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Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Third Interest High-Point

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

First Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Locomotive Engineers and Operators

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

Rail Transportation Workers

Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.

Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.

Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.

Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.

Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.

Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.

Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.

Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.

Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.

Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.

Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations.

Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.

Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.

Perform routine repair and maintenance duties.

Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.

Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.

Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.

Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps.

Operate switching diesel engines to switch railroad cars, using remote controls.

Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.

Operate and control dinkey engines to transport and shunt cars at industrial or mine sites.

Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment.

Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties.

Air brake hoses

Air pressure gauges

Automatic switches

Backout punches

Bumping posts

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Overview

Career

What Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Do

Other Job Titles Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Overview

Career

What Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Do

Other Job Titles Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

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