Taking the Cold Out of Iron and Steel, Railroad Workers Require an Abundance of Uniforms and Career Apparel

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The railroads of America have experienced both a great expansion and a drastic reduction in their 173-year history. And now it seems they are on the brink of another round of expansion, though spurred by a different need than before. While the first period of growth reflected a need for more and faster movement of goods, the future likely will put greater emphasis on rail traffic geared for safer, more efficient human transportation as the nations cities grow ever more populated.

In current times, though, the use of railroads fulfills both human transportation and cargo relocation needs. Each aspect has developed into very separate needs in many forms, from type of equipment owned and maintained to staff hiring needs. And, as anyone in the uniform industry can well imagine, their apparel needs are just as distinct.

Before we look deeper at the uniforms of Amtrak and Union Pacificas representative examples of each branch of rail service lets look more at how the rail industry got to the position it now holds. Looking at the past can help estimate what lies ahead for these iron roads.

In New England in 1830, the first 23 miles of railroad were laid. They were fashioned after the tracks left by wagon wheels and helped move raw goods downhill before any engine was developed to power the train. By 1840, 2,800 more miles were added, mostly in the Northeast. Ten more years tripled that number. On May 10, 1869, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads met in Utah, completing the first coast-to-coast railway. By the turn of the century, about 200,000 miles of track created a web of transportation across the nation.

Trains revolutionized the speed by which people and goods could travel. Passenger coaches were comfortable and fully staffed. The upper class would enjoy eight-course meals in dining cars and queen-sized beds in sleeping compartments, serviced by classically uniformed waiters and agents. And for each type of raw or finished product, freight cars were designed to move the materials safely. Cattle cars, coal hoppers, liquid tank cars and standard boxcars were all staples of each railroad company.

With the 1940s came diesel and electric locomotives. These were cleaner than coal-burning steam engines. Passengers and crew alike could dress nicer without worry of ruining good clothes with soot and ash from the engine. Electric engines brought intracity rail travel into popularity, thus spawning the metropolitan train systems and subways. These too called for staff that needed quick identification by passengers. Conductors, engineers, ticket agents and red caps all came under the typical, recognizable dark blue blazer and pants that had become the uniform for the entire rail industry.

Trains both in America and around the world now are spanning bodies of water, burrowing through mountains and reaching 200 miles per hour or more. Since the invention of the car and truck, passenger and cargo use of trains has waned for the more independent travel. Almost 300,000 miles of track in the 1940s have been reduced to about 183,000, according to the National Railroad Museum.

The future of the rails now rests in two main advantages over autos. First, trains still can move masses of materials and people long distances faster and cheaper. And second, urban sprawl demands more efficient, environmentally friendly means for people to reach the hearts of cities. For passenger service, what used to be reserved for long trips or short, intracity travel is expanding to serve daily intercity commuters. High-speed trains may bring commuters from Milwaukee to Chicago and Boston to Washington, D.C. For freight, what was once only efficient for thousands of units is cost effective for tens of units.

But at the heart are still the people who operate the railroads. Conductors and ticket agents put a face on passenger rail. Police and safety officers assure companies that cargo will be protected. Some railroad companies are developing self-operating trains. But in a world where human interaction is already falling by the wayside, both Amtrak and Union Pacific are using their employees to bring humanism and service back to the rails. The first impression these companies make begins with the appearance of their employees. That impression is as much a factor to the future of the railways as the speed and comfort of the trains themselves.

The need for railway police began shortly after the first railroads were created. They protected the shipped materials from theft. They kept the hobos out of the cars and railroad yards. They protected certain passengers, like presidential candidates, on the property they knew so well.

Todays rail police serve many of those same functions, but they also perform safety training sessions, accident investigations, school lessons, illegal materials searches and more.

