Profession rail maintenance technician

Rail maintenance technicians execute routine inspections of railway tracks, powerlines, signage stations, switches, and other railway infrastructure. They are also sent out to repair defects quickly, safely, and at any time of the day or night.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional
• Conventional / Realistic
• Enterprising / Realistic
• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Sensors

  Sensors are transducers that can detect or sense characteristics in their environment. They detect changes in the apparatus or environment and provide a corresponding optical or electrical signal. Sensors are commonly divided in six classes: mechanical, electronic, thermal, magnetic, electrochemical, and optical sensors.

• Mechanics

  Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

• Electricity

  Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

• Mechanics of trains

  Possess basic knowledge of the mechanics involved in trains, understand the technicalities and participate in discussions on related topics in order to solve problems related to the mechanics.

• Characteristics of wheel rail interface

  Thoroughly understand the forces of physics involved in the interaction between the wheels and the rail, possible rail defects, maintenance practices, and cost implications.

Skills

• Test sensors

  Test sensors using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.

• Advise on railway infrastructure repairs

  Formulate advice on maintenance, repair or upgrades of the inspected railroad infrastructure.

• Follow health and safety procedures in construction

  Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.

• Maintain sensor equipment

  Diagnose and detect malfunctions in sensor components, systems, and products using sensors and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance tasks, such as storing the components in clean, dust-free, and non-humid spaces.

• Inspect construction supplies

  Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.

• Inspect railways visually

  Visually check the integrity of train tracks, sleepers, and ballast. This is usually done in reaction to reports from workers or detections by sensors.

• Monitor stationary rail sensors

  Monitor a variety of sensors, such as heat sensors and wheel impact load sensors, that detect flaws in railway and train operations. Check the output from the sensors from a distance or visit the location.

• Record test data

  Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.

• Interpret graphical recordings of rail-flaw-detection machine

  Read, analyse and interpret the graphical recordings issued by the rail-flaw-detection machine in order to detect errors or flaws in rails.

• Use safety equipment in construction

  Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.

• Inspect rail from track inspection vehicle

  Monitor the output from various sensors that detect flaws in a railroad track, including laser sensors which scan for discontinuities, microphone sensors, gyroscopes which detect tilt, and others.

• Write rail defect records

  Compose documents and reports on the nature of rail defects investigated, position of defect in rail, location, etc.

• Detect rail track malfunctions

  Identify and analyse damage or malfunctions in the mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic equipment of rail track; determine necessary maintenance and repair work.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB