How do they match: Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

  • Engine Supervisor
  • Engineer
  • Locomotive Engineer

  • Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.

  • Record departure and arrival times, messages, tickets and revenue collected, and passenger accommodations and destinations.
  • Confer with engineers regarding train routes, timetables, and cargoes, and to discuss alternative routes when there are rail defects or obstructions.
  • Direct engineers to move cars to fit planned train configurations, combining or separating cars to make up or break up trains.
  • Inspect freight cars for compliance with sealing procedures, and record car numbers and seal numbers.
  • Keep records of the contents and destination of each train car, and make sure that cars are added or removed at proper points on routes.
  • Review schedules, switching orders, way bills, and shipping records to obtain cargo loading and unloading information and to plan work.
  • Signal engineers to begin train runs, stop trains, or change speed, using telecommunications equipment or hand signals.
  • Verify accuracy of timekeeping instruments with engineers to ensure trains depart on time.

  • Record operational details of travel.
  • Record operational or production data.