Job Openings >> Red Cap
Red Cap
Summary
Title:Red Cap
ID:1003
Department:Operations
Job Type:Part-Time Hourly (Non-exempt)
Salary Range:$13.00 per hour
Description

POSITION TITLE: Red Cap

FLSA: Nonexempt

 

POSITION REPORTS TO: Stationmaster and Assistant Stationmaster
 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

The actual beginnings of the Redcaps are shrouded in mystery. They appeared in railroad history when passengers began to call “Hey Porter!” as they were in need of help with their baggage. The first recorded reference to a Redcap was on Labor Day in 1890, when James Williams, a porter in New York’s Grand Central Station, tried a piece of red flannel around his black cap to be more easily identified. Traffic was exceptionally heavy that day and Williams did so well on tips that before long other porters adopted this mode of identification.

This custom gradually developed in other parts of the country and in 1896 a statement appeared in Railway Age which described the services offered to the traveling public by the New York Central, the Pennsylvania and Chicago, and Northwestern Railroads. The article mentioned that “porters will, if desired, accompany passengers, carrying hand baggage… The Chicago and Northwestern announced that ‘no fee will be necessary.’ Whether the giving of tips is absolutely prohibited, is a question which the reader must decide for himself by reading between the lines

 

--- “The Early Organization of Red Caps 1937 – 1938” by Patricia Romero. Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Vol. 29, No. 5. February 1966.

 

 

SRC’s POSITION PURPOSE:

The Red Cap at the Strasburg Rail Road is a key member of the Station Department, providing valuable front-line interaction with guests. The Red Cap is responsible for giving direct service to our guests by offering guidance and information. The Red Cap assists in escorting and attending to groups. Essentially, the Red Cap is charged with serving the guest and enhancing guest experience to the greatest extent possible.
 


ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The Red Cap is responsible to be:

 
  1. Exceedingly familiar with the railroad’s operation, being able to effectively answer customers’ questions, educate guests about the railroad, and encouraging them to make the most of their visit.
  2. Aware of arriving tour groups, in a ready position to greet them upon arrival.
  3. Escort the group leader to the station and the group to their appropriate seating on the train.
  4. Attend to guests’ needs and concerns through exemplary customer service.
  5. Wear the appropriate uniform.
  6. Assist with crowd control and the dissemination of information in front of the station.
  7. Complete incident report(s) as necessary.
  8. Assist with other duties as assigned.

 

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS:

  1. Neat and clean appearance subscribing to the uniform requirements and the requirements found in the SRC Employee Handbook and the subordinate Station’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
  2. Positive and effective relations with our guests, including the ability to solve problems and meet their immediate needs.
  3. Positive and effective relations with co-workers.
  4. Timely work attendance and adherence to the worker replacement policy.
 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Fun, outgoing personality and a positive attitude.
  2. Flexibility and ability to adapt to unexpected circumstances.
  3. Ability to stand/walk for the majority of a 4- to 6-hour shift.
  4. Though not required, an interest in history and/or railroading is a plus.
  5. Willingness to work the Station Department’s minimum requirement of 2 to 3 days per calendar month, including weekend shifts, subject to the railroad’s operational schedule

 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  1. The Red Cap position is part-time and seasonal.
  2. Training for this position will be on-the-job.
  3. The length of the shift is typically 3 to 6 hours based on SRC’s hours of operation.
  4. Must be able to stand/walk in outdoor conditions for most of the shift.
  5. Breaks are on-the-job, as time and duties permit.
  6. If a situation arises where help is needed, a 2-way radio is provided so that the Standby, Station, or Ground’s Maintenance’s Mall Attendant can be summoned for help.
  7. Smoking is prohibited while in the railroad’s public domain areas.

 

SCHEDULE CHANGES AND WORKER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE:

At SRC, employees are responsible for the shifts for which they are scheduled. If an employee is unable to work a shift for which they are scheduled, the employee is responsible for finding their own replacement for the scheduled shift. Employees will be provided with a roster, including the names and telephone numbers of employees eligible to replace them on the schedule. In special circumstances, shift changes may require supervisor approval, but generally, the supervisor need not approve the changes on the schedule. Any changes in shift responsibilities shall be made on the Departmental and/or Master Schedule or the employee who is originally placed on the master schedule will be held fully accountable, should a position remain un-staffed for a shift.

 

INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTION:

Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are also essential to an effective appraisal system and related promotion, transfer, layoff, and termination decisions. Well-constructed job descriptions are an integral part of any effective compensation system. All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to each position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

 

UPDATED: 1/6/2020 ESC

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