Pullman-Standard

Pullman-Standard. . , Pullman-Standard's history began in Butler when John Hansen and "Diamond" Jim Brady founded a new company - Standard Steel Car, which revolutionized freight car production by using standard products from steel mills of the era. Construction of the over one million sq. ft. plant began in January of 1902 on this 140 acre site, and it was producing 60 coal cars/day by August of that year. In 1907, employing over 6000 workers, production records of 120 cars/day and annual total of 29,411 cars were achieved. In 1934, Standard Steel Car was merged into the Pullman Company and became the Pullman-Standard Manufacturing Company. The company continued to produce a variety of car types but by its last decade made only covered and open top hopper cars across its 3 production lines. At peak production the plant employed up to 4000 workers, produced 60 cars per day and remained the world's largest railcar facility. During its 80 year run the plant produced other commodities, as well, such as the Standard 8 Automobile and artillery shells for the Allies during world war one and world war two. The plant ceased operations in early 1982 during a major economic downturn. The main office, built in 1910, remains the only structure from the plant's early days.