Who is a shunter and what do they do? The shunter’s work consists of shunting and organising sets of railway trucks and carriages with the aim of incorporating the correct trucks/carriages, directing them where they’re wanted and doing this in compliance with all the relevant safety regulations and standards.
What are the activities of the shunter job? Shunting railway carriages or trucks, i.e. going between two carriages, fastening or unfastening the couplings, turning service brake valves, and getting out of the way again quickly. Sometimes this can be done by the locomotive itself shunting a set of carriages or trucks and activating the coupling device, without the shunter having to enter the space between them. Other work activities include issuing and repeating specified signals to the shunting master or engine-driver, coupling and uncoupling trucks or carriages where brakes have to be used according to the gradient of the track, to catch and secure the shunted trucks or carriages, as well as coupling and uncoupling electric cables between carriages. Some trains also have independently driven units which propel them, and coupling and uncoupling these to/from the rest of the train is also part of the shunter’s job.
Where is it done and under what conditions? This job is typically done at railway stations and marshalling yards. Adverse work environment effects, such as grease, noise and dust nuisance, work on shifts and hard-to-access work objects must be taken into account.
What tools/equipment do they use? Typically, wrenches and other hand tools, brake-shoes and brakes.
What do you need to succeed? You need manual dexterity, physical fitness, fast reactions – a basic education is sufficient to start the job, though a special training course and final examination are required.