Job Description:

• 1) Switches railroad cars within yard of railroad, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location to load and unload cars or to make up and break up trains: Receives oral or written instructions from CONDUCTOR, YARD indicating which cars are to be switched and track assignment.

• 2) Raises coupling lever to uncouple cars.

• 3) Signals SWITCH TENDER to throw track switches and YARD ENGINEER to move cars, using lantern or arm signals.

• 4) Climbs ladder to top of car and turns handwheel to set brakes or to control speed of car when it has been shunted.

• 5) Connects airhose to cars when making up trains, using wrench.

• 6) Throws track switches where no SWITCH TENDER is stationed to shunt cars to different sections of yard.

• 7) May talk to CONDUCTOR, YARD or YARD ENGINEER via radiophone to give or receive switching information.

• 8) May climb onto moving cars to set handbrakes and be designated Car Rider.

• 9) When employed by establishment other than railroad, may be designated Industrial-Yard Brake Coupler; or according to locomotive involved as Brake Coupler, Dinkey.