Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway | Brakemen/Conductors

Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (W&LE) is one of the largest regional railroads in the United States and the largest in Ohio, operating 840 miles of track across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. W&LE runs 98 locomotives, moves more than 140,000 carloads annually, and supports operations through seven major rail yards and a 120,000 square foot locomotive and car repair facility. The railroad serves over 110 customers through a diverse fleet of 1,400 owned or leased railcars and hauls a wide range of commodities including steel, petroleum products, aggregates, chemicals, coal, lumber, paper, and plastics. With connections to three Class I railroads, Canadian National, CSX, and Norfolk Southern, and fourteen regional and short line partners, W&LE offers flexible routing and competitive service options. Founded in 1871 and headquartered in Brewster, Ohio since 1913, the company continues its long legacy with seven day a week interchange operations and 24/7 customer support, delivering dependable, efficient service rooted in both regional heritage and modern capability. We are seeking dedicated individuals to train as Brakemen/Conductors. Duties/Responsibilities Specific functions of the Brakeman/Conductor include, but are not limited to the following: Obtaining information from the dispatcher, yardmaster, or other personnel in person, in writing, or by communication devices including radio and telephone Observe, interpret, and relay hand and lantern signals, and they use radio communication Operate track switches and derails in order to change the route of trains within yards or on the road Frequently climb ladders on freight cars, operate hand brakes, couple and uncouple air hoses, inspect freight cars, and observe and monitor track conditions Get on and off moving equipment Ride moving cars by hanging on grab irons or ladders, sometimes for extended periods of time Judge and control the speed and clearance distance of cars Prepare required reports and read and interpret work orders and instructions Employees must be also able to sit for extended periods of time, reach overhead to lift objects, and meet hearing and vision acuity standards Working Conditions Work safely at all times in compliance with all safety and operating rules Outdoors in all types of weather for many hours at a time Walk on uneven and irregular surfaces for long distances Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 85 pounds Compensation Earn up to $33.21/hr. through a combination of hourly compensation, a $100 supplement paid weekly, and profit sharing eligibility after 90 days of fulltime employment. Calculation is based on a 40 hour work week Brakeman/Conductor Training Classroom training 240 hrs. of on-the-job training After completion brakeman training, individuals are promoted to conductor Conductors are the primary source from which W&LE selects candidates for future Engineer training Shift/Hours Full-time (40 hrs/wk) Guaranteed 40 hrs./wk. extra board Variable and irregular work hours with irregularly scheduled days off Employees work weekdays, weekends and holidays on an "on call" basis, 24 hours a day Travel Travel is required Must be willing and able to work any hours at any location on the railroad in OH and PA. Current on-duty locations include Brewster, OH; Canton, OH; Akron, OH; Jewett, OH; Mingo Jct., OH; Medina, OH; Willard, OH; Spencer, OH; Norwalk, OH; Carey, OH; and Pittsburgh, PA. Employees may be away from home for days at a time Must be able to report to work two hours after notification May have to drive long distances to get to work; this travel is at the employee's own expense. To see a map of our railroad, visit Probationary Period 120 days Union Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainman (BLET) Dues required per collective bargaining agreement Train Engineer Promotion Employees must accept promotion to the position of Locomotive Engineer Overtime work is required Education A high school diploma or GED equivalent is required. Benefits Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company provides a comprehensive benefit package including excellent medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, railroad retirement, 401(k) plan, profit sharing, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid personal leave, and college scholarships for dependents Drug Free Workplace W&LE is a drug-free workplace and maintains a zero tolerance policy Employees are subject to pre-employment and frequent drug and alcohol testing A DUI or OVI conviction within the last three years will disqualify you from consideration for this position All positions require pre-employment background verification, physical, and drug/alcohol screen Location Brewster, OH.

Created: 2026-03-04