Lockaby highlights women who made impact on railroad

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

Mandy Lockaby is the first female conductor for Slaton.

But, as she said in a presentation Tuesday afternoon (March 28), she is just one of many women who have made an impact on railroad history.

The program, “Women in Railroad History,” which featured two presentations, highlighted women’s accomplishments in the industry over the centuries.

One of the earliest groups of women she discussed were the “Fried Chicken Ladies.” This was a group of women who would carry fried chicken and other food on their heads in baskets by the trains. Those on the train could purchase the food and get it from the basket.

Lockaby talked about women such as Mary Cotter, who as hired on as an architect by Fred Harvey. She designed many of the houses located in Arizona, New Mexico and Kansas City’s union station, each decorated in a southwestern theme.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.