MEMBERSHIP
Membership is eligible to all men and women aged 18 or over who can prove lineal descent from a Railroad Worker who served between March 4th, 1825 – December 31st 1945. Youth membership is also available at a lower cost and can be upgraded to adult membership at age 18.
QUALIFYING SERVICE
Acceptable service includes, but is not limited to, the following:
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Baggage Handlers/Masters
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Brakemen
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Conductors
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Engineers
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Engine Watchmen
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Express Agents
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Firemen (who worked on board or in the railyards)
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Flagmen
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Hostlers
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Porters
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Railroad Administration such as officers, attorneys, accounting, etc. if employed by the railroad.
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Railroad Laborers (as designated in the US Census)
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Railway Mail Clerks/Agents (even if the US Postal Service was their official
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employer)
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Section Crew/Gang
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Station Agents
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Switchmen
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Telegraphers (employed by the Railroad)
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Ticket Agents
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Urban rail (including streetcars, subways and commuter rail, but not buses.)
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Wipers
Other service will be considered on a case by case basis.
Acceptable sources of service include, but are not limited to:
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Census Records with occupations listed
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Pension Files
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Obituaries or vital records that list occupations
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Newspaper articles
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County or local histories
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Additional forms of proof evaluated on a case by case basis.