 The
North American railroad fraternal organization and trade union began in
1873 as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (B of LF) for workers
employed as firemen for steam locomotives. Early trains were steam driven and were fueled by large coal-burning boilers. These boilers required regular input of fuel to keep the train fired up and running. It was the task of the locomotive firemen to shovel coal into a train engine's firebox through a narrow opening. This job was physically demanding on the men - strenuous, dirty and dangerous. The firemen had to develop the physical skill of moving heavy coal on a swaying platform and to learn to estimate the burn rate and fuel needs of the train. This position was one of the lower paid and status of railroad employes. Boiler explosions, railway accidents and physical injury made railroad work one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. Consequently workers endeavored to form fraternal organizations for the purpose of payments of benefits for death or disability suffered on the job since there were no safety regulations in the 1800s nor benefits for employes injured on the job. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was one such organization was founded on December 1, 1873 in New York. In the early period of the origanzaiton the B of LF organized itself into a network of local lodges. where members met to discuss matters of concern and conduct social functions, such as balls and picnics, periodically. Red River Lodge, No. 8 B. of L.F. Denison, Texas
At
the 23rd Convention of the B of LF, held in Milwaukee in September
1906, steps were taken to expand the scope of the organization and
changing the name of the organization to the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen. (B of LF&E), effective January 1, 1907. In 1969 the B of LF&E merged with other railway unions to form the United Transportaion Union.  Organizations Susan Hawkins © 2024 'If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
