What is this 1907 ATSF booklet?

It has nothing to do with union contacts.  It's the "rules of the road" for the Santa Fe in 1907. 

Resty

Just open it up carefully! You won't damage it.

This booklet contains vital information that engineers need to run trains safely: the rules of [that] [rail]road," as Rusty Traque put it.

Union contracts establish rates of pay, benefits and other matters for employees.

My guess is it is information on pay rates, senority, and employment info,  not operating rules.  I agree, just open it, it won't vanish or fall apart.

George Lasley

I have a similar book from 1940s, that my uncle got while working for ATSF.  Its sort of an employee handbook on rules for engineers and all, what they should do, can't do, etc.  Most of its boring stuff, but it does give you a feel for how RRs were run.  You may have something valuable.  I have never seen one from before the 1930s.

Lee, I just did a google search and the oldest booklet I found was 1924.  It showed the table of contents which included subjects like rates of pay, seniority, discipline, etc.  In the example I found, it stated that it was an agreement between the ATSF and other railroads with the "Locomotive Engineers."  It was also considerably longer than the one I have.

I'll get in touch with the ATSF Historical Society next week.  As for being valuable or not, I have no idea.  It is in pristine condition for a booklet this old; zero creases, no staining, etc.

I'm curious about it.