Railroad Workers

Railroad Workers
FELA claims for locomotive and railcar exposure
Risk Level	Very High
Asbestos Per Locomotive	6,000 lbs
Legal Pathway	FELA (no damage caps)
Conrail Verdict	$2.3 million
Norfolk Southern	$5 million verdict
Peak Exposure Era	1880s-1990s
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Executive Summary

Railroad workers across multiple job classifications—including brakemen, conductors, car repairers, track maintenance workers, yardmasters, signal maintainers, and locomotive engineers—encountered asbestos in brake systems, steam locomotive insulation, and building materials throughout railroad facilities. Car repairers who worked in enclosed railroad shops faced particularly significant exposure, servicing brake systems that contained asbestos friction materials and working on equipment insulated with asbestos-containing materials. The steam locomotive era created intense exposure for workers maintaining boilers, fireboxes, and piping systems insulated with asbestos materials. Even after the transition to diesel locomotives, railroad workers continued encountering asbestos in brake components, building materials at rail facilities, and equipment insulation. According to Danziger & De Llano, railroad workers may have unique legal options including claims under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), which provides different remedies than standard personal injury litigation.

The railroad industry's nationwide operations exposed workers at facilities across the United States throughout the peak asbestos era. Steam locomotive maintenance required workers to service boilers and fireboxes insulated with asbestos, creating intense exposure in confined locomotive cabs and maintenance shops. Car repairers in railroad shops faced continuous exposure when servicing brake systems on thousands of railcars. Like Automotive Workers who serviced vehicle brakes, railroad workers encountered concentrated asbestos exposure during brake maintenance. Boilermakers who maintained railroad equipment, pipefitters who serviced steam systems, and Insulation Workers who applied and removed insulation created additional exposure throughout rail facilities. Major railroads including Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, and CSX operated facilities where workers were exposed for decades. FELA claims against railroads provide an alternative compensation pathway, while asbestos trust funds hold over $30 billion for workers exposed to specific manufacturers' products.

Railroad Workers and Asbestos Exposure: At-a-Glance

• Asbestos load per steam locomotive — A single boiler carried up to 6,000 pounds of asbestos insulation, creating extreme exposure during maintenance and overhaul work
• FELA eliminates damage caps — Unlike workers' compensation, the Federal Employers' Liability Act allows railroad workers to recover full economic damages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages with no statutory limits
• Diesel transition did not end exposure — Diesel-electric locomotives continued using asbestos in brakes, gaskets, steam generators, and electrical components through the 1990s
• Carmen handled 100 brake shoes daily — Norfolk Southern car repairers at Lambert's Point serviced up to 100 asbestos-containing brake shoes per shift, releasing hundreds of thousands of airborne fibers
• Signal infrastructure widely contaminated — Union Pacific records show 90% of aerial cable contained asbestos, along with transite signal houses and asbestos-mixed signal cement
• Average railroad tenure is 17 years — More than four times the private-sector average of 3.9 years, resulting in decades of cumulative fiber inhalation
• $5 million jury verdict for carman — A Norfolk Southern carman exposed to brake shoes and pipe insulation from 1979 to 1990 won a $5 million FELA verdict
• Trust funds hold $30 billion+ — Railroad workers can file claims against 60+ asbestos trust funds in addition to FELA lawsuits, potentially recovering from multiple sources simultaneously

Key Facts

Metric	Finding
Asbestos per steam locomotive	Up to 6,000 pounds of asbestos insulation on a single boiler — Danziger & De Llano railroad exposure analysis
FELA damage caps	None — railroad workers recover full economic damages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages without statutory limits — Mesothelioma Lawyer Center FELA review
Norfolk Southern jury verdict	$5 million for carman Stephen Fowlkes exposed to brake shoes and pipe insulation at Lambert's Point, 1979-1990 — Mesothelioma Lawyer Center case analysis
Conrail jury verdict	$2.3 million for signal maintainer Kevin Howell who drilled asbestos signal boxes for 38 years — Mesothelioma Lawyer Center litigation review
Carmen daily brake shoe handling	Up to 100 asbestos-containing brake shoes per shift at Norfolk Southern Lambert's Point facility — Mesothelioma Lawyer Center occupational data
Union Pacific aerial cable	90% of aerial cable contained asbestos per 1983 Chief Engineer document; no formal abatement program until 1990s — Danziger & De Llano historical records
Peak exposure era	Steam locomotive era (1880s-1960s) created primary exposure; diesel-era exposure continued through 1990s in brakes, gaskets, and steam generators — Mesothelioma.net occupational review
Class I railroad workforce	120,399 workers with average tenure of 17 years compared to 3.9 years in the private sector — Surface Transportation Board employment data
Asbestos rope specification	1978 Union Pacific instruction bulletin required each section gang to maintain 150 feet of one-inch pure asbestos rope for rail heating — Danziger & De Llano document analysis
Pipefitter settlement	$1.7 million for railroad pipefitter who applied and removed asbestos from boilers and pipes in locomotive shops, 1943-1954 — Mesothelioma Lawyer Center settlement records
Major railroad defendants	Union Pacific, BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Conrail — plus locomotive builders GE, EMD, and ALCO — Mesothelioma Lawyer Center litigation database
Trust fund availability	Over $30 billion in 60+ active asbestos trust funds available to railroad workers exposed to products from bankrupt manufacturers — Danziger & De Llano trust fund guide

