Talk to your school counselor about programs and classes like woodworking that are offered at your school so you can start learning skills that will get you started in this field.

Find a class to jump-start your construction skills.

Search online for how-to videos to see how hard this work is to master--and whether it's something you think you'd like. Does seeing this kind of work in action make you more interested in trying it?

Watch tutorials on how to do this kind of work.

Explore the Federal Railroad Administration's website to learn more about what they do and what their principles are. Are you interested in working in this field?

Learn more about the Federal Railroad Administration.

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

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.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Other Construction and Related Workers

Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.

Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.

Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.

Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.

Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.

Operate track wrenches to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.

Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.

Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.

Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.

Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Overview

Career

What Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Do

Other Job Titles Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Overview

Career

What Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Do

Other Job Titles Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders