Rail Car Repairers

Career Description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

Industry: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Other Job Titles for Rail Car Repairers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment.
• Test units for operability before and after repairs.
• Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed.
• Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches.
• Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed.
• Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards in order to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage.
• Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation.
• Perform scheduled maintenance, and clean units and components.
• Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals.
• Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems.
• Disassemble units such as water pumps, control valves, and compressors so that repairs can be made.
• Measure diameters of axle wheel seats, using micrometers, and mark dimensions on axles so that wheels can be bored to specified dimensions.
• Align car sides for installation of car ends and crossties, using width gauges, turnbuckles, and wrenches.
• Replace defective wiring and insulation, and tighten electrical connections, using hand tools.
• Test electrical systems of cars by operating systems and using testing equipment such as ammeters.
• Install and repair interior flooring, fixtures, walls, plumbing, steps, and platforms.
• Examine car roofs for wear and damage, and repair defective sections, using roofing material, cement, nails, and waterproof paint.
• Paint car exteriors, interiors, and fixtures.
• Repair car upholstery.
• Repair window sash frames, attach weather stripping and channels to frames, and replace window glass, using hand tools.
• Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations where they are to be used.
• Cut out sections around cracks on percussion instruments to prevent cracks from advancing, using shears or grinding wheels.
• Refinish and polish piano cabinets or cases to prepare them for sale.
• Solder or weld frames of mallet instruments and metal drum parts.
• Remove drumheads by removing tension rods with drum keys and cutting tools.
• Assemble bars onto percussion instruments.
• Remove irregularities from tuning pins, strings, and hammers of pianos, using wood blocks or filing tools.
• Travel to locations such as churches and concert halls to work on pipe-organs.
• Repair breaks in percussion instruments such as drums and cymbals, using drill presses, power saws, glue, clamps, grinding wheels, or other hand tools.
• Clean, sand, and paint parts of percussion instruments to maintain their condition.
• Replace xylophone bars and wheels.
• Strike wood, fiberglass, or metal bars of instruments, and use tuned blocks, stroboscopes, or electronic tuners to evaluate tones made by instruments.
• Place rim hoops back onto drum shells to allow new drumheads to dry and become taut.
• Assemble and install new pipe organs and pianos in buildings.
• Cut new drumheads from animal skins, using scissors, and soak drumheads in water to make them pliable.
• Stretch drumheads over rim hoops and tuck them around and under the hoops, using hand tucking tools.
• Remove material from bars of percussion instruments to obtain specified tones, using bandsaws, sanding machines, machine grinders, or hand files and scrapers.
• Adjust lips, reeds, or toe holes of organ pipes to regulate airflow and loudness of sound, using hand tools.
• File metal reeds until their pitches correspond with standard tuning bar pitches.

Emerging Tasks

• Service tires by mounting, balancing, changing, and checking tire condition and pressure.
• Research, order, and maintain parts inventory for services and repairs.
• Troubleshoot problem equipment, electrical components, hydraulics, and other mechanical systems.
• Weld, repair, and fabricate various equipment and machinery.
• Unlock cars and other vehicles.
• Order bicycle parts.
• Sell bicycles and accessories.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to safety procedures
• adjust or set mechanical controls or components
• align or adjust clearances of mechanical components or parts
• align or adjust clearances of vehicle body parts or components
• align vehicle frame
• assemble and install pipe sections, fittings, or plumbing fixtures
• burn (cut), trim, or scarf metal objects
• clean equipment or machinery
• conduct tests to locate mechanical system malfunction
• construct, erect, or repair wooden frameworks or structures
• cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
• determine installation, service, or repair needed
• diagnose mechanical problems in machinery or equipment
• erect scaffold
• examine locomotives or cars to detect damage or structural defects
• examine vehicle to detect malfunctions, damage, or maintenance needed
• fabricate sheet metal parts or items
• fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
• identify base metals for welding
• inspect machinery or equipment to determine adjustments or repairs needed
• install or replace glass in windows, skylights, or other structural surfaces
• install shingles, tile, slate, asphalt, or related roofing materials
• maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
• maintain repair records
• maintain welding machines or equipment
• move or fit heavy objects
• operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
• operate vacuum or air hose
• perform safety inspections in industrial, manufacturing or repair setting
• read blueprints
• read specifications
• read tape measure
• read technical drawings
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• repair commercial transportation equipment
• repair or replace electrical wiring, circuits, fixtures, or equipment
• repair or replace malfunctioning or worn mechanical components
• set up and operate variety of machine tools
• test electrical/electronic wiring, equipment, systems or fixtures
• test mechanical products or equipment
• understand service or repair manuals
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use acetylene welding/cutting torch
• use arc welding equipment
• use basic carpentry techniques
• use basic plumbing techniques
• use combination welding procedures
• use electronic calibration devices
• use hand or power tools
• use hand or power woodworking tools
• use knowledge of welding filler rod types
• use machine tools in installation, maintenance, or repair
• use measuring devices in repairing industrial or heavy equipment
• use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
• use turnbuckle in structural repair or assembly work
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• use knowledge of metric system
• use knowledge of welding filler rod types
• use machine tools in installation, maintenance, or repair
• use measuring devices in repairing industrial or heavy equipment
• use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
• use soldering equipment
• use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• use high voltage apparatus
• use knowledge of metric system
• use knowledge of welding filler rod types
• use machine tools in installation, maintenance, or repair
• use measuring devices in repairing industrial or heavy equipment
• use pipe fitting equipment
• use pneumatic tools
• use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
• use pressure gauges
• use robotics systems technology
• use soldering equipment
• verify levelness or verticality, using level or plumb bob
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• work as a team member
• use building materials for routine building maintenance
• use combination welding procedures
• use control or regulating devices to adjust or maintain industrial machinery
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use hand or power tools
• use hand or power woodworking tools
• use high voltage apparatus
• use knowledge of metric system
• use knowledge of ventilation systems
• use knowledge of welding filler rod types
• use machine tools in installation, maintenance, or repair
• use measuring devices in repairing industrial or heavy equipment
• use pipe fitting equipment
• use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
• use precision tools in electronics repair
• use pressure gauges
• use soldering equipment
• use tube bending equipment
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
• verify levelness or verticality, using level or plumb bob
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures

Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$21.62
• Average annual wage (2007) - $44,970.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 5.07%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 1,348
• Employment (2006): 26,578

• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
• Motorboat Mechanics
• Motorcycle Mechanics
• Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
• Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
• Sewing Machine Operators
• Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
• Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers