Nature of the Work:
Railroad conductors and yard conductors are in charge
of the train and yard crews. Conductors assigned to
freight trains keep records of each car's contents and destination
and make sure that cars are added and removed at the
proper points along the route. Conductors assigned to
passenger trains collect tickets and fares and assist passengers. Yard
conductors supervise the crews that assemble and
disassemble trains. Conductors tell engineers where to move cars.
They tell brake operators which cars to couple and uncouple
and which switches to throw to divert the locomotive or cars
to the proper track. In yards that have automatic
classification systems, conductors use electrical remote controls to
operate the track switches that route cars to the correct track.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
Most railroad transportation workers begin as trainees
for either engineer or brake operator jobs. Railroads prefer
that applicants have a high school education. Applicants
must have good hearing, eyesight, and color vision, as well as
good handeye coordination, manual dexterity, and mechanical
aptitude. Physical stamina is required for brake operator
jobs. Most employers require that applicants for railroad
transportation jobs pass a physical examination and tests that
screen for drug use.
Job Outlook:
Overall employment of rail transportation workers is
expected to increase about as fast as the average for all
occupations through the year 2005, ending a longterm decline
in employment in railroad operating occupations. Many
additional job openings for rail transportation workers will
also arise as workers retire or leave jobs for other reasons.
Employment of subway operators is expected to grow much
faster than the average for all occupations as more cities build new
subway systems and add new lines to existing systems.
Because subway operator jobs offer relatively high earnings
and do not require education beyond high school, applicants
can expect to face considerable competition for available
positions.
Sources of Additional Information:
Information on employment opportunities for railroad transportation
workers may be obtained from the employment offices of the various
railroads and rail transit systems, or state employment service offices.
For general information about career opportunities in passenger transportation, contact:
American Public Transit Association
1201 New York Ave. NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
