Titles or Names given to workers on Classic Passenger Trains

[CuriousWriter]

I am asking what are the different titles or names given to the workers on a train, primarily the old (classic) passenger trains.

[Deggesty]

CuriousWriter

I am asking what are the different titles or names given to the workers on a train, primarily the old (classic) passenger trains.

Welcome to the forums.Feel free to participate with information as well as questions. If you have access to the Trains magazine forums, feel free to drop in on the Flatwheel Cafe and the Trackside lounge (these two are moved to new threads every month since there are so many posts).

As to the operation of the train and engine themselves, the train crew consisted of a conductor and two brakemen, with the conductor in charge of the operation of the train and engine, and the engine crew consisted of an engineer and fireman. One brakeman, who rode near the rear of the train, lined switches when necessary, and was also called "flagman," since he, when necessary, would go back and be prepared to stop any following train. The other brakeman, who rode at the front of the train, lined switches when necessary, and often took care of the checked baggage (some trains had a separate baggageman). The conductor (at times assisted by one or more brakemen) collected the passengers’ tickets (lifted transportation). The engineer ran the engine, starting and stopping at the conductor’s direction, and the fireman made certain that the engine could run by keeping fuel in the firebox and water in the boiler of a steam engine or watching over the operation of a diesel engine.

What is now called the "onboard service crew" consisted of porters, diner crew, and lounge car attendants. The porters assisted passengers in boarding and detraining, saw to the comfort of the passengers, and were responsible for the cleanliness of their cars, often being responsible for two cars. The dining car crews were composed of a steward (subject to the conductor’s authority), who was in charge, a chef, cooks (some had little more responsibility than that of washing dishes), and waiters. The lounge car attendant saw to it that food, beverages, and various items were available for sale to the passengers, and saw to the cleanliness of the car.

If there were cars operated by the Pullman Company in the consist, there would be a Pullman porter for each car (if his were the only Pullman on the train, he would be fully in charge of the car) who saw to the comfort of the passengers (assisting in boarding and detraining, making berths down and putting them up), an attendant for a Pullman lounge (if the lounge car had sleeping accommodations, he would see to the comfort of their occupants), and a Pullman conductor, who collected the tickets for the space that was occupied.

Johnny

[CuriousWriter]

 Wonderful! That's exactly what I needed. The specific names given were of the classic trains are hard for me to find. I appreciate all this information! It's very valuable for my research!

 

A

[pajrr]

Hi, I collect various railroad hat badges. I have badges for TRAINMAN, CONDUCTOR, TRAIN BAGGAGEMAN, PULLMAN PORTER, COLLECTOR, BRAKEMAN, FLAGMAN, ATTENDENT, SLEEPING CAR PORTER, SLEEPING CAR CONDUCTOR. If your research requires photographs, private message me with an e-mail address and I can e-mail you some pix.

[AgentKid]

Deggesty

The porters

Deggesty

were responsible for the cleanliness of their cars

They were actually capable of much more than that. In Canada porters were employed by the railways, as they operated their own sleeping car fleets. Pullman Car's would come to Canada but they usually were operated by Canadian railway crews.

My Dad told me once that the old head porters knew an astounding amount about the condition of their equipment, both inside and out. Even though it wasn't their job, there was nothing they couldn't fix either inside or outside and underneath their cars. If they said there was something wrong with their car they were normally right. And in remote areas sometimes they were their own carmen and shop forces. Even though the porters were black, the other employees respected their skill in terms of keeping up their equipment.

If a customer had a minor complaint such as a squeak or a noise they seemed to know the condition and position of every screw that might cause the bothersome noise. Or they could fix the heat or air conditioning on the Saskatchewan prairie, or on a mountain siding, depending on the season.

Yet another piece of history that wasn't properly recorded.

Bruce

 

[Deggesty]

AgentKid

They were actually capable of much more than that.

Yes, Bruce, there were indeed many porters who went far beyond what we now would call their "job description." They were determined to give good service to the passengers, and rose to many an occasion that called for far more than what the Pullman Company railroad company called for. In the early days of Amtrak operation, there were still many of the former Pullman porters working, and they made travel by train much more pleasant.

There were other employees, both train crew and "on board service crew" who went beyond the bare essentials of what was required of them.

Even now, you will find both types of employees. My wife has balance problems, and she does not want to pull someone else's meal off the table if the there were a sideways lurch as we were walking in the diner. Last spring, when my wife and I boarded the Canadian in Vancouver for Jasper, we asked the conductor if he would speak to the Steward about allowing us to sit at the end of the diner; his response was, in effect, that he might. When the Steward (a different man) came through, taking reservations for dinner, after we boarded in Jasper, he responded that we would be allowed to sit at the end.

One way of describing the difference between the two types is that one knows what must be done, what must not be done--and what can be done, and the other other knows only what must be done and what must not be done--if it's not in the rule book, it is not to be considered.

Johnny