Occupation · SOC 47-4061
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
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.
Median wage
$67,370
$45,720–$84,840
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
16,480
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
26 mapped
Core skills
Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlTroubleshootingEquipment MaintenanceRepairingQuality Control AnalysisMonitoringCritical ThinkingCoordinationTime ManagementJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessEquipment SelectionActive LearningManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesReading ComprehensionInstructingWritingService OrientationMathematicsSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisPersuasionNegotiationManagement of Material ResourcesTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesInstallationScienceProgramming
Knowledge areas
TransportationMechanicalBuilding and ConstructionPublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementEngineering and TechnologyMathematicsEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguagePhysicsDesignAdministrativePersonnel and Human ResourcesLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsGeographyChemistryPsychologySales and MarketingComputers and ElectronicsEconomics and AccountingCommunications and MediaBiologyMedicine and DentistrySociology and AnthropologyForeign LanguageHistory and ArcheologyTherapy and CounselingFood ProductionPhilosophy and TheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareTimekeeping software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsHandling and Moving ObjectsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersThinking CreativelyProcessing InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleScheduling Work and ActivitiesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDocumenting/Recording InformationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesAnalyzing Data or InformationDeveloping and Building TeamsCoaching and Developing OthersTraining and Teaching OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesAssisting and Caring for OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Assigned track sections — patrol on foot under direct supervision to identify and report visible damage, broken rails, or loose spikes along active rail corridors.Basic hand tools and wrenches — use under close direction to assist in loosening or tightening bolts at rail joints on a maintenance crew.Track switch components — identify replacement parts and assist experienced operators in basic switch adjustments under direct crew supervision.Leveling indicator arms — observe and read under guidance to verify initial levelness and alignment of rails during a supervised track inspection.Spike driving machine controls — learn proper startup, shutdown, and single-head operation procedures under direct trainer oversight on a live track section.Hydraulic reservoirs, oil levels, and lubrication points — check and fill to specified levels following written maintenance checklists on track equipment.Rail saw safety protocols — follow designated procedures when handling and positioning rail saws during supervised rail-cutting tasks.Personal protective equipment and site safety rules — apply consistently when entering track right-of-way in compliance with crew safety briefings.Track maintenance terminology and equipment names — recognize and use correctly when communicating with crew leads during daily work assignments.Time accounting and daily work logs — complete basic entries under supervisor direction to record hours and tasks performed on assigned track segments.
developing
Patrol routes along assigned track sections — conduct independently on a recurring schedule, documenting defects and submitting reports to the maintenance supervisor.Track wrenches and powered torque equipment — operate with routine proficiency to tighten or loosen rail joint bolts to specified torque values without direct oversight.Track switch parts and wrenches — repair or adjust malfunctioning switches in familiar field conditions, escalating complex faults to senior crew members.Leveling indicator readings — interpret and compare against track geometry standards, making minor alignment corrections during routine resurfacing operations.Single- and multiple-head spike driving machines — operate across standard track configurations, adjusting driving depth and sequence to meet tie-spacing specifications.Rail saws — cut rails to specified lengths in the field, selecting appropriate blade settings based on rail profile and environmental conditions.Equipment maintenance schedules — perform oil changes, hydraulic fluid top-offs, and lubrication tasks on track machinery in accordance with manufacturer intervals.Troubleshooting common machine malfunctions — diagnose and resolve routine hydraulic and mechanical issues on spike drivers and track wrenches during a work shift.Coordination with flagging and signal personnel — communicate clearly to manage track occupancy windows and protect crew safety during active maintenance windows.Spreadsheet and time accounting software — enter production data, material usage, and labor hours accurately to support crew reporting requirements.
proficient
Track defect assessments across extended patrol zones — conduct autonomously, applying critical judgment to prioritize urgent repairs versus scheduled maintenance based on defect severity.Welding equipment and techniques — weld switch points, frogs, and rail sections together in varied weather and track conditions to meet Federal Railroad Administration standards.Complex track switch repairs — diagnose, adjust, and restore full switch function independently, using wrenches, replacement components, and precision measurement tools.Track geometry alignment data — analyze leveling indicator outputs across multiple passes to identify systematic misalignment and direct corrective tamping or surfacing operations.Full spike driving operations — oversee and execute both single- and multiple-head driving sequences on curved and tangent track, ensuring consistent spike seating and rail anchorage.Rail cutting operations — select cutting sequences, manage thermal expansion considerations, and verify finished rail lengths meet joint gap specifications in live track environments.Preventive maintenance programs — plan and execute scheduled equipment servicing across multiple machines, reducing unplanned downtime and extending service life.Non-routine mechanical failures — troubleshoot and repair infrequent or ambiguous equipment faults on track laying and maintenance machinery with minimal technical reference.Quality control inspections — apply quality control analysis to completed track segments, verifying spike pattern, bolt torque, weld integrity, and surface profile before returning track to service.ERP and office suite software — generate maintenance work orders, track material consumption, and produce compliance documentation for regulatory and internal reporting purposes.
advanced
Track maintenance programs across multiple assigned territories — develop and implement preventive and corrective strategies aligned with regulatory requirements and organizational capital budgets.Crew safety culture and cautiousness standards — establish, model, and enforce site safety protocols and right-of-way protection procedures across all maintenance and laying crews.Operator training curricula — design and deliver hands-on instruction for emerging and developing equipment operators covering machine operation, welding, and inspection techniques.Track quality benchmarks and inspection criteria — set department-wide quality control standards for rail alignment, weld integrity, and spike patterns, and audit crews for compliance.Complex or high-risk track repairs — lead technical decision-making for emergency switch failures, broken rail events, or derailment-related track restoration under time-critical conditions.Equipment fleet maintenance strategy — direct preventive maintenance schedules, capital replacement planning, and vendor coordination for spike drivers, rail saws, and tamping machines.Interdepartmental coordination — serve as the primary liaison between track maintenance crews, transportation operations, and engineering teams to schedule track outages with minimal service disruption.Regulatory and public safety compliance — interpret Federal Railroad Administration and state rail authority requirements and translate them into operational procedures followed by the entire maintenance workforce.Performance metrics and ERP reporting — analyze production, equipment availability, and defect-recurrence data to identify systemic inefficiencies and recommend resource reallocation to leadership.Organizational knowledge transfer — mentor senior operators in advanced welding, machine troubleshooting, and leadership skills to build succession depth across the track maintenance function.
Also known as
40 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Ballast Cleaning Machine OperatorEmergency Service RestorerMachine OperatorMaintenance LaborerOil Distributor TenderPortable Grinding Machine OperatorRail Maintenance WorkerRail Track LayerRail Track MaintainerRailroad Track MechanicRailway Equipment OperatorSection HandSection LaborerSpecial Equipment OperatorStone Crusher OperatorTrack DresserTrack Equipment Operator (TEO)Track Grinder OperatorTrack InspectorTrack LaborerTrack LayerTrack Laying Equipment OperatorTrack Laying Machine OperatorTrack Machine OperatorTrack Machine Operator RepairerTrack MaintainerTrack ManTrack MechanicTrack Moving Machine OperatorTrack Repair PersonTrack Repair WorkerTrack RepairerTrack Service PersonTrack Service WorkerTrack Surfacing Machine OperatorTrack WalkerTrack WelderTrack WorkerTrackmanTrackwalker