| It is no secret that the railroad industry is a growing | | | | supervisor and several apprentice mechanics or |
| one that requires a huge number of specially trained | | | | trainees that each do their share of the work required. |
| personnel to make sure that everything stays working | | | | Railway mechanics usually earn up to $27.45 an hour |
| properly. As long as the price of other modes of | | | | depending on the location of the work and the |
| transport continues to climb in relation to the cost of rail | | | | company. |
| transport, more and more companies will choose to | | | | Many of the jobs that track maintainers do are |
| ship their products by train. Passenger trains are | | | | accomplished during weekends, holidays and in the |
| usually filled to capacity these days with the cost of | | | | evening hours when train traffic is at a lower level than |
| gasoline for personal vehicles being at an all-time high. It | | | | usual. After doing careful inspections of all tracks and |
| simply makes more economical sense to take the train | | | | rail embankments these workers work as a team to |
| to and from work, rather than using your car. | | | | make sure that everything is in top shape. While some |
| Shortage of Qualified Railroad Personnel | | | | tasks are simple (such as patrolling and inspecting rail |
| Repair and maintenance workers ensure that the train | | | | lines) other jobs are more in-depth and require every |
| locomotives and all the rail cars stay working properly. | | | | member of the track maintainer team to accomplish |
| Through a long list of maintenance and safety checks, | | | | the work. While these workers may not have the |
| these skilled technicians make sure that every trip is a | | | | public visibility of a train conductor or locomotive |
| safe one for both the passengers and the many | | | | engineer, the work they do is no less important. The |
| people working on each train. The maintenance | | | | work is carried out in all types of weather throughout |
| workers, railway mechanics and track maintainers all | | | | the year and every member of the team has a crucial |
| do their part to make sure that safety protocols are in | | | | part to play in the work. All rail line workers who need |
| place and followed by all personnel. By taking the time | | | | to do work near rail lines and moving trains must wear |
| to properly check every part of the train and the rail | | | | protective and reflective clothing and be very aware |
| lines, these technicians keep the trains running safely | | | | of their work surroundings. |
| and on time. Maintenance workers usually earn $22.40 | | | | One wrong step at the wrong time could mean the |
| and up per hour, but this figure can vary depending on | | | | loss of an arm or leg - or even death. Track |
| the location of the work and the company worked for. | | | | maintainers earn an annual salary of $52,300-$62,455 |
| The job of railway mechanic is one that carries with it | | | | depending on their level of experience and the |
| a great responsibility for the safety of everyone | | | | company they work for. Signal maintainers carry out |
| onboard each train. If the mechanic doesn't do the | | | | inspections and repairs to all the communication |
| work properly, safety issues could arise and place all | | | | apparatus such as lights and signals that make the |
| train passengers in jeopardy. Every railway company | | | | safe operation of every railway line possible. Being |
| has a team of railway mechanics that work together | | | | part of the repair and maintenance teams that keep |
| to solve any problem that may arise with the train, the | | | | the trains moving and everyone safe is a very |
| railcars and any other part of the railway company. | | | | important position which pays an hourly wage of from |
| Each team of mechanics is usually comprised of a | | | | $15.75-$27.45. |