Mechanical
Improve servicing of mission critical equipment.
Mechanics keep the trains moving. You need well-qualified mechanics to ensure Federal guidelines are followed for the inspection and repair of all mechanical aspects of a train. It's a critical job that has to be done correctly.
NARS' mechanical training courses cover a wide range of activities from the shop to the yard and involves instruction in:
- Air brake operations, testing and repair
- Freight car inspection, testing and repair
- Electrical systems design, diagnostics and repair on most models of locomotives
- Operation, maintenance and repair of diesel engines
- Remote control operations, diagnostics and repair
- Federal Railway Administration regulations
Your employees learn in the classroom and in technology-driven, state-of-the-art laboratories, working on assembled and disassembled rail equipment. Each lab is fully equipped to provide hands-on experience with the mechanical and electrical components of cars and engines.
Mechanical instructors include machinists, electricians, sheet metal worker, boilermakers, carmen and supervisory staff. These experienced railroad employees are trained to safely and properly inspect, maintain and repair freight cars and locomotives.
Learn more about how to improve servicing of mission critical equipment.
Employee Mechanical class 2012 Schedule
Freight Car AAR Billing
January 23 – 27
March 5 – 9
March 26 – 30
April 30 – May 4
June 18 – 22
July 16 – 20
August 6 – 10
September 17 – 21
October 22 – 26
November 12 – 16
Ideal course for carmen or freight car personnel who perform AAR Billing. Course is designed to teach the rules, proper method of reporting, and use of hand held computer billing for freight car repairs.
One week duration
Freight Car Air Brake, Basic
January 16 – 20
February 13 – 17
March 12 – 16
April 9 – 13
April 30 – May 4
May 21 – 25
June 4 – 8
June 25 – 29
July 16 – 20
August 6 – 10
August 27 – 31
September 24 – 28
October 22 – 26
November 12 – 16
Ideal course for personnel with limited experience on freight car air brake systems. Course is designed to teach the proper methods of performing the Single Car Test. Emphasis is placed on freight car air brake fundamentals.
One week duration
Freight Car Air Brake, Advanced
March 19 – 23
May 7 – 11
July 23 – 27
October 1 – 5
October 29 – November 2
December 17 - 21
Ideal course for more experienced freight car personnel. Course is designed to teach the proper methods of troubleshooting and repairing freight car air brake systems, including electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake systems. Note Perquisite Freight Car Air Brake Basics.
One-week duration
Freight Car Intermodal
February 27 – March 2
June 11 – 15
August 13 – 17
November 26 – 30
Course is designed to teach the proper methods of inspecting, testing, and repairing articulated connectors and air brake systems found on intermodal equipment.
One week duration
Freight Car Open Top
February 27 – March 2
April 16 – 20
July 30 – August 3
August 20 – 24
October 8 – 12
December 3 - 7
Ideal course for freight car personnel who are frequently required to measure open top loads. The course is designed to teach the proper methods of inspecting, maintaining, reporting, and measuring open top loads.
One week duration
Freight Car Open Top Recertification
April 3-4
This course is designed to serve as the qualification mechanism for freight car personnel who are required to measure open top loads for BNSF under contract agreement. The course will serve as a refresher on the proper methods of inspecting, maintaining, reporting, and measuring open top loads.
Two day duration
Freight Car Repair Track Inspector
January 9 – 13
January 30 – February 3
March 5 – 9
March 26 – 30
April 16 – 20
May 14 – 18
June 18 – 22
July 9 – 13
July 30 – August 3
August 20 – 24
September 17 – 21
October 8 – 12
November 5 – 9
December 3 – 7
Ideal course for carmen or freight car personnel that work in a repair track environment. Course is designed to teach the proper methods of inspecting, repairing and maintaining Freight Car Equipment.
One week duration
Freight Car Train Yard Inspection
January 16 - 20
February 6 – 10
March 12 – 16
April 9 – 13
April 23 – 27
May 14 – 18
June 11 – 15
June 25 – 29
July 9 – 13
July 23 – 27
August 13 – 17
September 10 – 14
September 24 – 28
October 15 – 19
October 29 – November 2
November 26 – 30
December 17 - 21
Ideal course for carmen or personnel that work in a train yard environment. The class is designed to teach the proper methods of inspecting, testing, and repairing freight cars in the train yard.
One week duration
Locomotive Air Brake
January 16 – 20
January 23 – 27
March 5 – 9
April 16 – 20
June 4 – 8
July 23 – 27
September 17 – 21
November 12 – 16
December 3 – 7
Ideal course for personnel with limited experience on locomotive air brake systems. This course emphasizes the basics of 26L locomotive air brake operation and testing. It also covers railroad and FRA air brake standards.
One week duration
Locomotive Air Brake CCB, Basic
January 30 – February 3
February 6 – 10
March 19 – 23
March 26 – 30
April 30 – May 4
May 7 – May 11
June 11 – 15
August 8 – 10
September 24 – 28
October 22 – 26
December 17 - 21
Ideal course for personnel with some experience on locomotive air brake systems. Course will address operation, testing and troubleshooting of Knorr CCB I air brake systems. Prerequisite: Locomotive Air Brake, Basic
One-week duration
Locomotive Air Brake CCB, Advanced
June 18 – 22
August 13 – 17
October 1 – 5
October 29 – November 2
Ideal course for personnel with some experience on locomotive air brake systems. Course will address operation; testing and troubleshooting of Knorr CCB 2, CCB 46 air brake systems and 30 CDW and Fast Brake Systems. Note Prerequisite: Locomotive Air Brake, CCB1
One-week duration
Locomotive Low Horsepower Electrical
June 11 – 15
Ideal course for apprentices or journeymen with limited experience of a basic understanding of EMD electrical systems.
One week duration
Locomotive FRA Regulations
January 9 – 13
February 27 – March 2
April 9 – 13
June 25 – 29
July 16 – 20
September 10 – 14
October 8 – 12
November 5 – 9
November 26 - 30
Ideal course for a new supervisor or lead person. The course is designed to teach the proper methods of identifying and dealing with FRA compliance issues.
One week duration
Locomotive Basic EMD Mechanical
January 9 – 13
February 27 – March 2
April 9 – 13
June 11 – 15
July 16 – 20
September 24 – 28
November 5 – 9
November 26 – 30
Course is designed to teach the proper methods of operation, maintenance, and repair requirements for diesel engine systems found on EMD diesel-powered locomotives.
One week duration
Locomotive Basic GE Mechanical
January 23 – 27
March 12 – 16
April 23 – 27
May 21 – 25
June 18 – 22
July 30 – August 3
October 1 – 5
October 15 – 19
Course is designed to teach the proper methods of operation, maintenance, and repair requirements for the diesel engine found on GE diesel-powered locomotives.
One week duration
Locomotive Basic Electricity and Electronics
June 4 – 8
Ideal course for a personnel need a basic understanding of the SD40-2 electrical systems. Note: This is a two part course. Part 1 Course addresses schematic interpretation and gives a basic understanding of the low voltage electrical systems.
One week duration
Locomotive EMD Basic Electrical
April 23 – 27
June 18 – 22
Ideal course for apprentices or journeymen to gain a basic understanding of the theory and operation of electrical and electronic circuitry on modern locomotives. This course is a very effective complement to the EMD Electrical Systems class.
One week duration
Locomotive GE Dash 8/9 Electrical Systems
March 26 – 30
June 25 – 29
The proper methods of inspecting, maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing GE Dash 8 and Dash 9 locomotive electrical systems.
One week duration