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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.
Other titles employers use
Brakeman · Carman · Fireman · Locomotive Switch Operator · Railroad Brakeman · Railroad Switchman · Terminal Carman · Trainman
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Operation and Control
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Control Precision
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Far Vision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.7 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.5 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.4 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Operating system software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Expert system software
- Route navigation software
- Time accounting software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 2,230
- Job openings each year
- 230
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 12.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,230 | 230 | 12.6% |
| California | 1,100 | 110 | −8.3% |
| Missouri | 930 | 90 | −4.1% |
| Colorado | 780 | 80 | 1.3% |
| New York | 560 | 0 | 1.8% |
| Nebraska | 540 | 50 | 1.9% |
| Georgia | 520 | 50 | 13.0% |
| Washington | 470 | 40 | −2.1% |
| Ohio | 450 | 40 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 390 | 40 | — |
| Wyoming | 360 | 40 | 24.1% |
| Alabama | 350 | 30 | 6.1% |
| Iowa | 310 | 30 | — |
| Arizona | 300 | 30 | −6.3% |
| Idaho | 250 | 30 | 13.6% |
| Oklahoma | 190 | 20 | — |
| Mississippi | 170 | 20 | 6.3% |
| Wisconsin | 160 | 20 | −5.9% |
| North Carolina | 150 | 10 | — |
| Florida | 140 | 10 | −12.5% |
| Louisiana | 120 | 10 | — |
| New Jersey | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Kentucky | 80 | 10 | — |
| South Carolina | 50 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.