 

UNION PACIFIC

Incorporated in 1862 and now the nations largest railroad, Union Pacific Corp. (UP) oversees some 33,000 miles of track, 6,800 locomotives and 96,700 freight cars. It moves almost nine million carloads annually, the equivalent of 27 million semitrailers. Those cars transport any number of materials, from pickup trucks and raw goods to chemicals and energy sources.

Watching over all those cars, materials and miles are 222 sworn law enforcement officers. Each officer receives specialized training for the rail industry. Their duties may shift from day to day, incorporating numerous goals and key elements of rail operation. In response to the variety, UP has developed four separate apparel standards based on the location and assignment given to each officer.

The uniform is critical, says Jim Schiffman, Director of Police Operations for UP. If our officers are not in uniform, they are not going to be recognized and identified as UP employees. Visibility deters the criminal element. Seeing someone in an obvious uniform of authority protects our people, equipment and goods. The department authorizes its members to wear one of four uniforms. The look varies between assignments, but the overall appearance projects a professional image.

According to Schiffman, about 70% of the officers each day wear the business casual type of uniform. It consists of business pants and a long- or short-sleeve polo shirt with the UP police badge embroidered on the gray or black shirt. This option is worn mostly by staff personnel and the patrol officers working investigations. They commonly have assigned territories that they cover on a day-to-day basis, and there is little likelihood of them getting on railroad equipment.

The second most used uniform is the black basic duty uniform (BDU). Schiffman says this option is mostly for the officers working in the railroad yards. It is the approved uniform of our K-9 force because of its durability. It also serves as our tactical uniform for special enforcement operations.

The third option, the duty or street uniform, can be worn by some officers as the day-to-day apparel but is mostly worn at public relations events, like school presentations or civic group meetings. These are also the choice uniforms for grade crossing enforcement assignments because it is most recognizable as a law enforcement uniform. Both the street and BDU tops include a UP police patch. The shoulder patch helps identify the rail police from city and state officers in instances of railway accidents or investiga-tions that include UP property.

The shoulder patch also adorns the fourth and final apparel class, the dress uniform. Worn for ceremonial occasions, the LAPD-blue wool or wool blend suit mirrors the dress uniforms of city and state police.

All law enforcement officers of the UP are issued badges that identify the organization they represent. Name badges are worn with the dress and street uniforms and names are embroidered on the BDUs. Because all on-duty officers are armed, holsters and duty belts with all related gear complete the uniform. All materials were chosen to be durable and comfortable throughout the year. These officers are around some very heavy equipment that requires tough, washable fabrics that wont fade with use.

Schiffman says the uniforms protect the officers who are protecting other railway employees and equipment. We respond to all calls in the area, so other departments need to know easily who our officers are and who they represent.

UP currently uses a single national vendor for the BDUs and business casual polo shirts. That vendor ships to employees in 23 states across the nation. Individuals submit their orders, which in return are sent directly to the employee. Local retail stores help out with hard-to-size items. But all uniform pieces are a specific weight, color and quality.

The goal is to have one distributor for all of the different uniform pieces so our employees can get it all at once. Right now, we have a few different sources, Schiffman says.

Union Pacific Corp. has developed a strong police force that somehow monitors much activity. The company controls almost all of the rail-based shipping west of the Mississippi River. Each officer undoubtedly has a number of unique tales about his work and what it brings. The uniforms are designed to protect the officers no matter what situation they find themselves in.

That will be an increasingly more difficult task if freight-rail use increases as much as it is expected. Materials being shipped are growing more diverse, and new issues arise with faster, longer trains. But 140 years of experience and history likely will be the best counter-effect to the great unknowns. As one of the oldest rail companies knows, you have to adapt and flex even when your product is solid steel.

 

AMTRAK

Amtrak faces a completely different set of issues than the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department. Just 30 years old, Amtrak has less of a history backing up its unsure future. It has faced financial struggles that reflect its unique company setup. Of the top 60 countries ranked by railroad mileage, the United States is the only one with a majority of the rail operation under private ownership. Japan, Canada and Switzerland are divided almost in half between private and state ownership. Every other nations railway companies can depend on the state or national government to provide funding.

