Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

What Does a Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Do?

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.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
• 2Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
• 3Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
• 4Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
• 5Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
• 6Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
• 7Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
• 8Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.

Required Skills

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Timekeeping software

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary