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The Brakeman

Historically, the brakeman held one of the most danger occupations on the freight train and as part of the train crew. However, today, with newer technologies the position is much safer albeit the importance of the brakeman has also dwindled because of this. The current position of brakeman is almost always the lowest on the seniority list, behind conductors and engineers, and can still be attained even on Class Is.

Once upon a time when there was no such thing as automatic airbrakes on freight trains the brakeman was the crewman responsible for setting a freight car's brakes individually,while the train was at speed, by using the available brake wheel. As you may have guessed this was very dangerous work and what's worse, it had to be done in all types of weather; rain, snow, wind, you name it! With the advent of the automatic airbrake (where the train's brakes were controlled by the engineer and could be instantly applied to all cars once set) the brakeman's role was reduced but not necessarily eliminated.

Today, the job of the brakeman is mostly relegated to throwing switches when needed and coupling or uncoupling cuts of freight cars whether being done in yards or out on the main line. As mentioned before, if you have never worked for a railroad or know much about the industry please let me warn you that a career such as a railroad brakeman is not for the faint of heart. Railroading is tough work and takes a dedicated breed not only to handle the physical demands required but also the mental fatigue, as working 12-hour, seven-day-a-week shifts is normal (and overtime is mandatory).

While a more predictable work schedule does come with seniority, don’t expect it to happen within a short period of time. Some railroaders wait 20 years or more to land a “9 to 5” workday, which usually consists of working yard or local jobs. There is a reason why railroaders say that railroading becomes a lifestyle, its not just saying! Having said that, if you are able to hire on with a shortline (Class III) or regional (Class II) railroad the opportunity for a more predictable schedule is very likely although the pay is not quite as good.

As far as I know there are no formal classes taught to learn the position of brakeman, the training is done by the individual railroad which hires you. In any event, if you're interested in searching for brakeman positions in your area please feel free to use the search box below from Indeed.com, one of the leading online career resource guides.

It should also be noted that a form of the brakeman position is also held on passenger trains where they are known as trainman, who's duties mostly consist of assisting the conductor as needed. Again, if you are not even sure if a career in railroading is right for you but would like to learn more about the industry feel free to browse the large selection of books at The Railroad Diamond (to visit the store click the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store"), and if you need or would like help in making a selection please feel free to contact me. For more information about careers like railroad brakeman in the industry please click here.

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