Background
Luis Moncada Estrada (1894-1980) was born in Mexico and moved to the United States where he worked as a railroad track worker
for the Southern Pacific Railroad. From 1913-1947, he worked from Colton to Indio along the San Gorgonio Pass. Estrada and
his wife, Emeteria Lira, lived in Colton's section housing, where they raised 10 children. In 1931, the family moved to Beaumont,
California. By the end of his career, Estrada had become a section foreman (crew leader). He was also a member of the Brotherhood
of Maintenance of Way Employes. After his death, Estrada would eventually be honored by the city of Beaumont by having a road
named after him. In 2005, the California State Railroad Museum celebrated Luis Estrada by creating a life-size figure of him
driving a spike on railroad track for exhibition.