Railroad Conductor

The Conductor/Switchman position at Watco Corp is responsible for controlling and coordinating train movements while switching railcars in a safe and efficient manner. This role requires manual labor and involves becoming proficient in various skills, duties, and requirements within a prescribed training period.

• Ensure predictable and reliable attendance.
• Follow written and verbal directions to complete assigned tasks on schedule.
• Read, write, and communicate in English, and understand basic math.
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes, and apply procedures using good judgment.
• Read switching orders from designated personnel.
• Supervise and coordinate the activities of train crews.
• Receive oral or written instructions from the Manager or Customer indicating which cars are to be switched.
• Notify the engineer of switching orders and specify which cars are to be moved to designated locations in the yard.
• Communicate with crew members or other yard workers via radio to exchange switching information.
• Confer with the train dispatcher via radio to issue or receive information or instructions concerning stops, delays, or oncoming trains.
• Provide instructions to throw track switches and couple or uncouple cars.
• May assist workers in throwing switches or performing other activities involved in switching operations.
• Operate the hand brake wheel or ratchet-type brake to apply and release handbrakes.
• Monitor the track to detect obstructions.
• Maintain records of the number, origin, destination, and cargo of cars switched.
• May coordinate activities of the switching crew from the locomotive cab, caboose, or control tower.
• Raise the coupling lever to couple or uncouple cars.
• Throw track switches to facilitate shunting of cars and signal the engineer to move cars using lanterns, arm signals, or radio.
• Connect air hoses to cars when making up trains by bending and applying force.
• May set warning signals, such as flares, flags, or lanterns, at the front and rear of the train during emergency stops to warn oncoming trains.
• Sit or ride in the cab of the locomotive to observe signals from other crew members.
• May make minor repairs to couplings and air hoses and report any equipment requiring major repairs.
• Communicate with the dispatcher via radio to exchange switching information.

• High school education or general education (GED) or 3 to 6 months of job-related experience, or equivalent education and experience.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.