H4565.34

Badge "S.P.Co. Brakeman" From the History Information Station: Object: Railroad cap badge. "S.P. Co. Brakeman." History: The brakeman on the early trains "lived on the cartops." Each axle had its own brakes, which were operated by wheels at the top of the car.The brake- man ran back and forth across the roofs of the cars, setting and releasing the brakes as the train went up and down hills and around curves. If the brakes were not properly set, cars could run into each other causing chain collisions, or tear apart from the stress. This was resolved with the perfection of George Westinghouse's air brake system in the 1880s. The engineer operated the air brakes, eliminating the need for individual sets on each car. The brakeman's second most dangerous job was coupling the cars. Many men's fingers were broken and crushed as they tried to set the link-and-pin couplers in place. Eli Janney's automatic couplers, perfected in the 1870s, saved many a railroader's hands.

Used: California | Brakeman ~ Southern Pacific Company