Railroad Safety Inspector Career
Railroad Safety Inspector Career
The Real Poop
The railroad industry, while not as independent as automobiles or as thrilling (or possibly terrifying) as airplanes, is still a vital piece of our transportation infrastructure. Since the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads got together in Utah for a transcontinental high-five back in 1869, trains have been one of the great innovations that connect all of America—like a coal-powered nervous system.
With thousands of lines of iron crisscrossing every state in the nation, there's an awful lot that could go wrong. That's where the railroad safety inspector comes in: their job is to investigate, regulate, and maintain a particular section of railroad. It's like being a train detective, only you don't get a gun and you're also not allowed to arrest anybody. So, basically just the long hours and the mountains of paperwork.
Since every true blue railroad safety inspector is employed by Uncle Sam, they get a requisite government wage. For the average rail inspector, that's around $70,000 a year, plus benefits (source). However, you don't get this wage right out of the gate. First, you have to prove your knowledge of railroads, and the government can be quite picky about how you prove such things.
There are five classifications of safety inspectors at work on the rail lines of America, and you'll have to decide which career path you want to be on. The different types are: hazardous materials; motive power and equipment; operating procedures; signals and train control; and track inspection (source).
The hazardous materials inspector keeps track of all the dangerous materials being shipped by rail. From petroleum to nuclear waste, trains carry millions of tons of poisonous, explosive, corrosive, and otherwise not-for-consumption elements. For this gig, they're looking for people who are really good with gas.
Those who specialize in motive power and equipment know the difference between an intermodal freight train and a pneumatic engine block (and just to clarify our lack of qualification: we have no idea what those things are). If you've ever looked at a stationary train and thought "jungle gym," then equipment specialist might be the route for you.
Operating practices is like the human resources department of federal train inspection. This person investigates personnel complaints, enforces workplace regulations, and trains trainers on train training for train employees. This is the only specialty for which you're guaranteed to talk to real people instead of just whispering to fussy locomotive parts.
Working in signals and train control means—you guessed it—making sure lights and switches are functioning as they should be. Software, electrics, computing, and other technical experience is really important here, especially when it comes to the often-decades-old infrastructure you'll have to deal with.
Lastly, there's the track specialty, for which inspectors will find themselves with an ear to the rail, so to speak. We mean that figuratively, but you'd be responsible for every inch of railroad metal that runs in your particular district in this position. Of course, we also mean that literally, because you're probably going to be on the ground a lot, saying things like "hmmm..." and "that isn't right..."
The most successful railroad inspectors are the ones who focus, pay attention, listen, and take notes. There's a lot of information to digest in the course of making things safe or figuring out why accidents happen. English language comprehension is a necessary skill, as well as math, physics, electrics, and whatever other special skills you need to do your particular job.
Prove that you know trains, you live trains, you love trains, and you want them to work at all times, and your career will stay on the right track.
And yes, you're going to have to deal with these railroad puns. We promise we're not trying to make you angry or, you know...send you off the rails.