The Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of routes that slaves used to escape to the free states of the North. The Underground Railroad did not take this name until around 1830 (Donald - ). There were many handlers, people who helped and housed runaway slaves, but there are some who made records. The Underground Railroad was a large network, but it was not run by a particular organization; instead it was run by multiple people (PBS - )The Underground Railroad wasn't a real railroad, it was just an idea of ​​indirect routes from one station to another. The Underground Railroad began when slaves first entered America in 1619 and ended with the American Civil War in 1865 (Lavine - ). Slaves had the choice of fleeing to the free states of the North or to Mexico. Depending on where you're from and what happened along the way, it could take anywhere from 24 hours to a year of running (How Stuff Works “How It Worked”). Along the way, stopping at a “Safe Haven” or “Station” was the slaves' best option during the day or when they needed to rest. Stations normally hung a lantern outside on the porch for a while to show the slaves that it was a safe house ("Chugger "Underground Railroad...for kids"). After the escapees had gotten what they needed, they moved on to the next station with the help of a conductor's direction. Some drivers gave the fugitives some money or clothes to help them on their way (Pathways were different times of the day/week/year). considered the best time to move. Probably the best time of the day was around night time; it is probable that the best time of the week was Saturday, only because the newspaper did not publish advertisements that day (Levein - and the Most slaves moved in the winter. After a fugitive reached their desired location in the North, they would normally find an all-black town, a religious group, or a vigilance committee to live with for a while. They may have obtained money and a place to live, provided by these groups, with which to start a new life. If they earned enough money, runaways would attempt to redeem family members from slavery (How Stuff Works "How it Worked") Famous conductors are best known for the number of runaways they have aided and/or harbored, one of which is Harriet Tubman.