Jobs on the Main Line Canal

A man at the rudder of a canal boat.

NPS/Harpers Ferry Center

There were appointed positions, state workers and private and contract workers on the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. In addition to building the system, there were constant repairs even after it opened.

Click on the drop-down below to view the different jobs.

Visit our Allegheny Portage Railroad workers page to learn about specific people who worked on this system.

 

 

Canal Commissioners

Appointed position.
The Governor of Pennsylvania appointed 3 Canal Commissioners to the Board of Canal Commissioners. They were in charge of the Main Line and its branch lines. Their salary is unknown.

Division Superintendents

Appointed position.
The Board of Canal Commissioners appointed the Division Superintendents, who ran each of the five Divisions of the Main Line (Columbia & Philadelphia Railroad, Eastern Division, Juniata Division, Allegheny Portage Railroad, Western Division) and its branch divisions. They appointed most of the state employees of their respective divisions. The salary was $3.00 per day.

Toll Collectors

Appointed position.

Toll collectors on all five divisions of the Main Line Canal and its branches were appointed by the Board of Canal Commissioners. Toll collectors ensured that the state was paid its proper toll for all goods, passengers, motive power, boats, and railroad cars using the state’s transportation network.Their salary $1,000 per year, plus a rent-free house.

Weighmasters

Appointed position.
Weighmasters on all five divisions of the Main Line Canal and its branches were appointed by the Board of Canal Commissioners. Their salary $600 per year, plus a rent-free house. Weighmasters were in charge of weighing all boats and railroad cars to determine what tolls were to be paid to the Toll Collectors.

Principal Engineer

State job.
During construction of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, the Principal Engineer had a salary of $2,500 per year during construction.

Assistant Principal Engineer

State job.
During construction of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, the Assistant Principal Engineer had a salary of $4.00 per day during construction.

Sub-assistant Engineer

State job.
During construction of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, the Sub-assistant Engineer had a salary of $2.00 per day.

Supervisor of Repairs

State job.
Each division had this position. The salary is unknown.

Clerk

State job.
The clerk of Superintendent of each division made $2.50 per day.

Lock Tenders

State job.
It was complicated, non-stop work to move a canal boat through a lock. They did not travel along the canal towpath. Lock tenders lived in a rent free home near the lock where they were working. In addition, they had a salary of $20 per month.

Engineer

State job.
The engineers worked on the inclined planes of the railroad. Their salary was between $1.50 to $1.75 per day.

Assistant Engineer

State job.
The assistant engineers worked on the inclined planes of the railroad. Their salary was between $1.00 to $1.25 per day.

Hitcher

State job.
The hitchers worked on the inclined planes of the railroad. They tied the rail cars and section boats to the hemp/wire ropes in the inclines. They salary was between $0.87½ to $1.00 per day.

Fireman

State job.
The fireman kept the boilers on the stationary engines fired. Their salary was between $0.87½ to $1.12½ per day.

Carpenter

State job.
The carpernter's salary was $1.25 per day.

Blacksmith

State job.
The blacksmith's salary was $2.00 per day.

Blacksmith Helper

State job.
The blacksmith helper's salary was $1.00 per day.

Principal Rigger

State job.
The principal riggers fabricated and maintained hemp ropes on the ten inclined planes of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. This was a constant job as the hemp ropes lasted approximatley one season. They were taken up and stored for the wintet in the riggers loft when the system closed for the season. Even in the loft, repairs were made. Their salary was $2.00 per day.

Assistant Rigger

State job.
The assistant rigger salary was $1.12½ per day.

Locomotive Engineer

State job.
The locomotive engineer salary was between $1.37½ to $2.00 per day.

Locomotive Fireman

State job.
The locomotive fireman salary was $1.12½ per day.

State Agent

State job.
The state agent coordinated the loading and movement of trains. Their salary was $1.50 per day.

Laborer

State job.
A laborer's salary was between $1.00 to $1.50 per day.

Wood Chopper

State job.
A wood chopper's salary was between $0.75 to $1.00 per day.

Car Tender

State job.
A car tender on the Allegheny Portage Railroad moved railroad cars and section boats at the basins and inclines and coupled them together. Their salary was between $0.75 to $0.87½ per day.

Assistant Car Tender

State job.
Their salary was between $0.50 to $0.75 per day.

Foreman

State job.
Foreman worked at the Allegheny Portage Railroad depots. Their salary was $2.50 per day.

Pattern Maker

State job.
Pattern makers worked at the Allegheny Portage Railroad depots, Their salary was $2.00 per day.

Finisher

State job.
Finishers worked at the Allegheny Portage Railroad depots. Their salary was $1.75 per day.

Woodworker

State job.
Woodworkers worked at the Allegheny Portage Railroad depots. Their salary was $1.25 per day.

Boat Captain

Private and contract worker.
The boat captain's salary was $60 per month.

Driver

Private and contract worker.
The driver handled the mules and horses that pulled the boats from one lock to another. At the lock, they untie the animals while the boat goes through the lock. They often lived on the canal boat and were constantly moving wherever the goods on the boat went. A perk was visiting new places and meeting new people. Their salary was between $5 to $10 per month.

Steersman

Private and contract worker.
The steersman controlled the rudder on the canal boat. Their salary was $25 per month.

Cook

Private and contract worker.
The cook worked on the canal boat. Their salary was $20 per month.

Stonecutter

Private and contract worker.
The stone 'sleepers' that were used as railroad ties on the levels were shaped on-site. Using only a hammer and a chisel, skilled stonemasons shaped the raw rock into the sizes and shapes that were needed for the railroad bed, culverts, bridges, and viaducts. The salary between $0.50 to $1.00 per day.

Log Hewer

Private and contract worker.
Log hewers completed the demanding work of transforming a tree into a smooth wooden stringers as a foundation for the rails. Hundreds of logs were needed for each incline and they needed laid more than once due to decay. Their salary was between $0.50 to $1.00 per day.

Laborer

Private and contract worker.
The laborer's salary was between $0.50 to $0.75 per day.

Driver

Private and contract worker.
This position was a horse power driver on the Allegheny Portage Railroad. The salary was $0.50 oer day.