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Employment Percentage
-156.25
SOC ID
53-4013
SOC Title
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
ONET ID
53-4013.00
ONET Concat ID
53401300
Median Salary
53764.64
Ed Level High School
86.650002
Ed Level Certificate
13.35
Ed Level Some College
0
Ed Level Associates
0
Ed Level Bachelors
0
Ed Level Masters
0
Ed Level Doctors
0
Typical Ed Level
a high school diploma or less
Career Description
Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
Core Tasks
  • Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.
  • Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.
  • Apply and release hand brakes.
  • Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.
  • Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
  • Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.
  • Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.
  • Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
  • Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.
  • Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.
  • Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
  • Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.
  • Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations.
  • Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.
  • Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.
  • Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.
  • Perform routine repair and maintenance duties.
  • Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.
  • Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.
Start Annual Earnings
41184.18
Top Annual Earnings
64996.23
EMSI Career Title Slug
rail-yard-engineer-dinkey-operator-or-hostler