Railroads

Freight railroads provide key transportation services to manufacturers and other industrial firms. Eight freight railroads in Wisconsin operate on a system of approximately 3,500 route miles. Combined, they handled over 3.1 million cars and 180 million tons of freight per year. – Wisconsin DOT

Railroad Careers

Train Operations

Locomotive Engineers
Sample of reported job titles: Conductor, Transportation Specialist, Trainmaster
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Locomotive Firers
Sample of reported job titles: Assistant Engineer, Assistant Passenger Locomotive Engineer, Fireman
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Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
Sample of reported job titles: Railroad Switchman, Switch Foreman, Trains Service Conductor, Transportation Specialist, Railroad Brakeman
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Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations.
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Railroad Construction and Maintenance

Rail Car Repairers
Sample of reported job titles: Rail Car Welder, Rail Car Mechanic Rail Car Painter/Sandblaster, Air Brake Mechanic
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Signal and Track Switch Repairers
Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system
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Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
Sample of reported job titles: Track Inspector, Track Laborer, Track Repairer, Track Equipment Operator (TEO)
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Civil Engineers
Sample of reported job titles: Project Manager, Structural Engineer, Civil Engineering Manager, Design Engineer, Railroad Design Consultant, Research Hydraulic Engineer
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Mechanical Engineers
Sample of reported job titles: Mechanical Design Engineer, Process Engineer, Design Maintenance Engineer, Systems Engineer, Chassis Systems Engineer
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Other Careers in Rail

Crane and Tower Operators
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions
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Transit and Railroad Police
Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers
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Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors
Sample of reported job titles: Chief Mechanical Officer (CMO), Motor Carrier Inspector, Quality Assurance Inspector, Rail Technician, Smog Diesel Engine Inspector, Emission Inspection Technician
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Railroad companies operating in Wisconsin

Burlington Northern-Santa Fe
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Canadian National
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Canadian Pacific
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Escanaba & Lake Superior
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Progressive Rail
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Tomahawk Railway
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Union Pacific
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Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
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Passenger rail

Amtrak
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Metra
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Mid-Continent Railway
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Websites of Interest

History of Railroads in Wisconsin

Guide to the origins and evolution of Wisconsin's railroads
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Wisconsin Historic Rail Connection
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Wisconsin railroad history
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Timelines

Wisconsin railroad timeline: 19th century
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Wisconsin railroad timeline: 20th century
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Wisconsin railroad timeline: 21st century
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Historical List of Wisconsin railroads
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Railroad History of Central Wisconsin
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East Troy Railroad Co.
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Map of Railroads and Harbors - Wisconsin DOT as of March 2012
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/
localgov/docs/railmap.pdf

Railroad Glossary and Definitions
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Introduction to How Trains Work
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Locomotives and Train Technology
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Train Tracks
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Freight Railroad Systems
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Operation Lifesaver helps kids and adults learn about staying safe when it comes to railroads.
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