Scharnhorst,
It sounds like you have a wide background in heavy industry.
What helps boomer railroaders in this country is the Railroad Retirement System. Common carrier railroads are required to pay into the system, and have their employees pay into it. This retirement coverage follows the railroader from one railroad to another, the credits accumulating over the length of the career. Every June, every railroader receives a BA-6 form that shows the credits earned in the previous calender year, and the total. If there is an error, they will verify and correct it if you let them know. When one retires, benefits are paid in lieu of Social Security, and are much greater. This system predates Social Security by a couple decades.
At the time the system was established, a great many railroaders were boomers, working for multiple railroads. They needed a retirement system that would cover them when moving from one railroad to another. The Railroad Retirement System also does support activities for railroaders, such as administering disability and survivors benefits, and paying unemployment coverage. They also have a clearinghouse for helping unemployed railroaders find jobs in the industry.
My wife worked for Sperry before we were married. She built missile guidance systems for them.
Les