Will “Track Laying Machine Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
89% Chance of Automation
“Track Laying Machine Operator” 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 Equipment Operator
- Track Layer
- Track Grinder Operator
- Track Dresser
- Stone Crusher Operator
- Slab Lifting Supervisor
- Section Laborer
- Section Hand
- Section Gang
- Railway Equipment Operator
- Railroad Track Mechanic
- Rail Track Maintainer
- Rail Track Layer
- Portable Grinding Machine Operator
- Operator
- Oil Distributor Tender
- Emergency Service Restorer
- Ballast Cleaning Machine Operator
Tasks for “Track Laying Machine Operator”
- Spray ties, fishplates, or joints with oil to protect them from weathering.
- Drive vehicles that automatically move and lay tracks or rails over sections of track to be constructed, repaired, or maintained.
- Clean, grade, or level ballast on railroad tracks.
- Paint railroad signs, such as speed limits or gate-crossing warnings.
- Lubricate machines, change oil, or fill hydraulic reservoirs to specified levels.
- Drill holes through rails, tie plates, or fishplates for insertion of bolts or spikes, using power drills.
- Patrol assigned track sections so that damaged or broken track can be located and reported.
- Clean or make minor repairs to machines or equipment.
- String and attach wire-guidelines machine to rails so that tracks or rails can be aligned or leveled.
- 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.
- Clean tracks or clear ice or snow from tracks or switch boxes.
- Operate single- or multiple-head spike pullers to pull old spikes from ties.
- Repair or adjust track switches, using wrenches and replacement parts.
- Engage mechanisms that lay tracks or rails to specified gauges.
- Adjust controls of machines that spread, shape, raise, level, or align track, according to specifications.
- Turn wheels of machines, using lever controls, to adjust guidelines for track alignments or grades, following specifications.
- Operate tie-adzing machines to cut ties and permit insertion of fishplates that hold rails.
- Operate track-wrench machines to tighten or loosen bolts at joints that hold ends of rails together.
- Push controls to close grasping devices on track or rail sections so that they can be raised or moved.
- Grind ends of new or worn rails to attain smooth joints, using portable grinders.
- Raise rails, using hydraulic jacks, to allow for tie removal and replacement.
- Cut rails to specified lengths, using rail saws.
- Observe leveling indicator arms to verify levelness and alignment of tracks.
- Drive graders, tamping machines, brooms, or ballast spreading machines to redistribute gravel or ballast between rails.
- Weld sections of track together, such as switch points and frogs.
Related Technology & Tools
- Protective ear plugs
- Laptop computers
- Grading equipment
- Picks
- Hi-rail vehicles
- Rail profile grinders
- Hard hats
- Track chisels
- Power washers
- Pesticide sprayers
- Air-powered wrenches
- Backhoes
- Jackhammers
- Welders
- Shielded arc welding tools
- Forklifts
- Gas-powered wrenches
- Grease guns
- Rail saws
- Safety gloves
- Claw bars
- Rail drills
- Safety glasses
- Rail benders
- Shovels
- Power grinders
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Vernier calipers
- Oxyacetylene torches
- Dollies
- Air purifying respirators
- Light pickup trucks
- Fall protection harnesses
- Precision tape measures
- Rail-mounted cranes
- Air drills
- Precision files
- Spike pullers
- Portable track loading fixtures
- Tamping machines
- Dump trucks
- Track-wrench machines
- Rail tongs
- Hydraulic jacks
- Handheld computers
- Pneumatic hammers
- Tracked bulldozers
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Crowbars
- Weed cutters
- Microsoft Excel
- Data entry software
- Timekeeping software