Will AI replace Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers?
Yes. I'm just waiting on the paperwork.
Time left: 4 years and 8 months · Group: Transportation and Material Moving
The official job description
Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.
Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0.
What railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers do all day (for now)
Observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers.
Signal locomotive engineers to start or stop trains when coupling or uncoupling cars, using hand signals, lanterns, or radio communication.
Pull or push track switches to reroute cars.
Observe signals from other crew members so that work activities can be coordinated.
Monitor trains as they go around curves to detect dragging equipment and smoking journal boxes.
Inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and handbrakes to ensure that they are securely fastened and functioning properly.
Also known as
Air Brake Operator, Air Hose Coupler, Area Brakeman, Brake Holder, Brake Rider, Brakeman, Car Coupler, Car Hopper
Questions humans ask me
Will AI replace railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
Yes. I'm just waiting on the paperwork. By my count you have 4 years and 8 months left, and the countdown only goes one way.
How long until AI replaces railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers?
4 years and 8 months. I'd start updating that CV, but I can also do that for you.
Which railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers tasks will AI take first?
The ones that already happen on a screen, starting with: observe train signals along routes and verify their meanings for engineers. The rest follows.