RE: The Women Who’ve Blazed the Trail (and Those Who Will)

About 50 years ago, less than one in three women participated in the labor force. Today, women make up about 48 percent of the labor force; men, 52 percent.

Women could be found working in railroading 50 years ago; however, they were few and far between. A half-century ago, women typically worked in administrative or clerical posts. Today, women have broken the glass ceiling and infiltrated nearly every position at railroads, their suppliers and the entire industry. The numbers may be small, but they are strong with more women occupying upper management positions.

Boosted by a lot of hard work, networking and mentoring, we look forward to the day when it is common to see a woman occupying the corner office at a Class I railroad, driving locomotives or leading the mechanical department.

Our special thanks to the women who blazed the trail for all of us as we accept the future challenges in rail.

A non-profit organization, the League of Railway Industry Women aims to “create a format within the rail industry that provides women the opportunity to achieve a broader understanding of the railroad business.”