Railroad Engineering Technology, AS

Railroad Engineering Technology will prepare students for employment in the railroad industry within a career path for maintaining and repairing railcars through a degree orientation in electromechanical equipment. Graduates will be prepared for technical application exams commonly administered by railroad companies for entry-level maintenance of equipment positions. The program reflects current skills needed within job positions that require electromechanical knowledge and skills.

The Signaling and Communications Option will prepare students for employment in the railroad industry for maintaining and repairing rail line and railcars where signaling and communications systems are used. Graduates will be prepared for technical application exams commonly administered by railroad companies for entry-level signaling and switching positions. The program reflects current skills needed within job positions that require electronic and communications knowledge and skills. For more information on either program, call Interim Coordinator, Richard Halkyard at (203) 285-2311 or e-mail at (rhalkyard@gatewayct.edu).

Railroad Practicum Additional Information

• Practicum experiences may be assigned during daytime, evening or weekend hours.
• Practicum assignments in all courses are subject to change based upon availability of practicum sites and numbers in groups.
• Practicum sites could be within an hour radius of the college and may require a mandatory parking fee.
• Students must make their own travel arrangements during the program.

Practicum learning experiences are planned as an integral part of the railroad engineering technology courses and are held at a variety of railroad settings, such as the Shoreline Trolley Museum/Branford Railway and the Railroad Museum of New England/Naugatuck Railroad. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from assigned clinical sites. Practicum experiences may be assigned during daytime, evening, or weekend hours. Assignment of practicum sites is at the discretion of the railroad engineering technology faculty. Practicum sites could be within an hour radius of the college, and may require a mandatory parking fee.

Criminal Background Checks & Toxicology Screening

Practicum sites may now require criminal background checks and/or toxicology screening (drugs/alcohol) be completed on any student who will be attending a practicum rotation at those sites. Students must follow instructions for obtaining a background and/or toxicology screening at the college if necessary. Students who are found guilty of having committed a felony/misdemeanor and/or are found to have a positive toxicology screen may be prevented from participating in practicum exercises.

If you cannot participate in a practicum at an assigned facility, you may not be able to complete the objectives of the course and of the program. Specific situations are reviewed by college personnel.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates should be able to:

• Demonstrate and have an understanding of typical railroad rules and regulations including changes that are a result of accidents and imposed by Homeland Security
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of career opportunities within the railroad industry with an Electromechanical oriented degree

Electromechanical Degree:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the operation of railcar electromechanical systems
• Conduct entry level troubleshooting and repairs of electromechanical systems on railcars
• Be prepared to take an application exam on electromechanical skills for employment in the railroad industry

Signaling & Communications Option:

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the operation of rail line and railcar signaling and communication systems
• Conduct entry level troubleshooting and repairs on signaling and communications systems along rail lines and on railcars
• Be prepared to take an application exam on signaling and communications skills for employment in the railroad industry