In the rugged terrain of Wyoming, the railroad carves its path like a long river of steel, shaping the history and spirit of the place. Yet, the stories of those who spend their lives on the rails, laboring with grit, metal, and determination, often remain in the shadows. The American Heritage Center’s “Life Between the Rails” oral history project aims to change this by documenting, preserving, and sharing the experiences of Union Pacific employees—particularly those whose voices are less often heard—women and individuals from underrepresented communities.

On New Tracks: Women Enter the Rail Workforce

Many of the “Life Between the Rails” interviewees began their careers in the 1970s, a time of upheaval and opportunity for the Union Pacific Railroad. It was during this period that the company began its equal opportunity initiatives, opening doors for women to step into roles previously reserved for men – such as switchmen, brakemen, conductors, and engineers.

The women who embraced these roles faced the same tough conditions as their male counterparts – intense physical labor, biting winds, and long shifts – but also bore burdens uniquely their own. Celeste Malloy and Kris Tomanek joined the UP in the mid-1970s and early in their careers were employed as switchmen in the Cheyenne rail yard. At certain times their pregnancies were a secret hidden beneath their coveralls. No policy barred them from working, but one unrelenting manager made his stance clear. As Celeste recalls, “We had one manager that absolutely did not want pregnant women out here. He didn’t want women out here at all… ‘You’re pregnant, you’re out.’ I couldn’t afford to go home and live on unemployment.”  

In this audio clip, Celeste elaborates on the issue:

For women like Nancy Bath, the challenges went beyond physical labor. Hired in 1977 as a switchman in Laramie, Nancy balanced her duties on her family ranch with late shifts in the Union Pacific train yard. But it wasn’t just the grueling hours that weighed on her – it was the reluctance of some male coworkers to offer the guidance she needed to master her tasks. “You have to remember,” Nancy notes, “this was a changing time period. Women were coming into the workforce in male-dominated fields. That did not sit well with some people. I always felt if you did your job then they treated you better, but it was a different time.”

Even now, the echoes of that time follow Nancy in dreams – dreams of being lost, of never quite reaching where she needs to go:

Tried and Tested Bonds

Though the challenges were many, those who worked the rails forged bonds as strong as the iron tracks beneath them. “The best thing about it [railroad work] was the camaraderie,” said Kris Tomanek. “The friends I still have from working with them… it’s like a club. They’re all in the same club. You know what it’s like to work for the railroad. You know what it’s like to be out in the middle of nowhere and see the northern lights.”

There is a certain magic in the loneliness of the rail line, a sense that the vastness of the land binds those who work upon it. In the words of interviewee Teresa Straub, “All of the experiences on the railroad are unique, I think. The whole atmosphere, it’s just something that’s in your blood.” 

As Kris Tomanek said, “You trust these people with your life and limb, literally.” In the following audio clip, Kris tells the story of the time her life was saved by a coworker who pulled her out of the path of a silently rolling freight car, in the middle of winter night in the Cheyenne rail yard. 

Danny Roeseler, another railroad veteran, was hired by the UP in 1974 and worked as a switchman, conductor, and engineer. Danny shared several stories of close calls – her life spared more than once by quick-thinking coworkers.

On one occasion, a brake failure sent Danny’s runaway train cars barreling toward disaster. Feeling she had no other choice, she saved herself by jumping off the engine and into a snowdrift. In another near miss, it was a coworker who helped her avoid grievous injury. Trust, it seems, is the secret currency of the railroad, passed between hand without words. In this audio clip, Danny remembers the incidents: 

Roberta Winkler, who had a 34-year career, with UP, reflected, “I think the thing I miss the most is my railroad family – I have not felt anything like that on any other job.”  That family-like bond extended beyond just day-to-day operations. After traumatic incidents, the railroad community was there, with coworkers offering support and even counseling.

Rising to the Challenge: Grit and Grace on the Rails

For many women, overcoming the expectations of male coworkers was as much a part of the job as hauling freight. Diana Archuleta, who joined the Union Pacific in 1977, faced these challenges head-on. “It was pretty tough,” she admits, but it wasn’t without its bright spots. While Diana worked as the conductor on a soda ash train, a senior brakeman recognized her dedication and took her under his wing: “You know, I’ll take care of you kid. I’ll help you out. We’ll get through this.” In time, even the grumpiest of coworkers came around, and Diana learned that persistence and patience could eventually win over the staunchest opposition.

Hear more of Diana’s story in this clip:

Building Confidence and Lifelong Friendships

The camaraderie found on the railroad was something that set is apart as a workplace. As Kris Tomanek recalls, working with an all-female crew was a rare but rewarding experience: “We were very responsible and worked hard… in those situations it was warm and fuzzy because we were all women and we thought this is pretty cool.”

Teresa Straub was hired by the Union Pacific in 1975 and worked as a switchman, brakeman, conductor, and engineer. Teresa described how a good crew working together efficiently could make even the toughest jobs enjoyable. “If you had a switch crew that worked well together it was fun. Just fun.” Teresa supported her coworkers in many ways, even soothing their injuries with her skills as a massage therapist.

For these women the railroad was more than a job – it was a forge in which their confidence and sense of self were empowered. As Celeste Malloy reflects on her time with the UP, “I think it gave me a lot more confidence knowing that I could do these different jobs… knowing that I could learn carpenter helper, I could learn switchman, I could learn engineer. I think it gave me confidence overall.”

The railroad became not just a workplace, but a space where women discovered their strength, where they learned to trust their bodies, their minds, and one another. The friendships and support systems they created still ripple outward, influencing the lives of others long after the work is done.

With gratitude to the Union Pacific Foundation for funding this important project, and to the participants who generously shared their memories, we ensure that the stories of these remarkable women will endure – a testament to those who lived, worked, and found their place in the long, winding history of the railroad.

To explore more railroad history, visit the American Heritage Center’s virtual exhibits The Art of the Railroad and Hell on Wheels: Union Pacific in Wyoming. The first examines the cultural impact and enduring mythology of railroads, while the second explores the rough boom towns that sprang up during the construction of the very lines these pioneering women would later work and maintain.

Post contributed by Tana Libolt, “Life Between the Rails” Project Assistant.