Conductor- The Heart & Soul of the Railroad

by Robert L. Bryan

  The original act, passed in 1862, and its successors resulted in the Union Pacific Route and Central Pacific Route. The Union Pacific Route started in Bluffs, Iowa and ran westward. The Central Pacific Route started in Sacramento, California and ran eastward. The two lines met in Promontory Summit, Utah, creating a single contiguous railroad line across the majority of the United States. Each line was built and controlled by a separate company and they competed throughout the building of the rail lines to see who could lay more track and make more money from the government subsidies.

  Omaha was chosen as the easternmost end of the transcontinental railroad as many eastern train lines ran through there and would make it easier to transfer goods or passengers from the eastern lines to the transcontinental one. Sacramento, on the other hand, was close to San Francisco Bay, the largest hub on the pacific coast at the time.

  A transcontinental railroad is defined as a contiguous railroad track that spans the length of a continent. Technically America’s transcontinental railroad started well inland and one could argue it isn’t a true transcontinental railroad for that reason. However, it has connections to lines that stretch further eastward and the sheer scope of the project at a time when rail travel was still relatively young is demanding of respect.

  Now this railroad has become a symbol of westward expansion and an America on the rise. It’s been honored in various films, such as How the West was Won and Wild Wild West. The joining of the two halves at Promontory Summit, Utah was even said to have inspired Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in Eighty Days. There’s no denying the powerful influence something so seemingly mundane has had on our culture and economy.

  Look How Far We’ve Come

  Since its inception, railroad travel has seen many dips and rises in popularity. For instance, the Great Depression brought about a dramatic reduction in ridership while World War II saw the largest ever ridership, as soldiers were sent off to war from various parts of the country. Its demand has fluctuated with the changing economic and technological climate.

  These days, despite the growing presence of cars and planes, the American railroad is still alive and well, offering travel that’s generally faster than a car but less expensive than a plane. People still take commuter rails from suburban towns to hubs like Boston or Providence. And they still buy tickets for the Amtrak to travel from Massachusetts to New York or from Denver to San Francisco. What’s more, railroad travel continues to have a future as new technological advances promise to keep it relevant and, in many ways, preferable. High speed trains now run at speeds greater than 124 miles per hour. In fact, the Japanese Shinkansen trains are reported to go between 150 and 200 miles per hour. There is no faster way to travel by land.

  The continued presence of the railroad in our lives and the undeniably important role it played in the development of our society makes it clear to see why railroad conductors are such a highly romanticized and respected position. As we learn more about these conductors and the vital role they play in the operation of a train, we should remember the rich history from which they stem.

  Chapter Two: The Origins of the Conductor

  Maybe you remember seeing the conductor the last time you were on a train. He would have been the man in the suit with the billed hat helping an older gentleman with his luggage or that woman with the collared shirt and big smile collecting your ticket. The conductor is most people’s first and only experience with train personnel. Acting in a customer service position is one of many conductors’ varied responsibilities. Later in this book, we will address the many hats the conductor wears and what distinguishes this from other roles on the train. However, for now, we’re going to take an historical look at the working environment of the railroad, the various jobs performed therein, and the varied challenges they’ve faced. In doing so, we will learn how this vital job was formed and has evolved into the conductor you know today.

  Early Railroad Workers

  Along with the first railroads in the early to mid 19th century, there came about the first railroad workers. These included engineers, firemen, carmen, brakemen, and conductors. Many of these positions have changed dramatically, having had to adapt to changing needs due to technological advancements. Before we explore the role of the conductor and how it began, let’s take a moment to consider some of these other roles and give ourselves a broader understanding of how early railroads functioned.

  Railroad engineers still exist today and are also known as engine drivers or train operators. In essence, their job is to drive the train. Given that trains run on tracks, engineers aren’t responsible for typical steering. However, they do control the acceleration of the train, stop the train when necessary, and handle it as it runs, tasks which are much harder than they sound.

  Railroad firemen used to have the essential job of shoveling coal into the railroad furnace to keep the machine powered. However, that particular need no longer exists on most trains thanks to electric engines. You might think that would put an end to the railroad firemen, but there are still some out there today. They either work on the few steam locomotives still running, or they work on trains with diesel engines where they continue to manage the energy needs of the train.

  Carmen tend to the mechanical needs of railroad cars. Although the nature of these cars have changed, they still need regular tune ups and tests to ensure that they are in good condition. Carmen are essentially the maintenance men in the train world.

