Who is a railway yard worker and what do they do?

The railway yard worker’s job covers a wide range of activities to assure the safe and trouble-free operation of the railway. Other titles may include signal tower operator, or yard coupler.
What are the activities of the job? Operating the signals that govern the movement of trains within the railway yard or station – protecting the trains from contact with highway traffic – issuing directions to the assigned switch tenders who set the track paths, turntables etc for the trains, for the purposes of coupling and uncoupling or to align the locomotives and carriages as needed – receiving information from the train engineer as regards the load the train is carrying and comparing this to the actual situation- keeping rail traffic documents and records – directing the loading, unloading and transfer of luggage and merchandise – accompanying freight trains, inspecting and watching them – especially during railway switching operations – participating in brake tests – acting as brake man/woman on timber trains.
Where is it done and under what conditions? On railway sites where changing weather conditions, noise and shift work must be expected.
What tools/equipment do they use? Fork lift trucks, conveyors, electronic safety systems, and other communications equipment, etc.
What do you need to succeed? You need an apprenticeship and additional specific courses, practical skills, fast reactions, self-discipline, reliability, physical fitness, good eye sight and hearing.