Dangerous early work
Nineteenth-century railroad work could be extraordinarily dangerous. Coupling cars, braking trains from car roofs, maintaining track and working around steam equipment exposed employees to severe hazards.
Immigrant labor
Immigrants supplied essential labor during major construction eras. Chinese workers were central to building the Central Pacific across the Sierra Nevada, while Irish and other immigrant workers labored on many railroad projects.
Brotherhoods and unions
Railroad employees formed powerful labor organizations seeking better pay, hours and working conditions. Rail labor disputes became major events in American economic and political history.
Pullman porters
Black Pullman porters provided service aboard sleeping cars while facing discrimination and difficult working conditions. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters became an important organization in both labor and civil-rights history.
A changing workforce
Technology eliminated some traditional jobs while creating others. Today's railroad workforce relies on skilled operating, mechanical, engineering, dispatching, signal and technology employees.
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