What does a yard engineer do?

Answer 1

• Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.
• Confer with conductors and other workers via radio-telephones or computers to exchange switching information.
• Apply and release hand brakes.
• Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
• Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges in order to ensure proper operation of equipment.

• Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.
• Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.
• Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
• Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
• Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.
• Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.
• Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations.
• Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.
• Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.
• Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.
• Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.
• Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.
• Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps.
• Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.
• Perform routine repair and maintenance duties.
• Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
• Operate flatcars equipped with derricks or railcars to transport personnel or equipment.
• Provide assistance in the installation or repair of rails and ties.
• Operate and control dinkey engines to transport and shunt cars at industrial or mine sites.
• Operate switching diesel engines to switch railroad cars, using remote controls.