Though it owns only 730 of the 22,000 miles it operates on, Amtrak sees 65,000 customers each weekday more than 23.5 million guests annually. In its growing commuter service, it serves another 61.1 million people. Amtrak maintains 173 sleeper cars, 743 coach cars, 66 first class cars, 65 lounge/cafe cars, 83 dining cars, nearly 1,000 baggage/mail/express cars and 436 locomotives. Stops are made at more than 500 stations in 46 states. Up to 265 trains are scheduled in a single day.

All of those numbers translate in even larger numbers of employees. In all, Amtrak employs more than 24,000 people. Each division of the company has its own set of needs for uniform and apparel. While the more corporate employees are easily mistaken for average businesspeople, those who interact with customers on a daily basis are recognized by their unique uniforms. From the ticket agent to the baggage handler, the apparel is consistent in color and style with a few additions based on each role.

We have about 5,800 uniformed employees, says Kathleen Cantillon, an Amtrak spokesperson. That includes train crews, onboard service employees, station employees, those in the baggage department and red caps.

Ticket agents wear the dark blue suits with ties, scarves or other neckwear sporting a custom Amtrak design. They closely resemble airline ticket agents uniforms because the two industries are so closely related. Keeping the uniform style consistent across all transportation modes was important in helping passengers find their way in unfamiliar cities.

Onboard employees are dressed in similar attire, but they are slightly more formal when in full uniform. From the headwear to the standard footwear, these employees are almost identical to the classic train conductors of the past. Cafe car attendants are permitted to wear just the white collared button-down shirt without the blue sportcoat or blazer because they must access meals and snacks from overhead and floor-level cabinets in a tight area. Dining car servers apparel is much like that of wait staff in a fine restaurant white oxford shirts and black slacks or skirts topped with aprons or half-smocks.

Red caps wear patterned shirts and rugged dark pants. Their shirts keeps them cool while lifting or transporting passengers baggage from the train to station to vehicle, while the pants can withstand handling numerous parcels of every size and material. The red headwear helps passengers spot them through a crowd and assures that baggage is being handled by Amtrak employees.

Amtrak has its own police force, much like Union Pacific Corp., that monitors passenger boarding, baggage searches, customer and employee safety and law enforcement duties. Those formal uniforms, like UPs, are like city and state police forces to command authority and identification.

All of our uniforms are decided through a multi-discipline committee, Cantillon says. Representatives of the marketing department, transportation department, labor divisions, employee unions and management are among those who work together to reach a decision for each uniform type. Everything is decided by the committee and approved by the executive staff.

One of the key elements consistent to all uniform pieces is stain resistance. Employees can be far from home overnight and need a fresh uniform for the following day. Trains on longer trips include dormitory cars for the crew quarters. Those cars have very limited laundry facilities at best. Many of the uniforms use fabrics that include stain blockers and stain releasers to help employees keep up appearances on long journeys.

Amtrak is unique to the passenger rail industry because it is consistently keeping uniforms formal and classic while others are dressing down their employees. Commuter rail employees are commonly in shirt and pant uniforms, but Amtrak keeps its blazers and formal accessories to distinguish its service on a national level.

Though Amtrak ridership has been rising steadily in each of the past six years, the company has been facing struggles to remain a viable company. Though the future includes developing high-speed service between key cities, Amtrak doesnt want to make drastic changes to its employees appearance. Sleek locomotives and redesigned passenger car interiors are expected to bring the railroads into the 21st century. New track and railroad tie materials are increasing safety and allowing for faster, longer and heavier trains. Throughout the updates, continuing with the same uniform programs will provide some consistency that passengers can identify with.

 
Above story first appeared in MADE TO MEASURE Magazine, Spring & Summer 2003 issue. All rights reserved. Photos appear by special permission.
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