I have quite a few railroad ancestors on my tree. Some were engineers, and a new-found husband of an ancestor was a locomotive fireman before later becoming an engineer.
When John McTeer married Sarah Anne King, my grandmother's aunt, he was a locomotive fireman from Chaudiere Station, Quebec City, now working in Montreal for the Grand Trunk Railroad.
In 1884 John McTeer was secretary for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen at the Montreal lodge.
Sometime in 1888 John moved to Bisbee Arizona and became a locomotive engineer for the Arizona and South Eastern Railroad.
In 1902 John McTeer moved back to Canada, at Limoilou, Quebec City, and was working for the Quebec & Lake St John Railway (owned by Canadian Northern). On 10 August 1914 John's train came to a bridge that he discovered too late was afire. The engine fell through, killing the fireman and injuring John. He died in hospital four days later.
I found in the 1914 issue of the Brotherhood magazine a Statement of Death and Disability Claims. (No mention of John McTeer though). There are more on the previous page with amounts of insurance.
In the UK it is the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.
Relevant Links
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine
My Husband's Grandfather, Stephen Sewell Foster was an engineer for CP Rail, late 1800's to 1920, first in Montreal then out of Calgary. Do you know of any records I could look at? CP gave us one record, when he left CP for a small local RR. He "abandoned the service" in their terms! I've enjoyed looking at the links you've given. Thank you, Peggy in BC. pbgish@yahoo.ca
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem, my grandfather worked for CNR for many years. There are no employee records available. Check the Railroad label to the right or put Canadian Pacific in the search box at top, there may be some that help you. Also try Peel's Prairie Provinces website and search railroad.
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