Railway Transportation Workers Railway Transportation Workers Railway transportation workers operate trains and subways. Railway transportation workers move people and materials around town or between cities. The workers on a train include engineers, conductors, and brake operators. Engineers operate trains in yards, stations, and over the track between stations. For more information about engineers, see the Railroad Engineers CIS occupation.
Conductors are in charge of the train and yard crews.
On passenger trains, assistant conductors help conductors collect tickets and assist passengers. For more information about conductors, see the Railroad Conductors CIS occupation. Brake operators do the physical work involved in adding and removing cars at stations and train yards. Before the train leaves, brake operators inspect the train for safety. They check that air hoses and couplers are fastened, that handbrakes are released, and that air brakes are working.