A Yardman's Lantern, by Will Edmonson

Editor's Note: This piece was provided in 2003 by a student intern of the History Center in Tomkins County for the Ithaca Journal. We're pulling it out of the archives in preparation for our 2025 Exhibit, "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles with Buses, Boats, and Bikes." Read more on the new exhibit.

Think your job is tough? Try working as a Yardman for the Leigh Valley Railroad, where an average day is hard, but the real work is done at night. One misstep could result in the loss of a limb or even your life. The amount of work is also staggering. In addition to being the security guard watching over the railroad yard, a Yardman couples cars, switches tracks, maintains the cars, and makes sure his railroad yard runs smoothly. Without the Yardman there is no Leigh Valley Railroad, and without the railroad Ithaca would have been almost completely isolated. 

The Leigh Valley Railroad started servicing Ithaca during the 1870s. Soon after, in 1898, the Leigh Valley Railroad built a station and freight house next to the Cayuga Inlet, the only parcel of land flat enough to house a rail yard. The importance of the railroad was evident in many ways. It connected Ithaca to other surrounding communities and allowed goods to be shipped quickly and easily. 

Communication was now easier too, as mail shipped on the railroad arrived at its destination faster. Transportation, especially to Cornell University, was perhaps the most important improvement brought by the railroad. Ithaca residents, especially students, were now easily connected to Buffalo, New York, Rochester, and had an easy way to get home on college breaks. The Leigh Valley Railroad was the travel choice for residents and students, and would remain so until the 1950s.

One of the most important pieces of equipment for a Yardman was his lantern. Lanterns such as this one would be used to light coal boxes, as well as provide heat and light during their main working time, which was at night. So next time you think you’ve got it tough at your job, consider the work of a Yardman.