Jobs / Physical work / 53-4022.00
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.
- US jobs
- 12,400
- Median wage
- $68,840 a year
- Job family
- Physical work
Can agents do the work of railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
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.
- Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
- Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
- Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
- Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
- Conduct brake tests to determine the condition of brakes on trains.
- Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
- Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
- Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
- Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
- Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.
Other job titles for this occupation (66)
Brakeman · Carman · Fireman · Locomotive Switch Operator · Railroad Brakeman · Railroad Switchman · Switch Operator · Switchman · Terminal Carman · Yard Switcher · Air Brake Operator · Air Hose Coupler · Area Brakeman · Brake Holder · Brake Rider · Car Coupler · Car Shifter · Coupler · Diesel Locomotive Fireman · Diesel Locomotive Firer · Dinkey Brakeman · Dinkey Engine Fireman · Dinkey Engine Firer · Donkey Engine Fireman · Donkey Engine Firer · Dukey Rider · Electric Locomotive Fireman · Electric Locomotive Firer · Enginehouse Brakeman · Firer · Flagger · Flagman · Freight Brake Operator · Freight Brakeman · Locomotive Fireman · Locomotive Firer · Motor Brakeman · Narrow Gauge Brakeman · Passenger Brakeman · Passenger Train Braker · Rail Worker · Railcar Brake Operator · Railcar Switchman · Railroad Brake Operator · Railroad Carman · Railroad Fireman · Railroad Firer · Railroad Signal Operator · Railroad Switch Operator · Railroad Yard Worker · Railway Switch Operator · Railway Switchman · Road Freight Brake Coupler · Roundhouse Fireman · Roundhouse Firer · Steam Locomotive Fireman · Steam Locomotive Firer · Switch Coupler · Switch Tender · Switching Operator · Train Brake Operator · Train Brakeman · Train Braker · Yard Brakeman · Yard Coupler · Yard Switch Operator