Workin' on the Railroad

Between 1924 and 1962, Hercules worked for the Western Pacific Railroad moving railroad cars on barges between Oakland/Alameda and Islais Creek/Fishermam's Wharf. Because these car floats were pushed and pulled from the side rather than simply towed astern, Hercules' strong steel hull took many bumps, and for extra protection a fender rail was added on her starboard side. The tug crews, only eight men in all, worked regular shifts and slept at home. In the early years, two crews worked twelve-hour shifts, but this was later reduced to an eight-hour day. Toward the end of this career, Hercules herself worked intermittently, and her railroad duties were finally taken over by a diesel-powered, self-propelled car float, the Las Plumas.

San Francisco, California · United States