Reply to "Were regular trainmen issued sidearms as standard equipment by the Railroads in the early days?"

I have a copy of the book "The Railroad Police" copyright 1955, by H.S. Dewhurst.  This is just one book from the Police Science Series of books.

On page 44 it states part of the RR policeman's equipment was a revolver.  Also says there were riot guns, shotguns, and even machineguns available for emergencies or guarding expensive mechandise.  As a rule clubs, badges, handcuffs, rule books, and revolvers are loaned, but some RR police were required to provide their own revolvers at their own expense and had to comply with the RRs specifications.

Also says that some RRs even had their own pistol teams and often competed in matches with other teams from that RR and other RRs, municipal police departments and other law enforcement agencies.

I worked with a guy who's brother was a detective for either N&W or NS, who often investigated thefts such as copper wire and he said his brother carried a gun.