Pennsylvania Railroad Asbestos Exposure & Compensation
Pennsylvania Railroad Company (PRR), commonly known as the Pennsy, operated an extensive passenger and freight rail network connecting major cities throughout the eastern and midwestern United States.
Pennsylvania Railroad employees may have been exposed to asbestos while maintaining and repairing railroad equipment and facilities. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) has over four decades of experience helping asbestos victims and their families, including Pennsylvania Railroad workers, pursue legal compensation.
Pennsylvania Railroad at a Glance
- Pennsylvania Railroad merged with the New York Central Railroad in 1968 to form Penn Central. Most Penn Central railroad operations transferred to Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) in 1976.
- Court records document Pennsylvania Railroad asbestos exposure involving locomotive insulation, brake shoes and other brake-system components.
- PRR court records identify several occupations with asbestos exposure allegations, including sheet metal workers, electricians, machinists, laborers, mechanics, steamfitters, and pipefitters.
- Penn Central workers diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease may have options to seek compensation, including asbestos lawsuits, asbestos trust fund claims, and Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claims.
- At least 12 asbestos trust funds recognize Pennsylvania Railroad and Penn Central Railroad exposure sites in several states.
Pennsylvania Railroad Asbestos Exposure
According to court records, Pennsylvania Railroad workers handled asbestos-containing materials and worked near others who disturbed them during locomotive repair and maintenance.
Because some Pennsylvania Railroad employees continued working through the transition to Penn Central and later Conrail, a worker’s complete employment and exposure history can be important when evaluating mesothelioma claims.
Locomotive Repair and Maintenance: In Vesper v. 3M Co., a former Pennsylvania Railroad sheet metal worker testified that he removed asbestos insulation while working on locomotive hot-water and cooling systems. He also described performing plumbing and piping repairs near machinists who replaced asbestos-containing brake shoes and other brake-system components.
The same worker testified that he could have been exposed while performing electrical work near machinists replacing asbestos-containing brake shoes. His testimony illustrates how employees could encounter asbestos even when they were not directly removing or replacing the asbestos-containing component.
Railroad Shops and Rail Yards: Court records identify Pennsylvania Railroad rail yards in New Jersey as worksites associated with alleged asbestos exposure. In another asbestos case, a Pennsylvania Railroad worker was employed as a laborer, mechanic, steamfitter, and pipefitter during the 1940s.
These records indicate potential asbestos exposure across a range of railroad trades. Repair and maintenance work involving insulated equipment, piping and braking systems could expose the employee performing the task as well as others working nearby.
Pennsylvania Railroad and Asbestos Exposure Timeline
- Before 1968: The Pennsylvania Railroad operated an extensive rail network, along with locomotive, rail-car, and maintenance facilities.
- 1968: Pennsylvania Railroad and New York Central Railroad merged to form Penn Central.
- 1970: Penn Central entered bankruptcy reorganization but continued railroad operations.
- 1976: Most Penn Central railroad operations were transferred to Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail).
- After 1976: Some railroad employees continued working for successor railroads, making their complete employment history important when investigating where and when asbestos exposure occurred.
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High-Risk Occupations at Pennsylvania Railroad
Workers who repaired or maintained railroad equipment, electrical systems, and infrastructure could encounter asbestos during their work. Pennsylvania Railroad occupations with a high risk of asbestos exposure included:
- Boilermakers
- Carmen
- Electricians
- Insulators
- Laborers
- Machinists
- Maintainers
- Mechanics
- Pipefitters
- Railroad shop workers
- Sheetmetal workers
- Signalmen
- Steamfitters
- Welders
Other employees working in the same area could also have been exposed when asbestos-containing materials were disturbed and fibers became airborne.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Pennsylvania Railroad workers could unknowingly carry asbestos fibers home on their clothing, shoes, hair, and skin. Family members could then inhale the fibers through direct contact or while handling and laundering dusty work clothes.
This type of exposure is known as secondary asbestos exposure. Family members who develop mesothelioma from secondary asbestos exposure may also be eligible for compensation.