What Is FELA and Why Does It Matter?

As Mesothelioma Lawyer Center documents, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), enacted in 1908, provides railroad workers with a uniquely advantageous compensation pathway that differs fundamentally from state workers' compensation systems.

FELA Advantages Over Workers' Compensation:

Factor	FELA (Railroad)	Workers' Comp (Other Industries)
Damage Caps	NO CAPS — Full recovery available	Often capped by state law
Pain & Suffering	Fully recoverable	Usually excluded or limited
Lost Wages	Full economic damages	Typically 66% of wages
Punitive Damages	Available in egregious cases	Rarely available
Burden of Proof	Must prove employer negligence	No-fault system

To Recover Under FELA, Workers Must Prove:

1. The railroad employer was negligent
2. The negligence caused or contributed to the injury
3. The injury occurred during the course of employment

Comparative Negligence:

FELA applies comparative negligence principles, meaning recovery can be reduced if the worker's own negligence contributed to exposure. As documented by Danziger & De Llano, in the Norfolk Southern case, the jury found the worker's cigarette smoking contributed to his pulmonary fibrosis and applied 80% contributory negligence, reducing the $5 million verdict to a $1 million net award.

"FELA cases require proving the railroad knew or should have known about asbestos hazards and failed to protect workers. Internal documents—like Union Pacific's admission they had no formal abatement program until the 1990s despite knowing about dangers since 1958—are powerful evidence. These cases can result in full compensation without the damage caps that limit recovery in other industries."

— Rod De Llano, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

Where Did Railroad Workers Encounter Asbestos?

Mesothelioma Lawyer Center's historical analysis indicates that Asbestos permeated virtually every aspect of railroad operations from the 1880s through the 1990s.

Steam Locomotive Applications (Primary Exposure):

Steam locomotives required massive amounts of asbestos insulation:

• Boiler insulation: Up to 6,000 pounds per locomotive
• Steam pipe insulation: Multiple layers throughout
• Firebox refractory: Often contained asbestos
• Cab heating systems: Insulated hot water or steam lines

Diesel Locomotive Applications (1940s-1990s):

The transition to diesel-electric locomotives did NOT eliminate asbestos. Internal Union Pacific documents confirm asbestos use in:

• Pipe insulation on cab heater hot water lines
• Air compressor discharge line insulation
• Brake shoes
• Gaskets throughout the locomotive
• Steam generators (for heating passenger cars)
• Electrical components including arc chutes and dynamic brake cooling grids

Railroad Car Applications:

Brake Systems: Railroad brake shoes contained asbestos for approximately 20 years, with shoes lasting many years after manufacturing ceased. Norfolk Southern carmen at Lambert's Point handled up to 100 asbestos brake shoes in a single day. Pathologists testified that hundreds of thousands of invisible asbestos fibers became airborne during brake servicing.

Passenger Cars:

• Vinyl asbestos floor tiles
• Ceiling and wall insulation
• Steam heating line insulation
• Heat shields around heating equipment

According to Mesothelioma.net's records, Freight Cars:

• Brake assemblies
• Refrigerated car (reefer) insulation
• Tank car heat shields

Railroad Facilities:

Union Pacific documents confirm asbestos in:

• Vinyl floor tile in yards and shops
• Acoustic ceiling tile
• Boilers for facility heating
• Drywall and joint compound
• Transite walls, siding, roofing materials
• Pipe insulation throughout

Signal Infrastructure (Often Overlooked):

A May 27, 1983 Union Pacific Chief Engineer document revealed:

• Transite boards in signal and instrument houses
• Asbestos insulation around ties near switch heaters
• 90% of aerial cable contained asbestos
• Asbestos fiber mixed with signal cement to seal instrument cases

Asbestos Rope for Rail Repair:

A 1978 Union Pacific Instruction Bulletin specified that each section and maintenance gang should maintain 150 feet of one-inch pure asbestos rope. Historical records from Danziger & De Llano show that workers soaked the rope in oil, placed it against rail webs, and ignited it to generate heat for rail adjustment.

