Rail Car Repairer

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Freight Maintenance Specialist; Locomotive Repairman; Rail Car Maintenance Mechanic; Rail Car Mechanic; Rail Car Repairer; Rail Car Repairman; Rail Car Sandblaster; Rail Car Welder; Railroad Car Repairman; Train Car Repairman

Tasks

• Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
• Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
• Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
• Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
• Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
• Test units for operability before and after repairs.
• Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
• Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.
• Perform scheduled maintenance, and clean units and components.
• Examine car roofs for wear and damage, and repair defective sections, using roofing material, cement, nails, and waterproof paint.
• Paint car exteriors, interiors, and fixtures.

Knowledge

• Mechanical
• Production and Processing
• Design
• Administration and Management
• Engineering and Technology
• Building and Construction
• Transportation
• Mathematics

Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Speaking

Abilities

• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Multilimb Coordination
• Finger Dexterity
• Near Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Reaction Time
• Static Strength
• Trunk Strength
• Perceptual Speed
• Flexibility of Closure
• Extent Flexibility
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Visualization
• Far Vision
• Inductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility
• Selective Attention
• Stamina
• Gross Body Coordination
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Speech Recognition