Railroad camp cars date back to the 19th Century. By the 1980’s, most railroads began phasing out camp cars in favor of hotels and motels. By the 1990’s, every railroad except Norfolk Southern (NS), which operates in 22 states, completely removed camp cars from use. The NS camp cars became outdated with dismal living conditions. BMWED has been forced to seek relief through state legislatures and Congress. With help from the IBT Rail Conference, old statutes have been revised and new codes have been enacted Legislation has been introduced in Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Railroad Safety and Improvement Act of 2008 requires minimum standards by December 31, 2010.

BMWED Resolution requesting  the  National  Division  President, National  Division  Officers,  and  all  parties  involved  in  negotiating  with  any  railroad company,  which  still  utilizes  camp  car/trailer  facilities,  to  actively  pursue agreements which would permanently eliminate the use of camp cars/trailers for lodging our members.

Norfolk Southern Living Quarters Questioned in Virginia's General Assembly
March 2, 2010

You've probably seen them along Norfolk Southern tracks in western Virginia: the mobile camps where maintenance crews stay while they're on the job.

Tuesday in Richmond, members of a General Assembly committee considered whether the state should regulate the living conditions there.

Norfolk Southern has more than 200 of the mobile camp cars.

A representative of the railroad says they're especially useful in rural parts of southwest Virginia.

But union members have complained of cramped quarters, inadequate sanitation and sub-standard cooking facilities.

"We're talking about having a bed, having a place to sleep, having some water so you can wash your face," says Del. Johnny Joannou/(D) Portsmouth.

"I will tell you there was no barracks that I ever lived in, whether it was Virginia Military Institute, or while I was in the Marine Corps that would have passed these standards. And when I was in a submarine we could have failed on a variety of levels. There are all sorts of requirements, very specific details that are going to cost money to comply with," says Del. Bill Janis/(R) Glen Allen.

Norfolk Southern says it spent more than $6 million to retro-fit the camp cars in 2008 and 2009.

Committee members are concerned that new federal regulations due out this year would override any state standards.

The Commerce and Labor Committee defeated the bill, but Portsmouth Senator Louise Lucas said she'll be back if the new federal regulations fail to fix the issue.

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Virginia General Assembly begins steps to end Camp Car horrors, passage of Virginia Senate Bill No. 33

October 29, 2008 Camp Car language in Public Law 110-432 – Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008

Fall 2007 - TEAMSTER Camp Car Flyer attacking the living conditions of housed maintenance of way workers.

September 19, 2007 BMWED response to Norfolk Southern's VP Blake regarding his bullshit over the Camp Car issue