Which Railroad Jobs Had Highest Exposure?

According to Mesothelioma Lawyer Center, Multiple crafts within the railroad industry faced significant asbestos exposure, with some jobs presenting extreme risk.

Highest-Risk Occupations:

Boilermakers in Railroad Shops: Boilermakers performed the most hazardous railroad asbestos work, removing and replacing 6,000 pounds of insulation per steam locomotive boiler. This work involved:

• Stripping deteriorated, friable insulation
• Working in confined roundhouse environments
• Exposure to massive fiber releases during removal

Carmen (Car Repair Workers): Carmen maintained and repaired railroad cars, with particular exposure during brake servicing. The Norfolk Southern case documented carmen handling up to 100 asbestos brake shoes daily, with hundreds of thousands of fibers becoming airborne.

Pipefitters and Steamfitters: Workers maintaining steam and hot water systems handled asbestos pipe insulation regularly. A pipefitter who worked 1943-1954 settled for $1.7 million after duties included applying and removing asbestos from boilers and pipes in locomotive shops.

Signal Maintainers: Signal workers maintained wayside signals containing asbestos transite panels. Conrail signal maintainer Kevin Howell, who developed lung cancer after 38 years drilling holes in asbestos signal boxes, won a $2.3 million verdict.

Electricians: Electrical maintenance workers encountered asbestos in locomotive arc chutes, dynamic brake cooling grids, building electrical systems, and signal equipment.

Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Steam Era): Operating crews of steam locomotives worked in cabs surrounded by asbestos-insulated boilers and steam pipes, experiencing chronic low-level exposure from degraded insulation.

Machinists: Machine shop workers fabricated locomotive and car components in shop environments contaminated by concurrent boiler work, pipe fitting, and other asbestos activities.

As Danziger & De Llano notes, Track Workers: Section gangs and maintenance-of-way workers experienced exposure through asbestos rope used for rail heating and asbestos gloves worn for protection from hot surfaces.

⚠ Long Tenure = High Cumulative Exposure: Railroad workers have an average tenure of 17 years—far exceeding the private sector average of 3.9 years. This extended employment means decades of cumulative asbestos exposure and increased disease risk.

What Legal Actions Have Railroad Workers Won?

Legal analysis by Mesothelioma Lawyer Center indicates that FELA lawsuits have produced significant verdicts for railroad workers with asbestos-related diseases.

Notable FELA Verdicts:

Norfolk Southern — $5 Million Verdict: Stephen Fowlkes worked as a carman at Norfolk Southern's Lambert's Point facility from 1979 to 1990. His duties exposed him to:

• Up to 100 asbestos-containing brake shoes daily
• Pipe insulation throughout the facility
• Hundreds of thousands of airborne fibers during brake servicing

The jury awarded $5 million (reduced to $1 million net after 80% contributory negligence for smoking). Pathologists testified about the massive fiber exposure during daily brake work.

Conrail — $2.3 Million Verdict: Kevin Howell worked 38 years for Conrail as a signal maintainer, regularly drilling holes in asbestos signal boxes located alongside railroad tracks. Despite being a former smoker, the jury found Conrail liable for $2.3 million for his lung cancer.

Pipefitter Settlement — $1.7 Million: A pipefitter who worked 1943-1954 settled for $1.7 million. His duties included applying and removing asbestos from boilers and pipes in shops where asbestos was applied to steam locomotives.

Additional Railroad Litigation:

According to Mesothelioma Lawyer Center's legal review, * Union Pacific has faced multiple FELA claims based on internal documents showing knowledge of hazards

• BNSF Railway has inherited asbestos liabilities from predecessor railroads
• CSX Transportation absorbed liabilities from Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, and other merged railroads

"Internal railroad documents are often key to these cases. Union Pacific documents show they knew about asbestos cancer hazards in 1958 but didn't implement formal abatement until the 1990s. When we can demonstrate a railroad knew about the dangers and failed to protect workers, FELA allows full recovery without the damage caps that limit compensation in other industries."

— Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

Which Railroad Companies Face Liability?

As reported by Mesothelioma Lawyer Center, Major railroad corporations have faced FELA claims and continue to face potential liability for asbestos exposure.

