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Octavian Rasmussen-Achebe

Railroad Signal Maintainer
Kansas City, MO, United States

Professional Summary

Railroad Signal Maintainer with 8+ years keeping Kansas City terminal freight corridors safe and on time. Hands-on with wayside signals, grade crossings, track circuits, and PTC interfaces, with zero-defect FRA inspections and fast night-window restorations.

Employment History

Railroad Signal Maintainer
Midland Corridor Signal Services · Kansas City, MO
Mar, 2021 · Present
Maintain and troubleshoot 140+ miles of wayside signals, interlocking plants, and highway-rail grade crossings for Class I and short-line customers in the KC metro. Cut mean time to restore (MTTR) for crossing-warning failures by 28% by standardizing fault trees and stocking critical relays/LED modules on the truck. Led night-window cutovers for 12 interlocking upgrades with zero FRA reportable signal failures in the following 90 days.
Signal Maintainer
Heartland Freight Rail · Topeka, KS
Jun, 2017 · Feb, 2021
Inspected and repaired track circuits, switch machines, and coded track equipment on a 90-mile subdivision averaging 28 freights/day. Reduced false-occupancy tickets 35% by correcting ballast resistance and bond issues during quarterly circuit surveys.
Signal Helper / Apprentice
Prairie Signal Contractors · Omaha, NE
Aug, 2015 · May, 2017
Assisted journeymen with cable pulls, case wiring, lamp-to-LED conversions, and crossing foundation installs. Logged daily FRA-required tests and learned megohm, voltage, and current measurements under supervision.

Education

AAS, Electromechanical Technology
Metropolitan Community College · Kansas City, MO
Aug, 2013 · May, 2015
Coursework in relay logic, AC/DC circuits, motor controls, and industrial electrical safety Completed 2015; graduated with signal and rail-electrical focus
High School Diploma
Northeast High School · Kansas City, MO
Aug, 2008 · May, 2012
Completed 2012; coursework in electronics, mathematics, and shop fundamentals

Skills

AREMA C&S
Wayside signals
Grade crossing warning systems
Track circuits
Switch machines
Relay & electronic interlockings
PTC interfaces
Megger / insulation testing
Relay logic
LED signal modules
FRA Part 234/236 awareness
Blue flag / RWP
Electrical troubleshooting
Apprentice mentoring
Relay & electronic interlockings
SCADA / CTC basics
Signal cable splicing & termination
Hi-rail vehicle operation
Predictor & motion-sensor tuning

Courses

Certification: NETA Basics (Electrical Testing & Safety)
InterNational Electrical Testing Association · Kansas City, MO
2023
Fundamentals of electrical acceptance and maintenance testing, insulation resistance, and arc-flash awareness.
Positive Train Control (PTC) Wayside Interface Unit Maintenance
Wabtec Training Services · Kansas City, MO
2021
Installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of WIUs, with field verification of aspect and switch-position data
Certification: FRA Signal Employee Qualified (49 CFR 234/236)
Heartland Pacific Railway · Kansas City, MO
2019
Qualified to inspect and test signal and train control systems per 49 CFR Part 236 Subparts A–G
Certification: OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety
OSHA Outreach Training Program · Kansas City, MO
2020
Fall protection, electrical hazards, and hazard communication for field work
Certification: Roadway Worker Protection (RWP)
Association of American Railroads / Heartland Pacific Railway · Kansas City, MO
2025
Roadway Worker Protection qualified; annual recertification for on-track safety and flagging.