H.K. Porter, Inc.

H.K. Porter, Inc. was once the third-largest manufacturer of locomotives in the U.S. and also the principal builder of small train engines for industrial use. The company used asbestos in materials for many years, leading to exposure and illness in some workers. H.K. Porter faced lawsuits over asbestos and eventually filed for bankruptcy.

Keep in mind that if you or a loved one have been injured by asbestos, you may qualify for considerable compensation. With more than $30 billion available right now in asbestos trust, now is the time to take the first steps in determining what you may be entitled to. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

H.K. Porter, Inc. History

Founded in 1866 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, H.K. Porter, Inc. was created when two businessmen opened a small shop and started repairing industrial equipment.

The two founders, Henry K. Porter and John Y. Smith built their first industrial locomotive for the New Castle Railroad & Mining Company within a year. The company would become a significant player in the railroad industry.

Porter specialized in small light-duty and steam switchers rather than large passenger or freight locomotives, starting with a 42-inch, narrow gauge, 0-4-0T design.

From 1867 to 1950, the company built around 8,000 locomotives for customers in various industries, including small railroad lines and mining enterprises.

Initially, Porter was technologically innovative; it made compressed air-powered engines for mining companies because steam engines caused explosions in coal mines. Later, Porter pioneered fireless locomotives that used pressurized hot water and steam to power pistons and rods.

Porter also tested gasoline-powered locomotives, but its leadership did not invest substantial amounts of money or time in research and development to the company’s detriment.

By the 1930s, the company’s reluctance to adopt new forms of locomotion eroded its appeal to potential customers. In 1950, Porter closed its production line of small trains. The company continued to make other industrial products.

Throughout H.K. Porter’s seven decades as a locomotive maker, the company used large amounts of asbestos products to protect machinery and moving parts from the effects of heat and friction.

After 1950, when the company shifted its attention to manufacturing other products, primarily for the shipbuilding industry, Porter continued using asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

Asbestos use was standard practice in many industries during much of the 19th and 20th Centuries. However, it exposed many people to asbestos fibers and caused many health issues, including thousands of cases of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other life-threatening diseases.

H.K. Porter, Inc. Lawsuits

Around 1984, Porter first became embroiled in a growing series of asbestos-related lawsuits. Over the next seven years, the company faced close to 2,000 individual asbestos-related cases each month.

In an attempt to recoup at least a portion of the $30 million it had paid to fight and settle so many lawsuits, Porter sued its own insurer, Pennsylvania Insurance Guaranty Association (PIGA), in 1993.

PIGA had refused to become involved in Porter’s asbestos litigation and did not want to pay the $15 million that the company requested.

PIGA won the original case in district court. However, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third District overruled that decision in 1996 and ordered PIGA to pay Porter part of the $15 million.

Also in 1993, H.K. Porter was on a list of six co-defendants in Adams Public School District v Asbestos Corporation, Inc.

In this case, a school district in North Dakota argued that Porter and other asbestos product manufacturers were responsible for the presence of the dangerous mineral in various schools built in the 1960s.

The asbestos companies won the case in a Pennsylvania district court but lost on appeal.

The H.K. Porter Asbestos Trust Fund

As with many large companies that made, distributed, or sold asbestos products in the U.S., H.K. Porter set up a trust fund to pay compensation to victims of asbestos exposure or their survivors.

The trust fund was set up in 2008 after the company emerged from bankruptcy. Porter’s trust fund is worth an estimated $104 million.

Occupations Affected by H.K. Porter, Inc.

Since the company’s various incarnations were primarily in business when asbestos use was unrestricted, workers in a wide array of occupations were negatively affected.

Porter employees were most at risk between 1867 and the early 1980s. This was when the company made and sold its locomotives and other industrial products using asbestos-containing materials.

In addition, people who worked for the companies that bought Porter products were also exposed to asbestos:

• Factory workers
• Insulators
• Metalworkers
• Engineers
• Boilermakers
• Railroad workers
• Miners
• Sugar plantation workers
• Shipyard workers
• Canal company workers

Asbestos-Containing Products Manufactured by H.K. Porter, Inc.

There is no comprehensive list of Porter-made products that contain asbestos. However, the company manufactured and sold a large selection of items during its prime as a major business enterprise, including:

• Locomotives
• Gaskets
• Steam pipes
• Water tanks for steam engines
• Pistons and rods
• Asbestos cloth
• Steam valves
• Boilers
• Brakes and brake pads

Even though H.K. Porter stopped manufacturing its small industrial locomotives over 60 years ago, several hundred of these sturdy vehicles operate in various countries, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and Europe.

If you worked for H.K. Porter or with its asbestos products, you could be at risk for mesothelioma. Talk to a lawyer about your legal rights and options.

Additional Resources and Legal Information for Asbestos Victims

Remember, if you or someone you love suffer from mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, there is a good possibility that you will qualify for substantial compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.