Railcar Repairman (Carman) - Portland, OR

About the role

Repairs, modifies, and upgrades rail cars. Rebuilds car components such as bolsters, side framers, hitch heads, and box car doors. Performs mechanical labor frequently (95% of the time).

Responsibilities

• Repairs and maintains railcars according to blueprints and specifications using hand tools, power tools, and precision measuring instruments.
• Inspects machines and equipment visually and by touch to locate causes of trouble.
• Operates forklift to move, align, and set parts in place.
• Measures, cuts, and threads pipes; replaces air lines using hand tools.
• Assembles subassemblies, major components, and equipment.
• Checks function to test for proper operation.
• Repairs broken parts using hand tools and welding equipment.
• Enters car repair information via electronic keyboard system.
• Maintains a clean work environment.
• May set up and operate metalworking tools such as welder or grinder.

Essential functions

• Welds (30% of time), fabricates, and uses cutting torch.
• Uses circular saw, air impacts (1/2", 3/4", 1"), air grinders (4", 7", 9"), air or hydraulic porta power pump and ram, various hand tools, hoist, and winch.
• Works with safety equipment including steel toe shoes, hard hat, ear plugs, safety glasses, welding shield, burning goggles, grinding shield, and proper clothing (long sleeve shirts and long pants while welding).

Physical requirements

• Standing, hearing, and seeing for 8 or 10 hours; handling for 6 hours; walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and fingering for 5 hours; reaching below waist, twisting, and feeling for 2 hours; sitting, climbing, balancing, crawling, reaching over head, and talking for 1 hour.
• Frequently: standing, kneeling, stretching, reaching, gripping tools or objects, and bending at the waist.
• Regularly: walking, crouching, and twisting while standing.
• Occasionally: sitting, crawling, and twisting while sitting for 1 hour or less.
• Lifting: car parts from 1–80 lbs. throughout the day (10–25 lbs. frequently; 25–50 lbs. regularly; over 50 lbs. occasionally).
• Wrenches weighing up to 10 lbs. to tighten bolts (occasionally – 4 hours).
• Pulling: 10–25 lbs. frequently; 25–50 lbs. regularly; over 50 lbs. occasionally; carrying 50–75 lbs.

Qualifications

• Knowledge: mechanical skills.
• Skills: welding and cutting.
• Mental factors: decision-making and reasoning (intermediate); planning and scheduling (limited); compiling/classifying/gathering information (intermediate); short-term memory (intermediate).

Working conditions

• Outdoor work (8 or 10 hours/day) with exposure to heat, cold/humidity; working at heights regularly; working around moving machinery occasionally.
• Exposure to welding and burning fumes, odors, dust, gases, and uncomfortable noises from welding and burning (10 hours/day); hot temperatures regularly; cold temperatures occasionally.
• Driving automotive equipment occasionally; working with oil and grease regularly; working with vibrations regularly; working alone occasionally.
• Hazard exposure: mechanical from tools; electrical from welders; radiant energy from torches frequently (10 hours/day).

Schedule

8 to 10 hour shifts; work hours and rest days may change regularly.

Reporting relationship

Reports to line supervisor or work group supervisor.