Asbestos Products and Materials Used at Pennsylvania Railroad
Court records and other evidence identify asbestos-containing materials associated with Pennsylvania Railroad and later Penn Central railroad work, including:
- Brake-system components
- Electrical equipment
- Fuse boxes
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Packing
- Pipe Insulation
- Steam lines
- Switch controls
- Wiring Insulation
...inside the cab of the engine a lot of them had asbestos wrapped around the heater or the pipe going into the radiator.Fireman
Pennsylvania Railroad, 1966
Compensation for Pennsylvania Railroad Workers With Mesothelioma
Pennsylvania Railroad workers diagnosed with mesothelioma may be eligible to seek compensation from more than one source. Depending on the circumstances, potential options may include asbestos trust fund claims, asbestos lawsuits, and Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claims.
ELSM has over 40 years of experience investigating railroad asbestos exposure and helping workers and their families determine which compensation options may apply.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Companies that manufactured or supplied asbestos-containing products used in the railroad industry have established asbestos trust funds to compensate eligible individuals who develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
At least 12 asbestos trust funds recognize Pennsylvania Railroad and Penn Central Railroad exposure sites in several states. These sites include locations in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C. Eligibility depends on factors such as where and when a worker was exposed and which asbestos-containing products or materials were involved.
| Bankrupt Asbestos Company | Asbestos Exposure Start Date | Asbestos Exposure End Date |
|---|---|---|
| A.P. Green Industries | 1/1/1965 | |
| A-Best Products | 1/1/1971 | 12/31/1984 |
| Babcock & Wilcox | 6/1/1900 | 12/31/1982 |
| Combustion Engineering | 1/1/1923 | 12/31/1982 |
| Eagle-Picher Industries | ||
| Fibreboard Corporation | 12/31/1982 | |
| Halliburton | 3/10/1927 | 12/31/1982 |
| Keene Corporation | 1/1/1920 | 12/31/1970 |
| Owens Corning | 12/31/1982 | |
| Owens-Illinois | 5/21/1954 | 12/31/1958 |
| Plibrico | 1/31/1973 | |
| United States Gypsum | 1/1/1965 | 1/2/1968 |
Asbestos Lawsuits
Pennsylvania Railroad workers may be eligible to file mesothelioma lawsuits against companies that manufactured or supplied the asbestos-containing products responsible for their exposure. A lawsuit can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen attorneys investigate a worker’s employment and exposure history to identify the companies that may be responsible. This can include work for Pennsylvania Railroad as well as other railroads or employers where asbestos exposure occurred.
Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) Claims
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) allows railroad employees to seek compensation for work-related injuries and diseases when the railroad company’s negligence contributed to their condition.
Unlike traditional workers’ compensation, a FELA claim requires evidence that the railroad company’s negligence played a role in causing the worker’s injury or disease. Former and retired Pennsylvania Railroad employees may still be able to file a FELA claim after leaving railroad employment.
Common Questions About Asbestos Exposure at Pennsylvania Railroad
Where could Pennsylvania Railroad workers have been exposed to asbestos?
Court records document asbestos exposure allegations involving Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive repair and rail-yard work. Workers described removing asbestos insulation from locomotive heating and cooling systems and working near machinists replacing asbestos-containing brake shoes and other brake-system components.
Which Pennsylvania Railroad workers were at risk of asbestos exposure?
Workers who repaired or maintained railroad equipment and infrastructure could have been exposed to asbestos. Court records identify Pennsylvania Railroad occupations including sheetmetal workers, electricians, machinists, laborers, mechanics, steamfitters, and pipefitters. Penn Central records also identify maintainers, signalmen, and welders. Nearby employees could also have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers.
Can former Pennsylvania Railroad workers file a FELA claim for mesothelioma?
Former Pennsylvania Railroad workers file a FELA claim if the railroad company’s negligence contributed to their asbestos exposure and resulted in a mesothelioma diagnosis. Eligibility depends on the facts of each case, including the worker’s complete employment and exposure history.
Request a Free Case Evaluation
Request a free case evaluation now if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The evaluation will cost you nothing. Our lawyers will travel to visit you at your convenience or conference call with you over the phone. We understand how difficult a time this is for you and will assist in any way that we can. You can also call us toll-free at 800-336-0086 at any time.
Attorney Bibro has litigated hundreds of mesothelioma and asbestos cases in New York and New Jersey. He has also represented clients who live throughout the country. He is a licensed attorney in the states of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
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