Many specialized positions were needed. Conductors oversaw train operations, while engineers and firemen kept locomotives functioning. Towermen and crossing guards diligently kept trains safe on their trek. Clerks at all levels managed the flow of goods and people, and trains were constantly being serviced in shops. African American Pullman Porters worked on many sleeping and dining cars. Young Black men worked at railroad stations as shoe-shine boys or “boot blacks.” Telephone operators were predominantly women.
![Railyard engineer next to locomotive](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/695A0E1C-E30B-6A1F-8445AF33755109F5.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469. B1541
![Paper shredder](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/69684D61-93D2-7F4C-9F21FE38BBADDC81.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469. C0507
![Milk platform and manned crossing](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/699A75AA-E464-F572-D30F872C8B040AC4.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469. C3855
![Railroad Police Sergeant Badge](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/69827022-A2B5-7AE6-C7C9A66E137D2ED2.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2569
![Railroad Police Badge](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/6990F98F-01A8-876A-76653826D5948ECC.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 4754
![Office Worker Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/69DB5F5E-9199-A90D-6EA29DB62707BFB3.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Telegraph Operator Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/69B4AD47-9D83-13A2-02169C0E6CD5CEA8.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
Baggageman
![Baggageman Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/69F9AFB7-DF92-F8C4-C951417515B46E44.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Trunk](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/FAFD12E5-A1ED-542E-D82AEFFD1D9657D9.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2914
![Luggage Tag](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/FAA51EA9-E21A-28E2-96DDD6E3DFF0EE52.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2623
![Uniform Hat with Badge](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/FACB4030-B871-CD7E-5D6247279358FE98.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 1301
![Luggage Tag](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/FAD7864D-ED25-168F-9ED39D2C5F51A9EB.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2623
Brakeman
![Brakeman Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/FB396123-C27A-72EC-46184CB350EFAB52.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Switch Key](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/FB509165-B134-8227-18F0F19FD88C3E70.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 3135
![Railroad Lantern](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/FB5E410E-997B-8243-56879CCC8C488F54.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 5143
Conductor
![Conductor Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/28A0EF8A-CA53-00EA-DF1DE8D147F3677F.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Forming Swage (Die) Set](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/28B5E2D3-D5B3-3D8D-C48B9C464DF66956.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 1332
![Trainman Uniform Coat](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/29F48F66-A58D-4738-3E90D6E0A7D21347.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 3260
![Paper Punch](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2A270BB0-BF90-C7CD-16CCBFC94FAA42A0.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 3269
![Ticket](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2A4738FA-FA7A-026B-2B195300074B4A97.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 3805
![Transportation Ticket](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2A70349D-A847-F0C1-71B16E9078E115D3.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2536
Engineer
![Engineer Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2AC0A20F-F168-9837-2594AB639FB8A1B4.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Oil Can](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2AD48B11-B672-9FA5-01061CA5914858C4.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 1008
![Dinner Pail](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2AF7FB14-AAE7-6451-F76FF0766DD52E23.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 3307
![Locomotive Engineer's Cap](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2B032951-A19B-172B-ACEA8926031EBA54.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 6315
![Steamtown USA Engineer](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2B248A7D-CC86-B2E5-8EA025499C65C934.jpeg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown USA photograph
![Locomotive number 96](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2B611114-F5FD-7077-AB2CA9109D86F89C.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown National Historic Site, STEA 7469. C4334
Fireman
![Fireman Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2BFFD954-9E15-E963-CE1637291B0EA6A0.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service image
![Economical Firing pamphlet](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2C138CB3-F62E-7C64-6B778D1FD85325A2.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS STEA 282
![Levelometer](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2C2CB4F7-91D0-86A4-F30A645F8DC49DDE.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 996
![Clinker Rake](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2C378FB6-A2B0-2863-B9D746667C36D6C1.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2217
![Coal Shovel](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2C442909-B565-6413-50D616FF9D2CADC9.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 6079
![Steamtown USA fireman](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2C7F85A8-9847-F77F-7D65CC21B90F6992.jpeg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown USA photograph
Flagman
![Flagman's Hat](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2DA3CB2E-F9C0-BA21-3DDBC94DAC63925E.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7195
