Will “Railroad Track Mechanic” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
89% Chance of Automation
“Railroad Track Mechanic” will probably be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #528 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
Lay, repair, and maintain track for standard or narrow-gauge railroad equipment used in regular railroad service or in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits, and mines. Includes ballast cleaning machine operators and railroad bed tamping machine operators.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-4061.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 52,810.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 25.00
- Currently, there are 14,250 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators”.
Also Known As…
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
- Trackman
- Track Walker
- Track Supervisor
- Track Repairer
- Track Maintainer
- Track Laborer
- Track Inspector
- Track Equipment Operator (TEO)
- Rail Maintenance Worker
- Machine Operator
- Trackwalker
- Track Welder
- Track Surfacing Machine Operator
- Track Service Worker
- Track Service Person
- Track Repair Worker
- Track Repair Person
- Track Moving Machine Operator
- Track Mechanic
- Track Man
- Track Machine Operator Repairer
- Track Laying Machine Operator
- Track Laying Equipment Operator
- Track Layer
- Track Grinder Operator
- Track Dresser
- Stone Crusher Operator
- Slab Lifting Supervisor
- Section Laborer
- Section Hand
- Section Gang
- Railway Equipment Operator
- Rail Track Maintainer
- Rail Track Layer
- Portable Grinding Machine Operator
- Operator
- Oil Distributor Tender
- Emergency Service Restorer
- Ballast Cleaning Machine Operator
Tasks for “Railroad Track Mechanic”
- Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
- Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails.
- Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment.
- Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved.
- String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled.
- Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
- Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
- Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike driving machines to drive spikes into ties and secure rails.
- Dress and reshape worn or damaged railroad switch points or frogs, using portable power grinders.
- Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders.
- Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
- Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks.
- Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails.
- Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
- Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings.
- Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties.
- Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
- Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
- Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
- Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
- Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
- Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
- Operate track-wrench machines to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
- Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications.
Related Technology & Tools
- Safety gloves
- Precision tape measures
- Dump trucks
- Power grinders
- Air purifying respirators
- Claw bars
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Crowbars
- Grease guns
- Handheld computers
- Rail tongs
- Weed cutters
- Forklifts
- Jackhammers
- Rail benders
- Welders
- Portable track loading fixtures
- Tracked bulldozers
- Spike pullers
- Fall protection harnesses
- Hi-rail vehicles
- Tamping machines
- Pesticide sprayers
- Picks
- Track chisels
- Safety glasses
- Rail profile grinders
- Backhoes
- Laptop computers
- Rail drills
- Pneumatic hammers
- Air-powered wrenches
- Track-wrench machines
- Grading equipment
- Air drills
- Light pickup trucks
- Oxyacetylene torches
- Rail saws
- Dollies
- Power washers
- Protective ear plugs
- Rail-mounted cranes
- Vernier calipers
- Hydraulic jacks
- Hard hats
- Shovels
- Gas-powered wrenches
- Precision files
- Shielded arc welding tools
- Microsoft Excel
- Timekeeping software
- Data entry software