Railway Jobs - What You Need to Know

From excited passengers taking cross country trips to freight cars transporting much needed supplies around the country the railroad system relies on a variety of hard working people to keep it moving. Many of these jobs offer on-the-job training but having some prior education can only help.

Railway workers typically work full time, logging lots of overtime hours. Those who work on trains that travel long routes can find themselves away from home for extended periods.

Hand-Eye Coordination

Train crewmen must be able to work long hours at the drop of a hat. They also need to be able to handle the stress of working on the railways. While a career in railroading is not for everyone, it provides high salaries and benefits, and technical training and professional growth opportunities. For this reason, many railroad employees stay in the industry for their entire careers. Some even have family railroad legacies that span generations.

A locomotive engineer must complete two to three months of on-the-job training before they can operate a train. This involves riding along with an experienced engineer and learning the characteristics of each train route. A railroad yard engineer oversees switching and rail yard operations, including track maintenance, scheduling, and traffic control. These workers also communicate with other crew members and train traffic control about routine and unforeseen phenomena that affect the flow of train traffic. They also monitor track instruments and equipment for safety problems like dragging equipment or obstacles on the tracks.

Quick Decision-Maker

Railway workers are responsible for helping trains transport passengers and cargo safely. Their work allows businesses to operate and boosts the economy. Train workers also receive generous benefits and training opportunities. Because of the industry’s high-quality railway jobs opportunities, many people stay in their careers for life.

Railroad workers often start their careers with a high school diploma or equivalent and then receive extensive on-the-job training. For instance, locomotive engineers undergo 2 to 3 months of on-the-job training with a mentor before operating trains independently. Likewise, experienced engineers who switch routes must spend time riding with an engineer familiar with the characteristics of their new route.

Track workers focus on repairing, inspecting and maintaining sections of the rail tracks, including ties, frogs, switches and roadbeds. They work outdoors in varying weather conditions and must possess physical strength and stamina to carry out their tasks. In addition, rail employees may be away from home for long periods of time because their schedules can vary depending on the type of trains they run.

Good Communication Skills

Working on the railroad requires excellent communication skills. Railroad employees must communicate with each other in person and over the radio, maintain train inspection logs, and manage time to keep their trains on schedule. Locomotive engineers are the top rank on a train crew, and they follow instructions from train dispatchers to ensure their trains arrive at their destinations safely. Most locomotive engineers are promoted from conductor positions, and they receive on-the-job training as well as specialized railway company training.

Freight rail workers also work closely with signal and switch operators to ensure their trains are headed in the right direction. Because of the high wages and benefits, technical training opportunities and professional growth potential, many railroad workers remain in the industry for their entire careers. Moreover, it is one of the safest industries in the United States, with employee injury rates lower than those in trucking, airlines, manufacturing and construction. Railroad companies are also military-friendly and have long track records of hiring America’s veterans.

Mechanical Skills

Train engineers, like all rail employees, need mechanical skills to perform their jobs. They need to know how to repair equipment and perform basic maintenance on locomotives, railway cars, track and related machinery. Some railroads provide on-the-job training for trainees in the mechanical field and others require candidates to complete a program of study that includes classroom instruction.

Conductors and engineers on passenger trains must have excellent customer service skills to answer passengers’ questions about the trip, make announcements and keep the schedule on track. They also need to be able to operate the controls on their locomotives while staying aware of their surroundings.

A signal maintainer is responsible for ensuring that a railway’s signaling system works properly. This involves following government regulations and performing upkeep tasks. Signal maintainers may have to work overtime to fix malfunctioning equipment after hours. This job requires a high school diploma or GED certificate and on-the-job training. A yardmaster supervises other workers at rail yards and has to have knowledge of all related railroad equipment.