Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

• Summary

• Details

Work Activities

• Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.
• Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.
• Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.
• Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
• Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.
• Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
• Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.
• Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps.
• Perform routine repair and maintenance duties.
• Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment.
• Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.
• Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.
• Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
• Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.
• Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
• Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
• Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties.
• Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
• Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
• Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations.
• Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.
• Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.
• Apply and release hand brakes.
• Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.
• Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.
• Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.

Skills

• Writing
  • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
• Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
• Instructing
  • Teaching people how to do something.
• Installation
  • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
• Troubleshooting
  • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
• Service Orientation
  • Looking for ways to help people.
• Speaking
  • Talking to others.
• Technology Design
  • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
• Learning Strategies
  • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
• Operations Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
• Complex Problem Solving
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
• Equipment Maintenance
  • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
• Management of Material Resources
  • Managing equipment and materials.
• Management of Personnel Resources
  • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
• Negotiation
  • Bringing people together to solve differences.
• Monitoring
  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
• Reading Comprehension
  • Reading work-related information.
• Time Management
  • Managing your time and the time of other people.
• Operations Analysis
  • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
• Science
  • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
• Active Listening
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
• Management of Financial Resources
  • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
• Mathematics
  • Using math to solve problems.
• Persuasion
  • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
• Judgment and Decision Making
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
• Programming
  • Writing computer programs.
• Systems Analysis
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
• Critical Thinking
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
• Active Learning
  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
• Social Perceptiveness
  • Understanding people's reactions.
• Systems Evaluation
  • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
• Operation and Control
  • Using equipment or systems.
• Coordination
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
• Equipment Selection
  • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
• Quality Control Analysis
  • Testing how well a product or service works.

Abilities

• Speech Recognition
  • Recognizing spoken words.
• Speech Clarity
  • Speaking clearly.
• Depth Perception
  • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Speed of Limb Movement
  • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
• Near Vision
  • Seeing details up close.
• Manual Dexterity
  • Holding or moving items with your hands.
• Extent Flexibility
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Night Vision
  • Seeing at night or under low light.
• Peripheral Vision
  • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
• Spatial Orientation
  • Knowing where things are around you.
• Perceptual Speed
  • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
• Multilimb Coordination
  • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
• Deductive Reasoning
  • Using rules to solve problems.
• Category Flexibility
  • Grouping things in different ways.
• Fluency of Ideas
  • Coming up with lots of ideas.
• Trunk Strength
  • Using your lower back and stomach.
• Far Vision
  • Seeing details that are far away.
• Stamina
  • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
• Explosive Strength
  • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
• Dynamic Flexibility
  • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Written Comprehension
  • Reading and understanding what is written.
• Auditory Attention
  • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
• Dynamic Strength
  • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
• Visual Color Discrimination
  • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
• Gross Body Coordination
  • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
• Problem Sensitivity
  • Noticing when problems happen.
• Originality
  • Creating new and original ideas.
• Hearing Sensitivity
  • Telling the difference between sounds.
• Finger Dexterity
  • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
• Time Sharing
  • Doing two or more things at the same time.
• Visualization
  • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
• Rate Control
  • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
• Reaction Time
  • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
• Memorization
  • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
• Control Precision
  • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
• Response Orientation
  • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
• Glare Sensitivity
  • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
• Speed of Closure
  • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
• Mathematical Reasoning
  • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
• Number Facility
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
• Selective Attention
  • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
• Flexibility of Closure
  • Seeing hidden patterns.
• Oral Expression
  • Communicating by speaking.
• Oral Comprehension
  • Listening and understanding what people say.
• Information Ordering
  • Ordering or arranging things.
• Written Expression
  • Communicating by writing.
• Inductive Reasoning
  • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
• Sound Localization
  • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
• Static Strength
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.

Knowledge

• Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Communications and Media
  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Philosophy and Theology
  • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Telecommunications
  • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Food Production
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• History and Archeology
  • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• 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.
• Sociology and Anthropology
  • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
• Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Personnel and Human Resources
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Sales and Marketing
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Mathematics
  • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Administrative
  • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Computers and Electronics
  • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Physics
  • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
• 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.
• Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Foreign Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
• Chemistry
  • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• 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.
• Fine Arts
  • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Geography
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Education

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

1 to 12 months on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

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Education and Training Opportunities

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Pay

U.S. Annual Salary

58030/yr

U.S. Hourly Wage

27.9/hr

Washington Employment Trends

Currently Employed

170

Yearly Projected Openings

10

Personality

Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Cooperation
• Concern for Others
• Self Control

Tools

• Air hoses
• Capstan
• Cold chisels
• Derricks
• Diagonal cut pliers
• Diesel freight locomotives
• Drum openers
• Ear plugs
• Flags or accessories
• Flares
• Hammers
• Hand sprayers
• Hard hats
• Heavy rail turnout switch
• Kerosene or propane or natural gas or butane lantern
• Oil gauges
• Personal computers
• Pressure indicators
• Punches or nail sets or drifts
• Rail switching systems
• Railway rolling stock lifting jack
• Railway signaling systems
• Ratchets
• Safety boots
• Safety glasses
• Socket sets
• Specialty wrenches
• Temperature gauge
• Train braking systems
• Two way radios
• Utility knives
• Wheel chocks
• Winches
• Wire brushes

Technology

• Data base user interface and query software
• Expert system software
• Facilities management software
• Industrial control software
• Internet browser software
• Inventory management software