Project
Contents
A Short History of the Grand Trunk
Pacific
The Grand Trunk Pacific
Timeline
Rail Beds and Trestle Bridge Construction
The Impact of the GTP on Rivers and the
R.M. of Daly
The Roundhouse and Shops
Train Wrecks and Other Mishaps
Labour Unrest on the GTP
The Alsford Murder Trial
Railway Facilities in Rivers – A
Pictorial Tour
The Railway Dam & Pumphouse
Notable People in the Grand Trunk Story
Railway
Job Descriptions and Terms
Excepts from Railway Manuals
HOME
|
Working on the
Railroad
(Job
Descriptions)
A component of…
The
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in Rivers, Manitoba
A Project
of The Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee
2014
Rivers-Wilson, Sir Charles
Working on the Railroad ( Job Descriptions)
Passenger Train Personnel
Station Master/Depot Agent:
Oversees operations
connected with railroad
building adjacent to tracks, where passengers and freight may be
located.
Ticket Clerk:
Stationed at the ticket window, this
person provides
tickets and tour information to passengers.
Baggage Clerk:
Responsible for tagging baggage,
loading, unloading and
routing baggage en route between destinations.
Postal Clerk:
Survey and Construction Personnel
Civil Engineer:
An engineer whose training or
occupation is in the
designing and construction of public or private works, such as
railroads.
Surveyor
:
One who applies geometry and
trigonometry to determine the
area of any portion of the earth's surface, the lengths and directions
of the bounding lines, and the contour of the surface, and accurately
delineates the whole on paper.
Track Layer:
One who lays the rails in place on the
rail bed.
Grader:
Grades and shapes the continuous, level,
raised bed on which
tracks and ties are laid.
Teamster
:
One who drives a team of horses, mules or
other draft
animals. Precursor to the Teamster's Union.
Train Crew
Engineer:
Responsible for operating the locomotive.
Conductor:
In charge of train in its entirety, and
of the train crew at
large.
Brakeman:
Inspects the train, assists the
conductor, operates the
brakes and assists in switching.
Fireman,
Steam locomotive:
Crew who feeds the
firebox with fuel.
On diesel locomotives, the firemen would monitor controls and assist
the engineer.
Yard or Field Operations
Switchman:
Attends the switch in a railroad yard,
switching trains
from one track to another.
Signal Maintainer:
Maintains signals,
including those of hot box
detectors, dragging equipment detectors, railroading crossings, CTC and
formerly telegraph lines.
Section Foreman:
ndividual in authority over group
of workers.
Section Crew:
Group of workers responsible for
assisting in yard
operations.
ROADMASTERS
1. Roadmasters report to, and receive their instructions from, the
Division Engineer in respect to all engineering matters, standards
employed, methods and manner of doing and prosecuting upkeep, repairs
and renewals, and shall report to the Superintendent on all other
matters.
2. They charge of the track, roadbed and right-of-way, and are
responsible for keeping everything pertaining to the roadway on their
territories in safe and proper repair.
SECTION FOREMEN
1. Section Foremen receive their instructions from, and report to, the
Roadmaster.
2. They have charge of the maintenance of track on their sections, and
are responsible for its safety.
3. They shall carry a reliable watch, and when practicable, compare
time each day with the clock at the nearest telegraph office, or with
the Conductor of a train or Foreman of adjoining section.
4. They shall know the time of all regular trains at all points on
their sections.
They, with their men, shall watch passing trains for dragging brake
beams or rods, broken arch bars, couplers partially pulled and other
easily visible defects on cars or coaches :
TRACK WALKING AND INSPECTION
1. Men going out to watch track in storms or in ordinary track walking,
shall have with them the prescribed signals with which to stop trains.
(See Flagging Rules 64 to 81 inclusive). They shall have with them a
copy of the current timetable, and must understand its use and know the
times of all regular trains at any point at which they may be working.
During, and for sufficient time after heavy rainstorms, all waterways
shall be carefully watched and all obstructions removed therefrom.
|
