Asbestos was used in the railroad industry through the 20th century. Unfortunately, railroad workers who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are still common, as asbestos is a material that has been used in railroading for the past century. Railroad companies used asbestos insulation on mains, pipes, boilers, brakes, gaskets, and in the electrical and heat insulation in the walls, ceiling, and flooring of railroad cars.
This resulted in long-term exposure to asbestos among thousands of railroad employees — the sort of exposure that has been proven to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other serious illnesses. Railroad workers who were exposed to asbestos and developed serious illnesses could be entitled to financial compensation– call today to learn more.
Locomotives, cabooses, and other train cars were routinely insulated with asbestos through the 1960s. The outside of the steam locomotives was covered with asbestos insulation called “lagging.” One frequently used high–temperature asbestos pipe insulation, Johns–Manville Therma–Wrap, consisted of amosite asbestos fibers enclosed in a wire mesh and surrounded by an asbestos cloth jacket.
Asbestos was also common in packing, rope, cement, gaskets, and in heavy-duty floor tiles for passenger cars.
Because asbestos is heat–resistant and strong, it was often used in brake and clutch linings. Railroad mechanics were routinely exposed to asbestos, as were those who breathed asbestos-laden air nearby.
If you worked in a railroad yard or on the crew of a rail car, it is highly likely that you were exposed to asbestos. There are a number of documented cases of railroad workers in every area of railroad work having been diagnosed with asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
If you have been diagnosed with any disease related to asbestos exposure at a railroad, it is recommended that you contact an experienced asbestos attorney as soon as possible.