Porters - Historic Heroes of The Rails

As part of America's Black History Month, Seattle Times today reported that Railway Porters - historically a job filled by men of color - are being honored next week in Oakland as pioneers in civil rights. This vital part of the railway service industry broke barriers starting just after the Civil War, with many former slaves joining the railroads to tend to needs of passengers. The job came with newfound freedoms, but also its fair share of racism. Because of this, porters are being considered the lamplight to a movement that ensured rights to everyone, and ultimately ushered in our country's first Black President.

The picture is of Nat Love, famous cowboy better known as "Deadwood Dick" and railway porter. Don't you just love history?

Photo - Old School Signaling

You know what's cool about Public Domain? It's cool that you can use pictures like this for anything you like! Even though this photo wasn't taken in Washington, it still gives us an important visual into the past of railroading. The Library of Congress describes the scene as follows:

Indiana Harbor Belt RR, switchman demonstrating signal with a "fusee" - used at twilight and dawn - when visibility is poor. This signal means "stop." Calumet City, Ill.

Video - Trains and HD Motorcycles

This new Harley Davidson video shows you how railroading takes its place of prominence in an urban landscape; seamless integration, a mechanical backdrop. Nowhere, yet everywhere. Railroad tracks - and the trains who love them - serve as much of the landscaping while Harley highlights the new Iron 883 model Sportster. It does a fine job of blending two of the things I love in life, trains and motorcycles. If I had a fatter wallet, I would be doing the Iron 883 treatment to my own 883 Low!

The setting of this video? Probably Southern California based on the terrain, a license plate I saw, and the copious number of UP engines running through much of the video. Enjoy!