News

New Exhibit at Southern Museum Reveals Harsh Reality of Railroad Life

December 19 , 2005

KENNESAW, GA – The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History will unveil a new exhibit about the harsh but human side of the railroad, a subject normally dominated by talk of machinery and technology.

Beginning January 21, A World Apart: 150 Years of Railroaders at Work, will tell the story of the risky and laborious lives of railroaders through photographs provided by the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. The earliest image is actually a daguerreotype depicting the crew of the locomotive Tioga, built in 1848.

“Most of these railroaders lived lives we could never imagine – lives tied so fully to the railroad, they put the railroad and their safety before their families and friends,” said Sallie Loy, senior archivist at the Southern Museum. “This exhibit is truly ‘A World Apart.’”

The Supreme Court even took note of the railroad worker’s unpalatable duties in comparison to any other industry in the country, and called the railroad “a state within a state” in a 1957 decision.

The exhibit is made possible by generous support provided by the Kennesaw Museum Foundation. It is also part of a nationwide program underway by the Center for Railroad Photography & Art, to increase awareness and understanding of the significance of railroad work in America. Major support for the "Work" program is provided by the North American Railway Foundation.

The Southern Museum, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, features collections of rare Civil War weapons, uniforms, and other personal items; an exciting exhibit about The Great Locomotive Chase, including a short movie; and a full-scale replica of a locomotive factory that helped rebuild the South after the war.

To view other upcoming events, visit our calendar section.

The Southern Museum is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, off I-75 at exit 273.  Click here for visitor information, or call (770) 427-2117.