According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Record conditions of cars, and repair and maintenance work performed or to be performed. | 84% |
| Inspect components such as bearings, seals, gaskets, wheels, and coupler assemblies to determine if repairs are needed. | 84% |
| Repair or replace defective or worn parts such as bearings, pistons, and gears, using hand tools, torque wrenches, power tools, and welding equipment. | 82% |
| Inspect the interior and exterior of rail cars coming into rail yards to identify defects and to determine the extent of wear and damage. | 81% |
| Remove locomotives, car mechanical units, or other components, using pneumatic hoists and jacks, pinch bars, hand tools, and cutting torches. | 80% |
| Test units for operability before and after repairs. | 78% |
| Adjust repaired or replaced units as needed to ensure proper operation. | 78% |
| Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems. | 78% |
| Disassemble units such as water pumps, control valves, and compressors so that repairs can be made. | 78% |
| Measure diameters of axle wheel seats, using micrometers, and mark dimensions on axles so that wheels can be bored to specified dimensions. | 72% |
| Repair, fabricate, and install steel or wood fittings, using blueprints, shop sketches, and instruction manuals. | 72% |
| Perform scheduled maintenance, and clean units and components. | 71% |
| Examine car roofs for wear and damage, and repair defective sections, using roofing material, cement, nails, and waterproof paint. | 70% |
| Test electrical systems of cars by operating systems and using testing equipment such as ammeters. | 69% |
| Paint car exteriors, interiors, and fixtures. | 66% |
| Replace defective wiring and insulation, and tighten electrical connections, using hand tools. | 66% |
| Install and repair interior flooring, fixtures, walls, plumbing, steps, and platforms. | 66% |
| Repair window sash frames, attach weather stripping and channels to frames, and replace window glass, using hand tools. | 61% |
| Align car sides for installation of car ends and crossties, using width gauges, turnbuckles, and wrenches. | 60% |
| Repair car upholstery. | 47% |
