Rail Car Repairers

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

• 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 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.
• 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.

Supplemental Tasks Include:

• 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.
• Repair car upholstery.
• Repair window sash frames, attach weather stripping and channels to frames, and replace window glass, using hand tools.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet28)