Major Railroad Defendants:

Union Pacific Railroad: Internal documents confirm:

• Asbestos widely used in locomotives from 1950s through 1980s
• No formal abatement program until 1990s
• 90% of aerial cable contained asbestos
• Asbestos rope used for rail repair
• Knowledge of cancer hazards since 1958

Norfolk Southern: The $5 million Fowlkes verdict documents extensive exposure at Lambert's Point facility. Carmen handled up to 100 asbestos brake shoes daily with no protective measures.

Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail): The $2.3 million Howell verdict demonstrates liability for signal maintainer exposure to asbestos signal boxes over 38 years.

BNSF Railway: Formed through mergers of Burlington Northern, Santa Fe, and predecessor companies, BNSF inherited asbestos liabilities from multiple historic railroads.

CSX Transportation: Created through consolidation of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line, CSX absorbed liabilities from Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, and other railroads.

Asbestos Product Manufacturers:

Danziger & De Llano states that Railroad workers may also file claims against:

• Locomotive builders (GE, EMD, ALCO)
• Brake shoe manufacturers (Cobra, Comet, Anchor)
• Insulation manufacturers
• Gasket and seal manufacturers

Can Railroad Workers Also File Trust Fund Claims?

Yes. As Danziger & De Llano explains, in addition to FELA claims against railroad companies, workers exposed to asbestos products from bankrupt manufacturers can file trust fund claims.

Potentially Applicable Trust Funds:

Trust Fund	Railroad Connection
Johns-Manville Trust	Transite panels, insulation products
Owens Corning Trust	Insulation materials
Armstrong World Industries	Floor tiles in passenger cars
Garlock Trust	Gaskets and seals
Pittsburgh Corning Trust	Block insulation

Dual Recovery Potential:

Railroad workers may be able to recover from BOTH:

• FELA claims against the railroad employer (proving negligence)
• Trust fund claims against bankrupt product manufacturers

Per Danziger & De Llano, an experienced mesothelioma attorney can identify all applicable claims and maximize total recovery.

✓ FELA Advantage: Unlike workers' compensation, FELA has no damage caps and allows recovery of full economic and non-economic damages including pain and suffering. Railroad workers diagnosed with mesothelioma should contact an attorney experienced in both FELA litigation and asbestos trust fund claims.

Get Help

If you or a family member worked for a railroad and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may have valuable legal claims under FELA and through asbestos trust funds.

ℹ Important Time Limits: FELA claims have specific statutes of limitations that vary by state. Time limits typically begin running from the date of diagnosis or discovery of the disease. Contact an experienced railroad mesothelioma attorney promptly to protect your rights.

What to Do Next:

1. Gather Employment Records: Collect documentation of your railroad employment including Railroad Retirement Board records, union records, and employment history
2. Document Your Work: Note which crafts you worked (carmen, pipefitter, boilermaker, signal maintainer, etc.) and which facilities
3. Identify Asbestos Exposure: Document exposure to locomotive insulation, brake shoes, signal boxes, or other asbestos-containing materials
4. Obtain Medical Records: Get documentation of your diagnosis and any connection to asbestos exposure
5. Contact FELA-Experienced Attorneys: Mesothelioma attorneys experienced in FELA litigation can evaluate both railroad claims and trust fund claims

Resources for Railroad Workers:

• Railroad Workers & Mesothelioma — Danziger & De Llano, call (855) 699-5441 for a free, confidential case evaluation
• Find a Mesothelioma Attorney Near You — search by state for attorneys experienced in FELA and asbestos litigation
• Mesothelioma Causes & Risk Factors — comprehensive guide to occupational and environmental asbestos exposure
• Railroad Asbestos Claims Guide — detailed overview of FELA claims, trust funds, and compensation options

Frequently Asked Questions

Can railroad workers file FELA claims for mesothelioma?

Yes. The Federal Employers' Liability Act allows railroad workers to sue their employer directly rather than filing workers' compensation claims. FELA requires proving the railroad was negligent in allowing asbestos exposure, but provides significant advantages including no damage caps on economic or non-economic damages, full recovery for pain and suffering, and potential punitive damages in egregious cases. Jury verdicts in railroad asbestos FELA cases have reached $5 million, and settlements for pipefitters have exceeded $1.7 million.

How long do railroad workers have to file an asbestos claim?

FELA claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations under federal law, typically beginning from the date of diagnosis or when the worker reasonably should have known the disease was connected to railroad employment. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, many workers are diagnosed decades after their last asbestos exposure. State-specific rules may apply to trust fund claims filed against bankrupt manufacturers, making prompt legal consultation essential after any asbestos-related diagnosis.

