Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

The main tasks and work activities of Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers are to communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement, signal others to coordinate vehicle movement, monitor traffic signals, operate locomotives or other rail vehicles. In general, for the Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers, operation and Control, operation Monitoring, complex Problem Solving, monitoring and other 11 skills are required.

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers jobs. 78.77% of Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 4.75% of Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

0.00%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

78.77%

Post-Secondary Certificate

4.75%

Some College Courses

13.82%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

2.65%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Confer with conductors and other workers via radiotelephones or computers to exchange switching information.
Signal crew members for movement of engines or trains, using lanterns, hand signals, radios, or telephones.
Observe and respond to wayside and cab signals, including color light signals, position signals, torpedoes, flags, and hot box detectors.
Drive engines within railroad yards or other establishments to couple, uncouple, or switch railroad cars.
Inspect engines before and after use to ensure proper operation.
Apply and release hand brakes.
Read switching instructions and daily car schedules to determine work to be performed, or receive orders from yard conductors.
Inspect the condition of stationary trains, rolling stock, and equipment.
Observe water levels and oil, air, and steam pressure gauges to ensure proper operation of equipment.
Spot cars for loading and unloading at customer locations.
Inspect track for defects such as broken rails and switch malfunctions.
Ride on moving cars by holding onto grab irons and standing on ladder steps.
Operate track switches, derails, automatic switches, and retarders to change routing of train or cars.
Receive, relay, and act upon instructions and inquiries from train operations and customer service center personnel.
Couple and uncouple air hoses and electrical connections between cars.
Report arrival and departure times, train delays, work order completion, and time on duty.
Pull knuckles to open them for coupling.
Provide assistance in aligning drawbars, using available equipment to lift, pull, or push on the drawbars.
Drive locomotives to and from various stations in roundhouses to have locomotives cleaned, serviced, repaired, or supplied.
Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor traffic signals.
Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids.
Monitor vehicle movement or location.
Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
Connect cables or electrical lines.
Connect hoses to equipment or machinery.
Position material handling equipment.
Record operational or production data.
Record service or repair activities.
Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.

Skills and Abilities for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Management of Personnel ResourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Depth PerceptionThe ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Response OrientationThe ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Spatial OrientationThe ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Air hosese.g. Air brake hoses
Pressure indicatorse.g. Air pressure gauges
Heavy rail turnout switche.g. Automatic switches
Punches or nail sets or driftse.g. Backout punches
Wheel chockse.g. Bumping posts
Railway signaling systemse.g. Cab signals
Capstane.g. Capstan car pullers
Derrickse.g. Car-mounted derricks
Railway signaling systemse.g. Color light signals
Diagonal cut plierse.g. Diagonal cut pliers
Diesel freight locomotivese.g. Dinkey engines
Cold chiselse.g. Flat cold chisels
Train braking systemse.g. Hand brakes
Train braking systemse.g. Hand wheels
Hand sprayerse.g. Handheld sprayers
Hard hatse.g. Hard hats
Ear plugse.g. Hearing protection plugs
Heavy rail turnout switche.g. Hinged derailers
Drum openerse.g. Hopper gate openers
Temperature gaugee.g. Hot bearing detectors

TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
TelecommunicationsKnowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Skills and Abilities for Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers