Job Title: Track Foreman, Maintenance of Way
Position Summary
The Track Foreman is responsible for inspecting, diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing approximately 12 miles of railroad track on a historic short line railroad operating roughly 2,000 train movements per year.
The successful candidate will lead a small crew in executing tie replacement, surfacing, and drainage projects while coordinating rented equipment and ensuring safety compliance.
Essential Duties
- Inspect, diagnose, maintain, and repair track, switches, crossings, and right-of-way.
- Perform scheduled, post-storm, and condition-based track inspections.
- Lead tie replacement, surfacing preparation, drainage work, crossing repairs, vegetation control, and right-of-way maintenance.
- Directly supervise and work alongside field crews during daily maintenance activities.
- Plan daily and weekly track maintenance work based on railroad needs, train schedules, weather, available labor, rented equipment, and safety priorities.
- Help execute an annual tie replacement program of approximately 1,000 or more ties per year.
- Maintain records for inspections, defects, repairs, weed spraying, maintenance activity, and follow-up work.
- Communicate track conditions, priorities, labor needs, equipment needs, and safety concerns to management.
- Work with the Operations Manager to reduce disruption to train operations while keeping safety as the priority.
- Respond to storm damage, washouts, obstructions, broken rail, track defects, and other urgent railroad needs.
- Ensure work is performed in accordance with FRA, state, and company rules and requirements.
Required Qualifications
- 2 to 3 years of railroad track or Maintenance of Way experience.
- Prior foreman, lead hand, or supervisory experience preferred.
- Proficiency in switch maintenance, vegetation control, and right-of-way repairs.
- Ability to plan work around limited labor, rented equipment, weather, and active train operations.
- Familiarity with FRA track safety standards and general railroad operating rules.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and practical field problem-solving ability.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Strong communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage conflict, maintain accountability, and keep crews productive and safe.
- Ability to respond to emergencies and weather-related incidents.
Physical Requirements
- Work outdoors in all weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, snow, mud, brush, and uneven terrain.
- Walk track, climb, bend, lift, carry, spike, dig, handle ties, move material, and perform heavy physical labor.
- Travel along the rail corridor by vehicle, hi-rail vehicle, and on foot.
- Lift up to 100 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Work long hours, nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts as railroad operations require.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a practical field leader with the mechanical aptitude and judgment required to maintain a short line railroad effectively with limited permanent resources.
Compensation
Salary commensurate with experience.
Pay: From $30.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- On-the-job training
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Safety equipment provided
Application Question(s):
- Please explain your track inspection experience.
- Please explain your track maintenance experience.
- The job here is being able to inspect, diagnose, maintain & repair the track. We need to be installing 1,000+ ties per year. We're looking for a leader that can be a part of the crew as well as lead the crew and get the job done. We don't have a lot of fancy equipment: we have an older tie crane and tie inserter that can be temperamental at times. We're in the market for a better (used) inserter and tamper. We put some 2,000 trains a year over about 10 miles of trrack. Does this level of involvement interest you?
Experience:
- railroad track inspection: 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person
