Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Railroad brake signal and switch operators operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. They may couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains and watch for and relay traffic signals. Locomotive firers inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes and keep a check on dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.
Locomotive firers observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers. They signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication and pulling or pushing track switches to reroute cars. Besides, they can observe signs from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated and monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
To be a railroad brake signal and switch operator, one must know about transportation, including principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road consisting of the relative costs and benefits. Also, having additional skills like controlling, monitoring and operating is needed for this job profile.
To succeed in this career path, one needs a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- ITI Course Electrical Engineering
- Diploma Electrical Engineering
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.
- Operate locomotives in emergency situations.
- Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
- Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
Progression Routes
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