The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was established at Port Jervis, NY, USA in 1873 largely as an insurance and beneficial society but by 1875 it had become a union. In 1879 it merged with the International Firemen's union and began a period of steady growth. In 1902 the constitution was changed to permit the enrollment of engineers and in 1906 the name was changed to Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. The Calgary, Alberta local, Sandstone City Lodge, No. 635, had its first meeting in the Cooperative Hall on May 31, 1903. From 1910 to 1920 the BLFE experienced a great surge of growth followed by a gradual decline partially as a result of the creation of the rival United Enginemens Association. In 1969 the union merged with others to form the United Transportation Union.