Northern Pacific Railroad, Minnesota Division, Labor Records, 1903-1945
Collection Number: 5600
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Northern Pacific Railroad Minnesota Division, Labor Records, 1903-1945
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5600
Abstract:
This collection consists chiefly of claims cases brought before the Train Service
Board of Adjustment for the Western Region; also present are letter press books containing
certificates of examination and documentation of employee termination from the Northern
Pacific facility in Staples, Minnesota, correspondence from the superintendent, and
reports on cabooses.
Creator:
Northern Pacific Railroad (NP)
McClelland, A. W. (Trainamster)
Gregory, T. A. (Trainmaster)
Hackenberg, E. J. (Superintendent)
Flynn, T. M. (Superintendent)
Quanitities:
1 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company [NP] was a transcontinental railroad that operated
across the northern part of the continental United States from Minnesota to the Puget
Sound. It was organized in 1864 with a charter by the United States Congress signed
by President Abraham Lincoln. Construction in both Minnesota and Washington Territory
(now Washington State) began in 1870. The lines were joined in western Montana in
1883, where former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the golden spike. The railroad
was fully completed in 1888 when a tunnel under the Cascade Mountains was completed,
replacing a series of switchbacks over Stampede Pass that had been used as a temporary
measure to transverse the natural barrier.
The NP was headquartered in St. Paul Minnesota, and its trackage and operations were
organized into regional divisions. These regions changed over time (see Northern Pacific
Railway Historical Association's "NP Division Evolution") as the railroad expanded its operations. The Minnesota Division, later called the
St. Paul Division, was predominantly the area stretching from the Great Lakes to the
Minnesota - North Dakota border. The main routes were St. Paul to Staples, Minnesota;
St. Paul to White Bear Lake; and Staples to Dilworth, Minnesota.
Although this collection is from the Minnesota Division, there are reports from other
divisions, such as Fargo, Dakota and Yellowstone, in the correspondence and claims
files.
The NP was famous for its passenger service from Chicago to Seattle on the North
Coast Limited train. It was also a major transporter of freight across the northern
United States. In addition to providing access to newly opened lands, the NP also
aided in their settlement by white Europeans, opening colonization offices in Germany
and the Scandinavian countries, where they attracted immigrants with cheap but productive
farmland, whose goods were then transported on NP trains. These populations settled
primarily in Minnesota and the Dakota territories.
The NP also hired large numbers of Chinese laborers, mostly from the southern provinces
around Hong Kong, though some may have been previously employed in the building of
the Central Pacific Railroad. It is estimated by BNSF, the NP's successor railroad,
that 15,000 of the 25,000 required laborers needed in 1882 ( source)were Chinese immigrants. However unlike their German and Scandinavian counterparts,
there are minimal records about these employees.
In addition to its key role in the westward expansion of the United States, the NP
was also an innovator in technology, pioneering locomotive designs such as the 4-8-4,
called the Northern, and the 2-8-8-4, called the Yellowstone.
In 1970, NP merged with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the Great
Northern Railway to form the Burlington Northern Railroad Company. In 1996, the Burlinton
Norther merged with the Santa Fe Railway to form the Burlington Northern and Santa
Fe Railway [BNSF], one of the largest freight railroads in the United States, and
as of 2007 one of seven remaining North American Class I railroads.
Inclusive date range: 1903 - 1945
Bulk dates: 1903 - 1945
This collection consists of records from the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, Minnesota
division. The majority of records present in the collection are concerned with employees
and labor relations, although there are also records documenting the daily operations
of the train yards. Of note in this regard are the Caboose Reports (1941-1945) written
by superintendent T. M. Flynn, which document the assignment of cabooses, i.e. if
they were in service, out of service, serviceable, or unserviceable. Also of note
is the correspondence regarding efficiency tests and operating risks and rules by
trainmasters and superintendents.
The labor records include a letter press book (1904-1909) of certificates of examination
for positions of conductor and locomotive engineer on the Minnesota Division of the
Northern Pacific Railway; a letter press book (1903-1907) documenting and recording
dismissals and resignations of Northern Pacific Railway employees at Minneapolis,
as well as the reason why employment has been terminated; and a series of monthly
reports from 1945 that document employees leaving the company. Also of note is a ruling
from the United States Railroad Administration, Railway Board of Adjustment No. 1,
regarding yard work on Sundays.
