In the decade of the 1980's, public and private institutions first confronted the problem of alcohol and other drug use in the railroad industry. Very soon after the inception of the industry, it was clear that mind-altering substances and the movement of railroad equipment were incompatible. By 1982 the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) was poised to address the issue for the first time through Federal regulations. At issue was whether the FRA would follow the pattern established by the industry itself through nominally rigid enforcement of "Rule G." Rule G is the prohibition contained in railroad operating rules that forbids employees from using, possessing, or being under the influence of intoxicants or other drugs while on duty or subject to duty. Maturation of chemical-testing technologies offered promise that the looseness might be removed from carrier enforcement of Rule G, and the legal climate seemed conducive to a direct Federal role in the process. The principal alternative model for addressing the problem was through employee assistance programs, which provided help to employees of the major railroads who were affected by chemical dependencies. Both of these models were used. A third model emerged from the private sector, albeit with public endorsement and support, out of the struggle to define a fair and effective regime. The focus of government over the next few years will likely be on systems to identify relapses among recovering substance abusers and to bar these individuals from safety-sensitive service until their sobriety is verified over an appropriate period. 3 figures and 3 tables