Rail Operations Pro: Conductor & Engineer Career Path

Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Paid on-the-job training

Career development programs

Job summary

Watco is seeking conductors and engineers to control and coordinate train movements while switching railcars at yards, industrial plants, or similar locations to ensure safe loading and unloading for customers.

This is a manual labor position with a prescribed training period; you will read switching orders, operate locomotives, observe signals, and maintain records while following railroad rules and safety procedures.

Qualifications

• Ability to pass training and required testing

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
• Reads switching orders from designated person
• Supervises and coordinates the activities of train crews
• 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
• Receives oral or written instructions from Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched
• Notifies engineer of switching orders and, whereby, which cars are to be moved to specified locations of yard, using radio, telephone, verbal or hand signals
• 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
• Gives instructions to throw track switches and to couple and uncouple cars
• May assist workers to throw switches or perform other activities involved when performing switching operations
• Turns hand brake wheel or ratchet type brake as well as apply and release 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
• Connects airhose to cars when making up trains by bendingand applyingforce
• 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, and air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs
• May talk to Engineer via radio to give or receive switching information
• Performs other duties as requested or required

Job description

Watco is seeking conductors and engineers to control and coordinate train movements while switching railcars at yards, industrial plants, or similar locations to ensure safe loading and unloading for customers.

This is a manual labor position with a prescribed training period; you will read switching orders, operate locomotives, observe signals, and maintain records while following railroad rules and safety procedures.