HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A typical pathway is to finish secondary school, with English, math and shop or mechanical courses often helpful. Many employers provide on-the-job training for basic track maintenance, safe tool use, railway rules and machine operation. Some students first look for entry-level outdoor or labour jobs, such as construction, grounds work, or other equipment-based work, to build strength, safety habits and teamwork skills. Requirements can vary by employer, province and job duties, so some roles may ask for extra training or experience with heavy equipment or rail operations.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Operate machines and equipment such as tie cutters, tie injectors, tie anchors, rail lifters, spike drivers, spike pullers, rail saws and tie cranes to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks
- Operate machines and equipment to align tracks, to transfer, spread, level and tamp ballast around ties and rails and to clear snow from tracks
- Clean and make minor repairs to machines and equipment
- Patrol assigned track sections to identify and report damaged or broken track
- Shovel ice and snow from track switch boxes
- Perform other track maintenance duties as directed.
SKILLS TO BUILD
Skills used in this Career
Following directionsMachineryPhysical/outdoor workSafety Procedures