![Flagman's Case](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2DBA2907-C66B-055F-76A2BA0D5F1D855C.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 1434
![Signal Flag](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2DC31BC0-ECED-617D-330BBCF213F0EBC3.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 1388
Mining
![Pick](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2E115122-DB0B-D100-6BA3812454F87E9B.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 3815
![Miner's Breast Drill Chest Piece](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2E14B32D-FDBF-FA30-EA12F73D88A65F00.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 4667
![Miners receiving safety lamps](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2DE0371D-0E92-53BE-A98C2FF6CB66F83B.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469. C0661
![Mine car in Throop, PA](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2DED4876-C455-88A8-B12B783C379273A5.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469. C2443
![Seven miners in underground coal shaft](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2DF7EAF9-A0A2-9C51-CBD92E85611E3745.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469. C2839
Pullman Porter
![Pullman Porter Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2EAEDE29-A917-3F12-A1248FE2A8857631.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Laundry Bag](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2EC1EAE0-E458-43BD-DEAB4790FAAB6132.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 534
![Instructional Sign](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2ED6356F-DAA3-152A-606B9861B60C3DC5.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 1200
![Porter's Berth and Compartment Key](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2EE9D500-E5D6-832C-150AEDB04AFE3455.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2171
![Passenger Step Stool](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2EF39B20-E378-3774-06249291ADC92E13.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2637
![Hook](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/2F0096E2-CB96-3D16-96B0B87103D55F7C.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7189
Stationmaster
![Stationmaster Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/6A5E6B9A-FFA8-E191-ECC4C938986EBEAA.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Order Hoop](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/320FAA64-942B-B302-20AD6BAC4185ED63.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7197
Switchman
![Switchman's Lantern](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/31D456A5-E18F-D3FA-3913388189322319.jpg?width=1300&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 579
Track Work
![Track Worker Mannequins](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5979AF51-C255-4C3F-3788E1990499A6DB.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Rail](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5A2A05B5-D777-6C73-9BCC45439EF5A774.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 6409
![Rail Superelevation Marker](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/59948FE3-9265-135A-7204B70A7284AB16.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 553
![Sabre Saw](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/59A78A38-B024-D82B-FD8B1CAE7AFE3803.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 693
![Drill](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/59BE58F5-F8F9-1873-058B9A1434E9FCED.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 950
![Rail Spike Puller](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/59D5B72B-A0FB-A780-9E4C34C49B46472F.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2157
![Hoisting Jack](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/59E24A43-F4D7-FD16-465FB7AB4A6C412B.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 4587
![Rail](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5A3DF6A8-AB79-C5A6-98B70957A96DE888.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 8201
![Date Nail](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5A0FD825-F6E3-E27D-151047DCDACC8E7D.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 6321
Union
![Union Card](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5ABC2440-A551-A43F-6A8060A92A8B7BC0.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 257
![Fraternal Ribbon](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5ADFCE65-EDD1-3E6D-564F3DE9891C5B32.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7730
![Anniversary Ball Program](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5B0CC479-B3E3-B7D6-88C63B0F9009CCF6.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7879
Individuals and People
![Quiz Jr.: Railroad Questions and Answers](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5BA093C8-FA27-8095-F1B021FDB1863962.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 682
![Casey Jones: The Brave Engineer](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5BBC828B-C724-8577-3448D9EB601C9A35.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 1198
![The Story of Phoebe Snow](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5BC7431C-DABA-A9A8-033CBBC64009ACBC.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 2512
![Chessie](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5BF25F2E-AEE2-3BA4-70216585134805C9.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 6910
![Bell](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5C479CBD-CB80-BC13-5D7EE313BD14F5CE.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 5130
![Hobo Mannequin](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5C544A0C-BDD8-A785-CB9D8D5579BB8719.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
National Park Service photograph
![Ernest R. Riker's last ride](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5CC53F87-A540-A0BF-01A5A89977B09DB5.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 6239
![William Truesdale at Lackawanna Ltd](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5CD2AF83-F3B6-4B74-C87CCF506B6F57D1.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown NHS, STEA 7469 B2310
![F. Nelson Blount in New Hampshire](/common/uploads/grid_builder/steamtownlocomotivesexhibit/crop16_9/5CFB0C7B-9665-D811-422C9CD7FE1BB35C.jpeg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Steamtown, USA photograph
Last updated: October 28, 2022