How do they match: Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

  • Car Coupler
  • Car Hopper
  • Car Rider
  • Car Runner
  • Car Shifter
  • Car Shunter

  • Climb ladders to tops of cars to set brakes.
  • Connect air hoses to cars, using wrenches.
  • Inspect tracks, cars, and engines for defects and to determine service needs, sending engines and cars for repairs as necessary.
  • Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
  • Raise levers to couple and uncouple cars for makeup and breakup of trains.
  • Receive oral or written instructions from yardmasters or yard conductors indicating track assignments and cars to be switched.
  • Record numbers of cars available, numbers of cars sent to repair stations, and types of service needed.
  • Ride atop cars that have been shunted, and turn handwheels to control speeds or stop cars at specified positions.
  • Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
  • Signal other workers to set brakes and to throw track switches when switching cars from trains to way stations.