Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
On the Job
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers drive locomotive or dinkey engines within a railroad yard, quarry, construction project, or similar location.
Physical Demands 
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
- Operate locomotives or other rail vehicles.
- Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
- Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
- Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
- Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Monitor traffic signals.
- Monitor vehicle movement or location.
- Connect cables or electrical lines.
Typical Working Conditions
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Working with a group or team.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Working in a closed vehicle or equipment.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