  The aptly named brakemen used to be responsible for literally applying the brakes for individual train cars. This practice has long since been made defunct thanks to automatic braking. But brakeman can still be found in trains today where they perform a variety of tasks including the throwing of track switches and making announcements to passengers. The role has essentially become a catch-all position that has very little to do with actual braking. The name has been preserved largely due to a sense of tradition.

  This brings us to the train conductor. Around the beginning of the 19th century, when this position was first conceived of, it was considered the most prestigious railroad job and was consequently the highest paid. The train conductor was the captain of the train. He would dress impeccably, greet passengers, collect fares, make announcements, and generally made sure that everything went according to schedule.

  Fresh Off the Boat

  Maritime tradition places a great deal of value on the role of the captain. The captain is more than simply the ship’s “manager.” He or she is the ship’s leader. This distinction affords the role a high level of respect. It is up to the captain to ensure the productivity and well-being of the crew. It is up to the captain to guarantee the passengers have a safe, comfortable, and punctual journey. He may not literally steer the ship, but he is responsible for it running smoothly.

  It’s no accident that we referred to the conductor as the captain of the train. The role of the conductor in fact comes from maritime tradition. Before trains gained traction worldwide, boats were among the primary forms of mass transit. The growing popularity of the railroad threatened to take more than just the passengers from ferries and the like. They also siphoned away many workers who enjoyed similar roles on land as they did at sea. Several of these workers included small time captains who were among the first railroad conductors.

  If you’ve ever heard the popular adage that a captain must go down with his ship, then you must understand the gravity attributed to the role conductors played on early railroads. As leaders, they were charged with putting the safety and comfort of others first, a job they took very seriously.

  Working Conditions

  We will address modern working conditions and how they evolved later in this book. However, given the significant role that railroad unions played in the lives of conductors, it bears mentioning here as well. Conditions were fairly poor for railroad workers in the 19th century. These included inhumanly long hours, low wages, and a high chance of injury. Every railroad job faced its own challenges
and potential hazards.

  Despite having somewhat higher pay than most other railroad workers and a comparably less dangerous role, railroad engineers were the first to unionize. In 1863 the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers was formed. The union played a key role in preventing wages from falling further than they already had in the wake of the Civil War. However, their greatest legacy was likely paving the way for other railroad unions to form.

  Brakeman had one of the most dangerous rail jobs in the business. Manually applying the brakes on a train car meant climbing on top of the car while it was in motion and lowering the brakes. It goes without saying how hazardous this could be. The Brotherhood of Railway Brakeman (BRB) was founded in 1883 but was powerless to change this particular aspect of the role as climbing on top of the train was an essential part of the job. However, they were able to fight for higher wages and better hours. They also offered death coverage to help the families of workers in the event of an all too likely accident.

  Firemen had possibly one of the most strenuous jobs in the railroad industry. Moving coal demanded significant strength. What’s more, the job was an unhealthy one. Firemen were constantly breathing fumes from the coal fires that powered the train. As if this all weren’t enough, there was the constant looming threat of an explosion if there wasn’t enough water in the boiler. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was founded in 1873. It eventually expanded and became the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen in 1906 as many of its members went on to become train engineers. Like the brakemen union, the B of LF offered death and injury benefits, knowing that they could do little to prevent the hazardous conditions but could at least offer compensation if something were to go wrong.

  Although the job of the carman was not as dangerous as that of the fireman or brakeman, it still suffered from long hours and low wages. Inspired by the unions that had come before it, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, founded in 1890, sought to protect the interests of its members and raise their prestige within the railroad industry.

  Conductors too faced less than ideal working conditions despite the level of respect afforded the position. The Order of Railway Conductors of America (ORC) was founded in 1868, shortly after the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Although their jobs were not quite as strenuous or as dangerous as many others, they still faced long hours, arduous journeys, and potential hazards as railroad safety standards were still being developed. In addition to representing their interests and providing them with insurance, the ORC worked to promote the conductor as a prestigious occupation and heighten the standards to which they held themselves.

  Living Tradition

  While they still play a key role, particularly on passenger trains, the conductor has survived in America to this day as an occupation largely thanks to railroad unions and the desire to preserve a staple of the American landscape. We romanticize the role in stories and artwork, expecting our conductors to dress in a certain style because, for us, what they do is just as valuable as what they’ve come to represent.

  Chapter Three: Types of Conductors

  When we are talking about “types” of Conductors, we are really talking about types of trains upon which conductors might work. The job may vary slightly to accommodate the particular needs of that type of train, but the essence of the job is largely the same. Conductors are there to manage the train, whether that train happens to be a small trolley in the middle of a metropolitan city or a large Amtrak toting travelers between Boston and New York City. In this chapter, we’ll be focusing on the two main categories of railroad train: passenger and freight. There may be some additional variation between different types of passenger train jobs or freight train jobs, however, the primary purpose and functions of each of these types is largely consistent.