Were diesel locomotives safer than steam locomotives for asbestos exposure?

Diesel-electric locomotives reduced but did not eliminate asbestos exposure. While steam locomotives carried up to 6,000 pounds of asbestos insulation per boiler, diesel units continued using asbestos in brakes, gaskets, steam generators for passenger car heating, and electrical components including arc chutes and dynamic brake cooling grids. Union Pacific internal documents confirm asbestos remained in diesel locomotive components through the 1990s, and workers servicing these units encountered ongoing exposure for decades after the steam-to-diesel transition.

What is the difference between a FELA claim and a trust fund claim?

FELA claims are lawsuits filed against a railroad employer alleging negligence in permitting asbestos exposure. The railroad must still be a functioning company to be sued. Trust fund claims are filed against dedicated compensation funds established by bankrupt asbestos product manufacturers such as Johns-Manville and Owens Corning. Railroad workers can pursue both types of claims simultaneously because they target different responsible parties — the employer who failed to provide safe conditions and the manufacturers who supplied hazardous products.

Which railroad job classifications had the highest mesothelioma risk?

Boilermakers who stripped and replaced 6,000 pounds of insulation per steam locomotive faced the most extreme exposure. Carmen at facilities like Norfolk Southern's Lambert's Point handled up to 100 asbestos brake shoes daily, releasing hundreds of thousands of airborne fibers. Signal maintainers drilled asbestos-containing signal boxes for decades, as demonstrated by the $2.3 million Conrail verdict for Kevin Howell. Pipefitters who applied and removed asbestos from boilers and steam systems also faced severe cumulative exposure throughout their careers.

Can family members of deceased railroad workers file claims?

Yes. Wrongful death claims under FELA allow surviving spouses, children, and dependents to seek compensation when a railroad worker dies from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. These claims carry their own statutes of limitations, typically running from the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis. Additionally, family members may file trust fund claims on behalf of the deceased worker's estate against bankrupt product manufacturers, potentially recovering from multiple sources.

How much compensation have railroad workers received for asbestos exposure?

Documented FELA verdicts include $5 million for Norfolk Southern carman Stephen Fowlkes and $2.3 million for Conrail signal maintainer Kevin Howell. A railroad pipefitter who worked from 1943 to 1954 settled for $1.7 million. In addition to litigation, railroad workers may file claims against over 60 active asbestos trust funds holding more than $30 billion in combined assets. An experienced FELA attorney can identify all applicable compensation sources and pursue them simultaneously to maximize total recovery.

Quick Statistics

• 120,399 Class I railroad employees — The Surface Transportation Board workforce census documents the scale of the industry, with workers averaging 17 years of tenure compared to 3.9 years in the private sector
• 38 years of signal box exposure — Conrail signal maintainer Kevin Howell drilled asbestos-containing signal housings throughout his entire career before developing lung cancer
• 3-year federal statute — FELA imposes a three-year filing deadline from diagnosis, shorter than many state personal injury statutes for non-railroad workers
• 80% contributory negligence applied — Norfolk Southern successfully argued smoking contributed to the carman's disease, reducing the $5 million verdict to $1 million net — demonstrating how comparative fault affects FELA recoveries
• 1908 FELA enactment — Congress passed the Federal Employers' Liability Act over a century ago, creating a negligence-based system that remains the exclusive remedy for railroad workers injured on the job
• 150 feet of asbestos rope per gang — Union Pacific required each section gang to maintain pure asbestos rope for rail heating operations as late as 1978
• 1958 corporate knowledge — Union Pacific internal records document awareness of asbestos cancer hazards beginning in 1958, yet no formal abatement program was implemented until the 1990s
• 60+ active trust funds — Bankrupt manufacturers of locomotive insulation, brake shoes, gaskets, and signal equipment established dedicated compensation funds totaling over $30 billion
• $1.7 million pipefitter settlement — A railroad pipefitter who applied and removed asbestos from locomotive boilers between 1943 and 1954 recovered through pre-trial settlement
• 5 major Class I defendants — Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX, and the former Conrail have all faced FELA asbestos litigation from current and former employees

Related Pages

• Boilermakers and Asbestos Exposure
• Pipefitters and Asbestos Exposure
• Insulation Workers and Mesothelioma
• Automotive Workers and Brake Asbestos
• Occupational Asbestos Exposure Quick Reference
• Mesothelioma Statute of Limitations by State