Rail-Track Laying / Maintenance Equipment Operator

Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Machine Operator; Track Equipment Operator (TEO); Track Inspector; Track Laborer; Track Maintainer; Track Repair Person; Track Repairer; Track Service Person; Track Walker; Trackman

Tasks

• Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
• Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
• Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
• Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
• Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
• Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
• Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
• Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
• Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
• Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
• Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
• Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders.
• Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment.
• Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
• Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties.

Knowledge

• Public Safety and Security
• Transportation
• Mechanical
• Production and Processing
• Building and Construction
• Mathematics
• Education and Training
• English Language
• Administration and Management
• Customer and Personal Service
• Engineering and Technology
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Physics

Skills

• Active Listening
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Problem Sensitivity
• Multilimb Coordination
• Reaction Time
• Manual Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Far Vision
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Depth Perception
• Information Ordering
• Flexibility of Closure
• Perceptual Speed
• Visualization
• Trunk Strength
• Near Vision
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Selective Attention
• Finger Dexterity
• Rate Control
• Static Strength
• Auditory Attention