Conductors coordinate and supervise rail travel of passengers and freight. Yardmasters move trains in yards and see that they come and go safely with the right cars attached.
A search on the web for "fastest train" yields varied results. Is it a train in Paris? Or the bullet trains in Japan? The current top contender seems to be a "maglev" train located near Shanghai, China. "Maglev" is short for "magnetic levitation," which is a type of train that runs on a magnetic field. This means there is no exhaust and LOTS of speed. The Chinese maglev train can top 267 mph in under two minutes! Many passengers describe riding on a maglev train like flying. However, despite the new technology (maglev trains don't have "tracks," for example) trains still need conductors and yardmasters.
Train conductors begin a trip by learning about what they are transporting and where it is going. They discuss the route and timetable with the engineer. While underway, conductors contact radio dispatchers to learn about upcoming track conditions and changes in the route. They pass on this information to the engineer. Conductors use two-way radios or cellular phones to communicate with the engineer and dispatchers. Some read about switching instructions on their on-board computer terminal. Train conductors work to get passengers and freight to their destination safely and on time. Once the trip is complete, they record departure and arrival times, and any problems or delays that occurred during the trip.
On passenger trains, conductors direct staff who provide boarding, maid, porter, and meal services to customers. Once the passengers are on board, conductors signal engineers when to pull out of the station. They also collect tickets or fares and answer questions from passengers.
Conductors on freight trains record the contents and destination of each car. They make sure that cars are added and removed at the proper location. They supervise workers who inspect and repair equipment to keep the train in good working order. During emergencies, they direct workers to set out signals to warn other trains.
Train dispatchers are similar to air traffic controllers because they direct the movement of trains. They are in charge of a particular territory and direct the trains that travel within that area. They also help to protect the employees who work on the track. Dispatchers monitor trains' location on a Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) auto-routing system. This system allows dispatchers to make decisions about when trains need to move or pass other trains. When they get information from conductors about delays, they make adjustments to the system. Dispatchers' smooth coordination of these movements is the key to efficient and safe transport.
Yardmasters inspect freight cars to see that they are sealed properly. They keep track of car and seal numbers. They also verify the destination of freight. Yardmasters observe yard traffic and determine which tracks are available. They supervise the crews who add and remove cars from the train in the yard. Yardmasters also tell engineers where to move the train. They tell brake operators which cars to couple and uncouple and where to put them. In yards that have automatic classification systems, yardmasters use electrical remote controls to operate the track switches that route cars.