The underground railroad had many code names. The people assisting the slaves were called conducters or engineers. The slaves were called passengers. Areas along the escape routes were called stations. Conduters were there to assist the slaves get from one station to the next. The underground railroad was organized by a group of well-organized of people that wanted to abolish slavery.

Conductors could have been anyone. Some conducters were slaves, "free" black people and white people that wanted to abolish slavery. While helping with the underground everyone was taking a big risk because if they got caught it could be punishable by death.