Railroad Women 1943

PowerPoint Show by Andrew

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Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the official entry of the United States into World War II, a massive mobilization effort had begun, carried by the nation’s railroads.

With German submarines disrupting oceanic shipping, more freight was transported by railroad. When rationing on gasoline and rubber was introduced, civilians flocked to train transportation, doubling railroad passenger traffic between 1940 and 1944.

With enlisted men heading overseas, railroad companies turned to women to keep their overtaxed locomotives maintained and running smoothly. By 1945, some 116,000 women were working on railroads.

Mrs. Irene Bracker, mother of two, a wiper at the roundhouse.

Cloe Weaver, mother of four, a roundhouse helper training to operate the turntable.

Wipers clean an H-class locomotive.

Mrs. Dorothy Lucke, a roundhouse wiper.

Mrs. Elibia Siematter, a sweeper at the roundhouse.

Mrs. Marcella Hart and Mrs. Viola Sievers clean an H-class locomotive.

Mrs. Marcella Hart, mother of three, a wiper at the roundhouse.

Mrs. Thelma Cuvage sifts and cleans sand for use in locomotives.

Mrs. Elibia Siematter on her lunch break.

Mrs. Viola Sievers sprays an H-class locomotive with steam.

Roundhouse workers on their lunch break.