Union Pacific Railroad Company & Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure at Union Pacific Railroad Company

For decades, the Union Pacific Railroad Company used asbestos products in its trains and railways. Asbestos materials were also used in buildings and structures owned by the railroad. Many different types of Union Pacific employees were exposed to asbestos as a result. They now face the risk of developing asbestos illnesses like mesothelioma.

Union Pacific Railroad Company Quick Facts

• Union Pacific used a variety of asbestos products, including boilers, insulation and rail tiles (also steam engines and diesel locomotives). Railroad workers and other occupations at the railroad were affected.
• More than 95 Union Pacific locations have been identified as exposure sites by asbestos bankruptcy trust funds.
• The railroad has employed tens of thousands of people over the years.
• The company plans to merge with Norfolk Southern Corporation sometime in 2026. The merger is currently on hold for regulatory approval. This could affect how future asbestos liabilities are handled.

Union Pacific was created by the United States Congress in 1862 to help build the country’s first transcontinental railroad. Crews of laborers, engineers and mechanics laid track across plains and mountains and built bridges, tunnels, depots and repair shops. Many of the components used in locomotives and buildings contained asbestos because it resisted heat and fire. Cutting or repairing these materials could release dust that would have exposed workers to the hazardous mineral.

Workers may have encountered asbestos during tasks such as:

• Repairing steam locomotives with asbestos insulation around boilers and pipes
• Fixing railcars with asbestos brake shoes and gasket materials
• Working inside depots and shops built with asbestos insulation and pipe coverings
• Cleaning or maintaining older locomotive parts that released asbestos dust

Over more than a century, the company grew through rail expansions, financial restructuring and several major railroad mergers. These changes created the modern Union Pacific System, now the largest railroad in the United States.

Today, Union Pacific faces ongoing litigation over its past asbestos use.

Union Pacific Railroad Company Jobsite Locations With Known Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos products were widely used at Union Pacific. They insulated many parts of rail cars and served as construction materials for various buildings. This means employees were at risk of asbestos exposure in many different locations.

Union Pacific facilities in the following locations have a known history of asbestos exposure:

• Cheyenne, AR
• Clinton, IA
• Las Vegas, NV
• North Platte, WY
• Omaha, NE
• Pocatello, ID
• St. Louis, MO

Employees may have been exposed to asbestos at other Union Pacific locations. An experienced asbestos attorney can help trace exposure at other facilities.

High-Risk Occupations at Union Pacific Railroad Company

Many different types of railroad workers faced asbestos exposure at Union Pacific. Asbestos products were used so frequently that some say they were everywhere. With the widespread use of asbestos in the railroad industry, many different workers may have come in contact with it.

Some occupations at risk of asbestos exposure at Union Pacific include:

• Baggage handlers
• Boiler workers
• Brake operators / brakemen
• Car couplers
• Conductors
• Construction workers
• Cooks
• Delivery truck drivers
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Freight workers
• HVAC workers
• Hydraulic engineers
• Insulators
• Machine operators
• Machinists
• Merchant Mariners
• Plumbers
• Railroad workers
• Refrigeration engineers
• Riggers / doggers
• Shipyard workers
• Switch operators / switchmen
• Train crews
• Water transportation workers
• Yardmasters / inspectors

Anyone who worked around asbestos could accidentally carry it home on their clothes. If so, household members would be at risk of secondary exposure and related illnesses.

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Asbestos Products Used at Union Pacific Railroad Company

Union Pacific didn’t make its own asbestos products, but it did purchase and use them across its operations. Many rail components experienced significant friction, which could create high temperatures. Before asbestos was phased out, many manufacturers used it in rail parts to protect them from heat. Certain building materials faced similar conditions and included asbestos for the same reason.

Asbestos products Union Pacific may have used include:

• Arc chutes
• Boilers
• Brake linings
• Brake pads
• Ceiling tiles
• Cement
• Cement ties
• Clutches
• Electrical panels
• Felt
• Fireboxes
• Floor tiles
• Gaskets
• Insulation
• Joint compound
• Paint
• Pipe covering
• Plaster
• Rail tiles
• Roof panels
• Siding
• Steam engines
• Transite boards
• Wallboard

Union Pacific may have used many more asbestos products not included in the list above. An asbestos lawyer knowledgeable about products used at Union Pacific can help trace other asbestos materials used in this workplace. Experienced lawyers know how to help clients track down past sources of asbestos exposure.

Have a Question About Asbestos Exposure and Union Pacific Railroad Company? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Compensation for Union Pacific Railroad Company Workers With Mesothelioma

Union Pacific employees who develop asbestos cancers, like mesothelioma, can pursue compensation. Successful lawsuits or trust fund claims help cover medical care, lost wages and other costs. The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) also covers railroad workers injured on the job due to the railroad’s negligence.

A mesothelioma lawsuit against Union Pacific can end in a jury verdict or a settlement. Some asbestos product makers have also created trust funds to compensate victims. Lawyers at a reputable asbestos law firm can explain these options.

Asbestos Trust Fund Claims

Many Union Pacific locations have been identified as known asbestos exposure sites by bankrupt asbestos companies that established trust funds. Three of the top locations are Los Angeles, CA, North Platt, NE, and Omaha, NE.

Union Pacific Railroad Company: Los Angeles, California

Union Pacific Railroad Company: North Platt, Nebraska

Union Pacific Railroad Company: Omaha, Nebraska

Other Union Pacific locations identified by asbestos bankruptcy trust funds include the following:

• Armstrong, Ellis, Junction City and Kansas City, KS
• Avery, Columbus, Gilmore, Grand Island and Kearny, NE
• Bayou Boeuf, New Orleans and Shreveport, LA
• Cheyenne, Evanston, Green River, Laramie and Rawlings, WY
• Cheyenne, NM
• Clinton and Council Bluffs, IA
• Denver and Pueblo, CO
• Houston, Palestine and San Antonio, TX
• Kelso, Roseville, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco and Wilmington, CA
• Las Vegas, NV
• Little Rock and Pine Bluff, AR
• Milford, Ogden and Salt Lake City, UT
• Pocatello and Sun Valley, ID
• Portland and Reith, OR
• Seattle, WA
• Sedalia and St. Louis, MO

Asbestos Lawsuits

Some Union Pacific railroad workers developed mesothelioma after workplace asbestos exposure. A few have filed lawsuits that resulted in substantial verdicts or settlements. Cancer patients can file personal injury lawsuits after they are diagnosed. If they succumb to the illness, loved ones can file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Examples of settlements from Union Pacific asbestos lawsuits for employees who developed mesothelioma include:

• $2 million for a 72-year-old machinist
• $1.2 million for an 82-year-old plantworker
• $1.1 million for an 80-year-old electrician

Union Pacific employees who develop mesothelioma should speak with an experienced asbestos lawyer. The attorney can review the legal options and help them choose the ones most likely to result in compensation. In many cases, they suggest pursuing more than one, since victims are often eligible to file lawsuits and trust fund claims.