O*NET Career Intelligence

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

SOC 47-4061.00

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.

Green Occupation Zone 2 Construction and Extraction

Skills

Knowledge

Job Zone

Yes

Green

Top Skills 8

Operation Monitoring

3.8

Operation and Control

3.8

Equipment Maintenance

3.2

Troubleshooting

3.2

Critical Thinking

3.1

Monitoring

3.1

Coordination

3.1

Repairing

3.1

Knowledge Areas 8

Transportation

3.7

Mechanical

3.6

Building and Construction

3.5

Public Safety and Security

3.2

Administration and Management

3.0

Engineering and Technology

3.0

Mathematics

2.9

Education and Training

2.9

Key Tasks

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.

Also Known As

Ballast Cleaning Machine Operator Emergency Service Restorer Machine Operator Oil Distributor Tender Operator Portable Grinding Machine Operator Rail Maintenance Worker Rail Track Layer Rail Track Maintainer Railroad Track Mechanic