Worker · Trackwalker