Milwaukee Road Chicago St Paul Railroad Workers Loading Lumber With Horse Real Photo Postcard
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, widely known as "The Milwaukee Road," was a significant Class I railroad operating across the American Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Established in 1863, the company underwent rapid expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, connecting key industrial and agricultural centers. By 1909, its lines extended from Chicago to Seattle, playing a crucial role in the nation's burgeoning freight transportation network and economic development.
This image captures a typical scene of freight operations, with workers manually loading goods, likely lumber, into a boxcar during colder weather. Such labor was fundamental to the logistical backbone of American commerce, facilitating the movement of raw materials and manufactured products. The visible "UNITED STATES SAFETY-APPLIANCES" stenciling on the car reflects federal legislation, such as the Safety Appliance Acts, which mandated standardized equipment to enhance worker safety and operational uniformity across the rail industry in the early 20th century.
This image captures a typical scene of freight operations, with workers manually loading goods, likely lumber, into a boxcar during colder weather. Such labor was fundamental to the logistical backbone of American commerce, facilitating the movement of raw materials and manufactured products. The visible "UNITED STATES SAFETY-APPLIANCES" stenciling on the car reflects federal legislation, such as the Safety Appliance Acts, which mandated standardized equipment to enhance worker safety and operational uniformity across the rail industry in the early 20th century.
