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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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72403.00 – Railway carmen/women

Railway carmen/women inspect, troubleshoot, maintain and repair structural and mechanical components of railway freight, passenger and urban transit rail cars. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Rail vehicle mechanic
  • Railway car inspector
  • Railway carman/woman
  • Railway carman/woman apprentice
  • Streetcar and subway car mechanic

Core competencies

  • Repairing and Troubleshooting to diagnose and resolve issues in complex rail systems and ensure all repairs are completed to a high standard
  • Quality Control Testing to ensure all components and systems meet safety and performance standards before the railway cars are put into service, such as testing brake systems or suspension components
  • Static Strength to perform manual adjustments, such as coupling mechanisms, require holding heavy tools or parts in position for extended periods
  • Multi-Limb Coordination to carry out repairs, such as aligning the components of wagons, which requires the synchronized limb actions of team members in environments that are often difficult to access or confined
  • Attention to Detail to thoroughly and precisely inspect, maintain and repair railway cars, ensuring all mechanical components and safety systems meet strict regulatory standards
  • Knowledge in Mechanics and Machinery to understand railway cars, including the function of different components, such as brakes, suspension systems and propulsion units

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Inspect interior and exterior components of freight, passenger and urban transit rail cars to determine defects and extent of wear and damage
  • Repair and install railway car parts such as compressors, air valves, bearings, couplings, air cylinders and piping
  • Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems
  • Repair defective or damaged metal and wood components, using hand and power tools
  • Repair and repaint wooden fixtures
  • Replace damaged windows and repair upholstery
  • Test and adjust parts using testing gauges and other test equipment
  • Perform and document routine maintenance.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

No data has been provided for this section.

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

72 – Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers

Sub-major group

724 – Technical maintenance trades

Minor group

7240 – Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles)

Unit group

72403 – Railway carmen/women

Occupational profile

72403.00 – Railway carmen/women

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 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. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.