PNWRMNM If you are interested in a serious history of the social impact of Pullman porters get a copy of Rising From the Rails - Pullman Porters and the Making of the Black Middle Class by Larry Tye, copyright 2004. I presume it is available on Amazon. Mac McCulloch
If you are interested in a serious history of the social impact of Pullman porters get a copy of Rising From the Rails - Pullman Porters and the Making of the Black Middle Class by Larry Tye, copyright 2004. I presume it is available on Amazon.
Mac McCulloch
Indeed it is. I have placed my order. Thanks for the recommendation.
On the longer runs, which were two or three nights long, the porters would spell each other so that all could get some sleep; each porter would be alert to the passengers in another one's car, as well as those in his own.
Johnny
If a porter was based in New York and worked the Broadway Limited to Chicago, for example, how long would he typically layover in Chicago?
I found some on-line information regarding the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Apparently the porters had to pay for their own accommodations whilst away from home, at least prior to the union's recognition by the Pullman Company in 1937 or thereabouts.
One end as stated, the other at their homes. Those with seniority would try to hold runs that made for a fast turnoround away from home in order to spend more time with family.
If your really interested read up on A. Phillip Randolph the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He was one of the early leaders of the civil rights movement and truly a great American!
More often than not in segregated third rate hotels on the"wrong side of the tracks".
During their hay day, if my experience is any indication, the Pullman porters were up most of the night on the premier trains, i.e. Broadway Limited, Capitol Limited, Twentieth Century Limited, between the east coast and Chicago. If for no other reason they had to spend a considerable portion of the trip shinning shoes, which was a no cost service offered to Pullman passengers.
Where did the crews spend their away from home time, presumably using some of it to catch-up on the sleep that they missed on the over night runs to or from the east coast?
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