National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
- 7 - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- 74 - Mail and message distribution, other transport equipment operators and related maintenance workers
- 742 - Transport equipment operators, utility maintenance and related workers
- 7420 - Transport equipment operators, utility maintenance and related maintenance workers
74200 - Railway yard and track maintenance workers
Railway yard workers regulate yard traffic, couple and uncouple trains and perform related yard activities. Railway track maintenance workers operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks. They are employed by railway transport companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- ballast regulator operator - railway
- car controller - railway
- control tower operator - railway
- machine operator - railway
- rail saw operator
- railway equipment operator
- railway track patroller
- railway trackman/woman
- section worker - railway
- signal tower operator - railway
- spike machine operator - railway
- switch tender - railway yard
- tie tamper operator - railway
- towerman/woman - railway transport
- yard coupler - railway
- yard worker - railway
Inclusion(s)
- motor vehicle operator - pole yard
Exclusion(s)
- Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews (See 72021 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
- Railway and motor transport labourers (See 75211 Railway and motor transport labourers)
- Railway conductors and brakemen/women (See 73311 Railway conductors and brakemen/women)
- Supervisors, railway transport operations (See 72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations)
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Railway yard workers
- Operate control panel switches from railway yard tower to set traffic signals and to activate train switches that regulate railway traffic in railway yards
- Operate car retarders, turntables and track switches to align locomotives and cars as required for coupling, uncoupling or servicing
- Switch cars according to instructions which indicate the location, disposition and number of cars
- Lubricate moving parts of railway cars and locomotives.
Railway track maintenance workers
- Operate machines and equipment such as sleeper sliders, anchors, rail lifters, drag drills, drag diggers, rail saws and tie-bar cranes to lay, maintain, repair, and align railway 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
- Perform other track maintenance duties as directed.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
- Experience as a railway labourer is required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
- Railway yard workers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
Additional information
- Progression to a position such as brakeman is possible with experience.
- Date modified: