Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

What Does a Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Do?

Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
• 2Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
• 3Receive information regarding train or rail problems from dispatchers or from electronic monitoring devices.
• 4Receive instructions from dispatchers regarding trains' routes, timetables, and cargoes.
• 5Direct and instruct workers engaged in yard activities, such as switching tracks, coupling and uncoupling cars, and routing inbound and outbound traffic.
• 6Operate controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
• 7Keep records of the contents and destination of each train car, and make sure that cars are added or removed at proper points on routes.
• 8Arrange for the removal of defective cars from trains at stations or stops.

Required Skills

• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Automated equipment identification AEI software
• Bourque Data Systems YardMaster
• Freight reservation software
• Inventory tracking software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Positive train control PTC systems

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters Salary