Assistant Trainmaster

Position Summary The Assistant Trainmaster supports safe, efficient, and compliant railroad operations within an assigned terminal, yard, subdivision, or operating territory. This role assists the Trainmaster in supervising train crews, coordinating daily transportation activities, monitoring service performance, responding to operating disruptions, and enforcing all applicable safety rules and operating procedures, all while training for the Trainmaster position. The Assistant Trainmaster is a field-based operational leadership role that requires irregular hours, frequent outdoor work, and the ability to make sound decisions during routine operations and emergency situations. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Assist the Trainmaster with the daily supervision of train, engine, and yard crews. Promote and enforce compliance with railroad operating rules, safety procedures, and federal regulations. Conduct field observations, efficiency tests, job briefings, safety audits, and operational rule checks. Investigate and document incidents, injuries, rule violations, service interruptions, and equipment-related events; help implement corrective actions. Monitor train movement, yard activity, crew availability, track conditions, and local operating conditions to support efficient service. Coordinate with dispatchers, mechanical teams, engineering, customer-service personnel, terminal managers, and other departments to resolve operational issues. Support train handling, crew management, switching operations, blocking, train make-up, and terminal fluidity initiatives. Assist with responding to derailments, hazardous-material incidents, grade-crossing events, weather disruptions, and other emergencies. Ensure train crews receive required information regarding operating conditions, bulletins, slow orders, track outages, work authorities, and safety hazards. Review crew performance and provide coaching, guidance, and corrective feedback. Maintain complete and accurate operating records, reports, safety documentation, attendance records, investigation files, and performance data. Support staffing, crew-call, transportation planning, and overtime-management activities as assigned. Participate in safety meetings, operating reviews, employee training, and continuous-improvement programs. Serve as acting Trainmaster or assume other transportation leadership duties when assigned. Requirements: High school diploma or GED required. Prior railroad operating experience, typically including experience as a conductor, engineer, yardmaster, dispatcher, or comparable transportation operations role. Working knowledge of railroad safety rules, operating rules, train operations, switching procedures, air-brake practices, and crew responsibilities. Ability to interpret operating instructions, timetables, general orders, bulletins, track warrants, work authorities, and relevant railroad documentation. Demonstrated ability to lead employees, make operational decisions, and address issues fairly and professionally. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Proficiency with computers, mobile devices, reporting systems, and standard business software. Valid driver's license and ability to operate company vehicles safely. Ability to meet all applicable medical, background-check, drug-and-alcohol testing, and physical qualification requirements. Preferred Qualifications Prior supervisory, lead-worker, military leadership, or transportation-management experience. Experience in terminal operations, road operations, intermodal service, bulk commodities, passenger rail, or short-line railroad environments. Familiarity with Federal Railroad Administration requirements and railroad labor agreements. Experience conducting investigations, documenting rule compliance, or delivering safety training. Railroad rules certification or qualification as a conductor and/or locomotive engineer. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Strong commitment to a safety-first operatin…

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