A professional who coordinates railroad traffic on specified section of line from centralized-traffic-control (CTC) unit that electrically activates track switches and signals. Responsibilities include:

• Reads train orders and schedules to familiarize self with scheduled runs, destination of trains, times of arrivals and departures, and priority of trains.
• Monitors CTC panelboard that indicates location of trains by lights that illuminate as train passes specified positions on run.
• Operates controls to activate track switches and traffic signals.
• Reroutes trains or signals locomotive engineer to stop train or change speed according to traffic conditions.
• Talks by telephone with crewmembers to relay changes in train orders and schedules, and to receive notification of emergency stops, delays, or accidents.
• Records time each train reaches specified point, time messages are given or received, and name of person giving or receiving message.
• May chart train movements on graph to estimate arrival times at specified points.
• May operate teletypewriter to transmit messages to freight offices or other points along line.