Daily AncestorMotorman
A motorman drove an electric streetcar, trolley or rapid transit train, running its motors the way an engineer ran a locomotive.
On electric street railways and subways the motorman stood at the controls and applied power to the traction motors, just as an engineer ran a steam locomotive. The title was used even for the women who took the job in the United States during the world wars.
In 1910 to 1940 census pages, look for motorman, street railway. Later the title gave way to operator or train operator.
As seen in a recordOccupation and industry columns of the 1910 to 1940 census
Patrick Ryan, 32, Motorman, Street railway
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Motorman." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/motorman. Last checked 2026-10-10.