  Freight Conductors

  A freight train is a train that transports goods as opposed to passengers. Freight trains in the United States carry everything from chemicals to food. Walk into your local supermarket and investigate the produce section. The fruits and vegetables you see there, unless native to your state, have likely been transported by train from other parts of the country. Freight trains have been in operation since the beginning of the 19th century, making the role of the freight train conductor just as old and established as that of the passenger train conductor.

  Today, as in the past, the freight train conductor is the authority on the train. This is true no matter how old the individual is or how long they’ve worked in the industry compared to their colleagues. The conductor is responsible for the contents of the train and for making sure it arrives at its scheduled location on time.

  Freight train conductors must know what their train is carrying at all times. This includes understanding any relevant safety precautions and filling out any relevant paperwork. As the train makes its stops, this conductor must know what needs to be unloaded and where. In short, it’s a more management oriented position and is far removed from the stately conductor you see portrayed in Shining Time Station.

  Freight train conductors historically got their start as brakemen. As we’ve already established, brakemen have very different roles these days than in the past. They no longer climb on top of train cars to manually drop the brakes. Instead, they are treated as a general entry level train position. Brakemen inspect brakes, couple and uncouple cars, and occasionally throw manual track switches. From here, workers can develop a familiarity with the train and its day to day operations while working their way up. These days, brakemen are rarely employed on freight trains and the freight train conductor is likely to perform these duties him or herself.

  In times past, freight train conductors would situate themselves in the caboose of the train. Although nearly all modern trains no longer have these, you’re probably familiar with this classic train car. It continues to be portrayed in children’s stories and toys and can still be seen today on the few steam locomotives still in operation.

  In the caboose, freight train conductors managed their paperwork and studied their time tables, generally staying on top of their schedule. Additionally, they might switch cargo with other trains, requiring even more paperwork to keep track of what switches were made and when. Any visual inspections of the train happened before it departed. Once en-route, the conductor would remain in the caboose, unable to easily traverse the train as cargo cars, unlike passenger ones, did not lend themselves to much movement. In fact, so isolated was the conductor that before radios became a common practice on trains, the conductor and engineer would be forced to communicate through a series of whistle signals and this might have been the only human interaction available to the conductor for hours.

  After freight train safety laws were lightened in the 1980s, most trains lost their cabooses. It was no longer a requirement that they have them or that they staff full crews. Higher tech trains required fewer people to manage them and fewer people meant less need for a train car whose sole purpose was to house train crew in the back of the train. What’s more, it is no longer necessary for freight train conductors to monitor the back of the train given the invention of a black box that does this task for them. These days, the conductor spends his time riding in the front of the train with the engineer. It may be close quarters, but it beats being alone.

  If you’re interested in becoming a freight train conductor, take a look at the chapter on conductor responsibilities. It will outline the duties of this type of conductor more thoroughly. Know that this can be a physically tasking job due to both the long journeys involved in freight travel and the physical strength required to perform some of the tasks.

  Passenger Conductors

  A passenger train is a train that transports people from one location to another. Like boats and airplanes with similar purposes, they seek to provide customers with an easy and comfortable experience. Despite seeing a great deal of competition from the aforementioned modes of transportation, passenger trains are alive and well across the world. In the United States, t
he long distance passenger train industry is dominated by Amtrak, a government funded organization whose lines stretch to every corner of the United States and hit most major cities.

  Passenger train conductors are similar to freight train conductors in that they are the authority on their trains. Also, like freight train conductors, they are tasked with efficiency, punctuality, and safety. They too complete paperwork en-route to their destination. They too run safety inspections and remain alert to signals and switch positions that could affect the safe movement of the train.

  The primary difference between passenger train conductors and freight train conductors involves customer service. Passenger train conductors take tickets, open and close doors for passengers, and make announcements. They are many people’s first and last experience with train personnel and represent their company with distinction.

  Depending on the size of the passenger train, it may also employ one or two assistant conductors. The primary conductor delegates his or her responsibilities to these assistants. Their job function is, in essence, to share a complex and demanding workload. They can also help on long journeys by taking the proverbial helm when the primary conductor is on a break.

  Passenger train conductors may also receive assistance from other service personnel. Service attendants may distribute refreshments or assist with passenger queries. Porters often assist with the loading and unloading of passenger luggage. The number of service personnel and extent of their duties may depend heavily on the size of the train and length of the journey.