What does “yard duty” involve?

"Yard duty" specifically involves moving and assembling train cars within a rail yard. This process is crucial for organizing trains, ensuring that cars are properly connected for future trips, and managing the logistics of rail operations. It entails tasks such as switching cars from one track to another, coupling and uncoupling cars, and arranging trains for loading or unloading cargo.

Other aspects of rail operations, such as conducting safety inspections on the rails or scheduling train departures, fall outside the scope of yard duty. Monitoring train speed and signaling relates to train operations on the mainline rather than the movements and assembly of cars that take place in a yard. Hence, selecting the second option aligns directly with the responsibilities typically assigned during yard duty.