Subject: Railroad Blacksmiths

From: [email-masked] (Robert L. Vaughan)
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 21:15:34 GMT

I am seeking information on the role of the blacksmith in 
railroad shop practice in the days of steam.  Some specific 
questions are:  in which union did the blacksmith hold membership,
did he generally manufacture new items ore make repairs, how
common was forge welding in railroad practice,and did the 
railroads maintain different blacksmith shops for different work?
Any other comments would be appreciated as I have just begun 
research for a paper that is to be presented in July.  Any leads
would be appreciated.