On this page:

Overview

Operating railcars demands precision, skill, and above all else, an unwavering commitment to safety. If you’re responsible for operating a railcar mover in an industrial switching facility, experience alone is not enough. You need the right training.

This training course provides you with the necessary knowledge to safely and efficiently operate rail car movers. Through expert-led instruction, you’ll learn key safety practices including Switching Operations Fatalities Analysis (SOFA) lifesavers, management of air brakes and hand brakes, handling switches and derailments, and critical safety protocols that prevent accidents in high-risk environments.

This course aligns with Industrial Railway Operating Rules (IROR) and industry standards. From lesson to lesson, every topic is built around ensuring safety to empower you to handle actual working switches while reducing job-related risks to an absolute minimum.

This course is ideal if you:

  • work in an industrial switching facility that needs to operate a railcar mover safely
  • want to increase your awareness of air brake systems, handbrakes, switches, and derail management to improve workplace safety
  • want training that aligns with employer standards and industry regulations.

Please note: This course is located at the Point Trotter satellite campus in SE Calgary.

Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to:

  • describe the significance of SOFA and analyze the five SOFA lifesavers in the context of workplace safety assessments
  • apply Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles in simulated railway safety scenarios
  • classify railcar components and differentiate railcar types based on their operational functions in real-world case studies
  • demonstrate proper techniques for entraining, riding, crossing, and detraining from railcars in a controlled environment
  • evaluate risks and implement appropriate safety procedures for riding and crossing rail equipment through hands-on exercises
  • calculate the number of handbrakes required to secure rail equipment, and apply proper handbrake procedures in a practical assessment
  • inspect track conditions and assess their impact on railway operations during field evaluations
  • operate hand switches and derails safely while evaluating different methods for setting and removing derails in compliance with regulations
  • interpret switching rules, analyze task-specific considerations, and calculate maximum coupling speeds using real-world operational data
  • explain the operation of freight car air brake systems and identify key components in maintenance and troubleshooting exercises
  • apply IROR rules and develop inspection plans for railcar movers in a structured operational setting
  • operate railcar movers using air brakes and assess compliance with IROR regulations through scenario-based evaluations.

To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca.

Upcoming dates

Select an available section and add it to your cart. When you're ready, proceed to check out to sign into your student account and complete your registration.

Don't have a student account? Let's set one up!

Registration for this course closes seven days prior to the start date.

After you've completed this course

Upon successful completion of this non-credit course, you’ll receive an electronic copy of your official transcript. You’ll also be able to self-print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account.

Costs

Technology

To be successful in this course, you’ll need:

Additional supplies

The following equipment and PPE are required for the first day of this course:

  • Work boots
  • Safety glasses
  • Safety vests 
  • Gloves 
  • Pen or pencil
Aldred building

Financial support

Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants including the Canada Alberta Job Grant. 

Learn more

Train your team

Interested in group training opportunities for this course? Tell us about your organization's needs, and one of our training consultants will contact you within one business day.

Contact us

Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.

SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.

We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Visit Natoysopoyiis Resource Centre