BLE reaches 137th anniversary this month

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, North America's oldest labor union, celebrated its 137th anniversary this month.

The BLE was founded on May 8, 1863, in Marshall, Mich., by 12 locomotive engineers representing the Michigan Central, Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana, Detroit & Milwaukee, Grand Trunk, and Michigan Southern Railroads.

Originally, the organization these men formed was named "Brotherhood of the Footboard;" however, the name was changed one year later to the current Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. William D. Robinson (left) was elected to the Brotherhood's highest office, which at the time was "Grand Chief Engineer."

BLE members anxious to get in touch with these early days of the BLE should visit the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village in Detroit, Mich.

On June 10, the museum will open the Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee (DT&M) Roundhouse, a recreation of the six-stall repair facility originally located in Marshall, Mich.

Legend has it that secret discussions among locomotive engineers in the Marshall roundhouse, and under the elm trees outside the roundhouse, led to the creation of the BLE.

Once completed, the 13,500 square foot DT&M roundhouse will become the only working/educational roundhouse in the Midwest U.S., and only one of seven in the entire country.

Several pieces from the roundhouse in Marshall were salvaged by conservators and will be included in the reconstruction of the DT&M Roundhouse.

Eighteen cast iron windowsills, five support columns from the front of the roundhouse and components of five roof trusses were salvaged from the Marshall site. These original pieces will be built into the reconstructed roundhouse to further add to the historic accuracy and integrity of the completed structure, and will add a special significance to BLE members.

The BLE's first International Convention was held during the Civil War on August 17, 1864 in Indianapolis, Ind. At the time there was fear among the residents of Indianapolis of a break-out at a nearby prisoner-of-war camp. Rumor had been circulated that these prisoners might be set free by a force coming from an outside point. When the engineers began to arrive in Indianapolis, excitement was stirred up. Reports began to circulate that the engineers were coming in disguise to free the Confederates. So a squad of Union soldiers was dispatched to march at the heels of the delegates wherever they went. Even the hall was kept under guard while the convention was in session.

Despite its early troubles, the Brotherhood grew because it offered representation and unity toward the common cause of betterment of very poor working conditions. By the time of the 1864 convention there were 54 divisions represented.

Today, the BLE is North America's oldest labor union, representing more than 59,000 professional locomotive engineers throughout the United States and Canada.

Photograph of the roundhouse in Marshall, Mich., where discussion among locomotive engineers led to the founding of the BLE. A recreation of the Marshall roundhouse , using original pieces of the facility, will be dedicated on June 10 at the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village. (Photo courtesy Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village)

© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers