Railway Equipment Repairer (88P)
Mechanics Army MOS Information

Posted Friday, November 25, 2005

• Enlisted
• Active Duty
• Army Reserve

Transporting ammunition and supplies to Army ports for deployment overseas is absolutely vital to our national defense. Railway Equipment Repairers play an integral role in the operation and maintenance of the Army's railway operating battalions.

Railway Equipment Repairers are primarily responsible for supervising or performing maintenance on diesel-electric locomotives and railway cars. Some of your duties as a Railway Equipment Repairer may include:

• Using technical blueprints and sketches
• Trouble shooting locomotives for malfunctions
• Repairing cooling systems, fuel systems, exhaust, air brake components, lube oil systems, electrical systems and diesel engine components
• Inspecting, testing and servicing locomotive batteries
• Inspecting frame and running gear for breaks, cracks or worn surfaces
• Welding, riveting, caulking, painting and stenciling as necessary
• Examining and repairing truck and wheel assemblies, safety equipment and interiors of cars
• Preparing written reports on mechanical defects.

Training:

Job training for a Railway Equipment Repairer consists of nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and four weeks of Advanced Individual Training. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field.

Helpful Skills:

Helpful attributes include:

• An interest in railway mechanics and the industrial arts
• A preference for physical work
• An interest in troubleshooting and repairing mechanical problems
• An interest in automotive or locomotive engines and how they work

Advanced Responsibilities:

Advanced level Railway Equipment Repairers supervise and train other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Railway Equipment Repairer, you may be involved in:

• Inspecting railway cars prior and subsequent to maintenance
• Performing initial terminal airbrake tests for outbound trains
• Repairing draft gears
• Supervising a team salvaging cars for rehabilitating captured enemy rolling stock
• Enforcing safety rules and regulations