7531 – Railway yard and track maintenance workers

Railway yard workers regulate yard traffic, couple and uncouple trains and perform related yard activities. Railway track maintenance workers operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks. They are employed by railway transport companies.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Aligner-tamper operator – railway

Anchor-applicator operator – railway

Automatic anchor-applicator operator – railway

Ballast regulator operator – railway

Ballast-equalizer operator – railway

Ballast-leveller operator – railway

Car controller – railway

Car retarder operator – railway yard

Control tower operator – railway

Coupler – railway yard

Fitter tracks – railway

Freight car distributor – railway yard

Gandy dancer – railway

Interlocking cabin switcher – railway yard

Interlocking signal box switcher – railway yard

Journal box greaser – railway yard

Lag bolter operator – railway

Locomotive attendant – railway yard

Locomotive distributor – railway yard

Locomotive engine servicer

Locomotive maintenance attendant

Locomotive servicer

Machine operator – railway

Maintenance of way employee – railway

Maintenance of way inspector – railway

Mechanical tamper operator – railway

Motor vehicle operator – pole yard

Rail grinder – railway

Rail sander

Rail saw operator

Rail saw operator – railway

Rail-aligner operator – railway

Rail-grinder operator – railway

Rail-lifter operator – railway

Railway car controller – railway yard

Railway car distributor

Railway car greaser

Railway car lubricating specialist

Railway car lubricator

Railway car oiler

Railway equipment operator

Railway line inspector

Railway maintenance equipment operator

Railway signalman/woman

Railway tank car servicer

Railway tie inspector

Railway track inspector

Railway track maintenance equipment operator

Railway track maintenance worker

Railway track patroller

Railway track repairer

Railway track tamper operator

Railway trackman/woman

Railway train engine maintenance worker

Railway-tie-injector operator

Retarder operator – railway yard

Section worker – railway

Signal tower operator – railway

Signalman/woman – railway transport

Snowblower operator – railway

Spike machine operator – railway

Spike puller machine operator – railway

Spike-driver operator – railway

Spiker operator – railway

Spiking machine operator – railway

Switch tender – railway yard

Switcher – railway yard

Switching station switcher – railway yard

Switchman/woman – railway

Tamper operator – railway

Tamper-aligner operator – railway

Tamping machine operator – railway

Tank car controller – railway yard

Tie axe unit operator – railway

Tie crane operator – railway

Tie plate jack operator – railway

Tie saw operator – railway

Tie shear operator – railway

Tie tamper operator – railway

Tie-bed-scarifier operator – railway

Tie-cutter operator – railway

Tie-cutting machine operator – railway

Tie-end-remover operator – railway

Tie-injector operator – railway

Tie-placer operator – railway

Tie-plate-placer operator – railway

Tower operator – railway transport

Towerman/woman – railway transport

Track broom machine operator – railway

Track dresser – railway

Track fitter – railway

Track layer – railway

Track maintenance worker – railway

Track repairman/woman – railway

Track tamper – railway

Track-liner operator – railway

Track-maintenance-machine operator – railway

Trackman/woman – railway yard

Trackmobile operator – railway

Track-surfacing machine operator – railway

Trackwalker – railway

Trainman/woman – railway yard

Transfer table operator – railway yard

Turntable operator – railway yard

Yard coupler – railway

Yard switchman/woman – railway transport

Yard trainman/woman

Yard worker – railway

Yardman/woman – railway

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Operate control panel switches from railway yard tower to set traffic signals and to activate train switches that regulate railway traffic in railway yards

Operate car retarders, turntables and track switches to align locomotives and cars as required for coupling, uncoupling or servicing

Operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks, align tracks, transfer, spread, level and tamp ballast around ties and rails and to clear snow from tracks

Switch cars according to instructions which indicate the location, disposition and number of cars

Lubricate moving parts of railway cars and locomotives

Clean and make minor repairs to machines and equipment

Patrol assigned track sections to identify and report damaged or broken track

Perform other track maintenance duties as directed.

Employment requirements

Some secondary school education is usually required.

Experience as a railway labourer is required.

On-the-job training is provided

Railway yard workers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.

Additional information

Progression to a position such as brakeman is possible with experience.

Exclusions

Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews (7302)

Railway and motor transport labourers (7622)

Railway conductors and brakemen/women (7362)

Supervisors of railway yard and track maintenance workers (in 7304 Supervisors, railway transport operations)