Union Pacific Railroad badge

[RyanG_99]

A few years back, my cousin gave me an old Union Pacific Railroad badge that supposedly belonged to my great-uncle. He said that he worked somewhere in the Midwest during the 1940s, and the family story is that he was involved in some kind of rail security or inspections.

I've been trying to dig up anything about his role or records from that time, just hoping to piece together a bit of history to share with our family.

If anyone's come across similar stories or knows where to look, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[RS.Gal3mann]

Hey, that's a cool piece of family history! So awesome you're trying to dig into it!! If I'm not mistaken, the security or inspections part lines up with a few different roles back then. He could have been a Special Agent, which was UP's internal police force, or maybe a car inspector checking rolling stock. Another possibility is a special duty like a gandy dancer foreman, as they sometimes had badges or special markings for their work crews.

Maybe you can check with the Union Pacific Museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They have a ton of historical documents and archives and might be able to cross-reference his name or a specific badge number if it has one. Also try your luck with the National Archives and Records Administration. If he was involved in any kind of federal security or investigations during wartime, there's a slim chance something might be there.

Good luck, and I'm keen to know what you find out!!

 

[Alan]

Hey @RyanG_99, that’s a really cool piece of family history. Sounds like your great-uncle could’ve been anything from a Special Agent to a car inspector back in the 40s. The Union Pacific Museum in Council Bluffs is your best bet for archives, and the National Archives can’t hurt if he had any federal ties. Have you found any markings or numbers on the badge that could narrow it down?