State of Connecticut Home Follow Research on FacebookFollow CTDOL on InstagramFollow CTDOL on LinkedINFollow CTDOL on YouTube
Connecticut Department of Labor Home Connecticut Labor Market Information Home Connecticut Labor Market Information Home
LMI Home About JCC Contact Us Link to JCC Help Site Map
Job & Career Connection Home Page
  Occupation Profile   
 
 5 Steps
Step 1 Find an Occupation
that is Right for You
Step 2 Learn About an Occupation
Step 3 Search for
Education & Training
Step 4 Search for
Jobs & Employers
Step 5 Job Seeker Resources
 Printer Friendly Version
 
RAILROAD BRAKE, SIGNAL, AND SWITCH OPERATORS AND LOCOMOTIVE FIRERS
 
Occupation Description:
 
  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.
 
Typical Tasks:
 
 
  • Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
  • Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
  • Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
  • Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
  • Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
  • Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
  • Observe tracks from left sides of locomotives to detect obstructions on tracks.
 
Knowledge:
 
 
  • 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..
  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance..
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar..
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction..
  • Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process..
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects..
 
Search for Jobs on CareerOneStop:
 
  Search for Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers Jobs
  (Please note that some searches may not produce any results.)
 
Education & Training:
 
  Moderate-term on-the-job training (1 to 12 months)
 
Wage Information:
 
  Sorry, wage information is not available for this occupation.
 
Occupation Outlook:
 
  Sorry, outlook information is not available for this occupation.
 
Similar Occupations:
 
 
State of Connecticut Department of Labor - Office of Research, 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109
LMI Home | CTDOL Home | Feedback | This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. (more)
ct.gov logo with flag embelishment About CT Policies Accessibility Directories Social Media For State Employees