Railroad Cap Badge, Brakeman, Southern Pacific Railroad

Description:

This metal cap badge reads “BRAKEMAN” in silver-colored skeleton letters. The badge has two posts protruding from the back that allowed it to be affixed to the uniform cap of a railroad employee who served aboard passenger trains. This badge identified the wearer as a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Southern Pacific Railroad ran throughout the southwest United States, opening in 1865 and operating until 1996 when it was taken over by the Union Pacific Railroad. The brakeman’s duties included moving from car to car to trigger the brakes and slow the train, dropping cars at stations, lining switches, and signaling to crew members about train operations.

Location: Currently not on view

Subject: RailroadsAdornmentTravel

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Transportation, Railroad, Clothing & Accessories, Work, Transportation

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: TR.333722Catalog Number: 333722Accession Number: 304341

Object Name: railroad cap badge

Physical Description: metal (overall material)Measurements: overall: 1/2 in x 3 5/8 in; 1.27 cm x 9.2075 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-8c17-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_843118

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