The majority of the labor records consist of claims cases brought before the Train
Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region involving the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers [BLE] and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen [BLF&E] vs.
the Northern Pacific Railway (1929-1934) regarding seniority, runaround, wages, additional
mileage, overtime, work schedule, reporting pay, deadhead payment, deadhead mileage,
pay rates (local and freight), work assignments, pay for time lost, and pay for work
performed outside of position description. Other claims cases heard by the Train Service
Board of Adjustment for the Western Region involve the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
[BRT] and the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen [ORC] vs. the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company (1925-1933) regarding wage rates, mileage, overtime, deadheading,
pay for work performed outside of position description; and time claims, with attached
letters from E.J. Hackenberg (superintendent) regarding the dispute resolutions, decisions,
claims, and contract rules. There is a general synopsis of many of these cases, summarizing
decision nos. 2601-4200.
The correspondence folders are arranged chronologically. The case decision folders
are organized by decision number.
Letter press books and paper records are frailge and brittle, handle with care.
Decisions from the Train Service Board of Adjustment between the NP and members of
both the BRT and ORC were removed from the correspondence file and refiled by their
assigned Decision Numbers.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Northern Pacific Railroad, Minnesota Division, Labor Records #5600. Kheel Center for
Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 5553: Northern Pacific Railway Co. Reports and Correspondence of Trainmaster
Names:
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (U.S.)
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Northern Pacific Railway Company. Minnesota Division
Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen
Northern Pacific Railway Company.
Subjects:
Cabooses (Railroads)
Trainmaster (locomotive)
Arbitration, Industrial. Railroads. United States.
Employees, Dismissal of. Railroads. Minnesota. Minneapolis.
Hours of labor. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
Job descriptions. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
Labor disputes. Railroads. Minnesota.
Labor productivity. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
Locomotive engineers. Minnesota. Examinations.
Railroad conductors. Minnesota. Examinations.
Railroads. United States. Personnel management.
Seniority, Employee. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
Wages. Railroads. United States.
Work assignments. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
Work rules. Arbitration, Industrial. United States.
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Volume of Notices of Discharge or Resignation, Nos. 19 to 487, Inclusive.
|
1903-1907 |
|
Scope and Contents
November 28, 1903 - October 24, 1907. Staple, Minnesota. Partial index of names. Letter
press book. (EXTREMELY FRAGILE).
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Volume of Certificates of Examination for the Position of Conductor or Engineer
|
1904-1909 |
|
Scope and Contents
Pages 9 - 354. Letter press book missing front cover and first few leaves. (EXTREMELY
FRAGILE)
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 3122-3141
|
1929 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 2 |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 3378, 3399
|
1930 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 3a |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 3400-3403
|
1930 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 3b |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 3552-3554
|
1930 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 4a |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 3837-3850
|
1930 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 4b |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 3851-3892
|
1930 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 5 |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 5780-5798
|
1934 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decisions No. 5800-5868
|
1934 |
|
Scope and Contents
BLE and BLF&E vs. NP Railway Company
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Correspondence re efficiency tests and operating risks
|
1926-1945 |
|
Scope and Contents
From offices of trainmasters and superintendents
|
|||
| Box 3 | Folder 1 |
U.S. Railroad Administration. Railway Board of Adjustment No. 1, Ruling
|
1919 |
|
Scope and Contents
NP Railway Co. and Trainmen, Claim of Yardmen at Forsyth for time lost account road
crews used to perform yard service on Sundays.
|
|||
| Box 3 | Folder 2 |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, General Synopsis of Decision
No.s 2601 - 4200
|
1932 |
| Box 3 | Folder 3a |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decision No.s 1376, 1503,
1924
|
1925-1933 |
|
Scope and Contents
BRT vs. NP Railway Co.; ORC vs. NP Railway Co.
|
|||
| Box 3 | Folder 3b |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decision No. 2228
|
1926 |
|
Scope and Contents
BRT vs. NP Railway Co.; ORC vs. NP Railway Co.
|
|||
| Box 3 | Folder 3c |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decision No.s 3864-3894
|
1930 |
|
Scope and Contents
BRT vs. NP Railway Co.; ORC vs. NP Railway Co.
|
|||
| Box 3 | Folder 3d |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decision No.s 4274-4391
|
1931 |
|
Scope and Contents
BRT vs. NP Railway Co.; ORC vs. NP Railway Co.
|
|||
| Box 3 | Folder 3e |
Train Service Board of Adjustment for the Western Region, Decision No.s 5246-5280
|
1933 |
|
Scope and Contents
BRT vs. NP Railway Co.; ORC vs. NP Railway Co.
|
|||
| Box 3 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence of Superintendent, E. J. Hackenberg
|
1917-1934 |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 |
Employees Leaving Service
|
1945 |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 |
Caboose Report
|
1941-1945 |