Job Description

General Purpose

The Conductor position will be to control and coordinate the train movements while switching railcars whether in the yard of a railroad, industrial plant, or similar location to facilitate the unloading and loading of railcars in a safe and efficient manner to service our customers. This position is a manual labor position which requires that the individual become proficient in the following skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training and introductory period.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance.
• Follow written and verbal directions to complete assigned tasks on schedule.
• Read, write, and communicate in English & understand basic math.
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes and apply procedures using good judgment
• Inspects locomotive before run to verify specified fuel, sand, water, and all FRA requirements.
• Reads switching orders from designated person.
• Observes radio and hand signals in yard or in cab and operates locomotive in accordance with railroad rules and regulations.
• Observes arm or lantern signal and moves controls to move locomotive backwards or forwards to switch and couple cars; or receives starting signal and moves control; such as throttle and air brakes to operate locomotive.
• Reads and interprets wayside signals, track warrants and bulletins, and railroad rules and regulations to operate locomotive, following safety rules and regulations and time schedule.
• Talks to crew or other yard workers via radio to give or receive switching information.
• Confers with train dispatcher via radio to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
• May assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations.
• Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake and tie handbrakes.
• Observes track to detect obstructions.
• Inspects locomotive after run to detect damaged or defective equipment.
• Maintains records, number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
• May coordinate activities of switching crew from locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower.
• Raises coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars.
• Throws track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signals Engineer to move cars, using lantern, arm signals or radio.
• Climbs ladder to top of car, rides atop cars, and turns hand wheel to set brakes or to control the speed of the car when it has been shunted.
• Connects air hose to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
• May walk along tops of cars and peer down between them to inspect couplings, air hoses, and journal boxes.
• May set warning signals, such as flares, flags, lanterns, or torpedoes at front of and at rear of train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
• Sits or rides in cab of locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
• May make minor repairs to couplings, air hoses and journal boxes, and report any equipment requiring major repairs.
• Performs other duties as requested or required

 
Machines, Tools, Special Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment Used

• Hammers, ratchets, chisel, pry bar, wrenches, and brushes.
• PPE; hard hat, vest, safety glasses, FR clothing, gloves, steel toed boots

 
Requirements

• High school education or general education development (GED).
• Ability to pass training and required testing.

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