Pidgin and Creole Languages

My understanding of pidgin is different after reading the articles. If I am to understand correctly, pidgin is utterances or words made up in order to communicate with a person of a language different from the first speaker. This is used for a specific purpose, usually a work situation where no formal learning of a second language can take place in a short enough time to keep the project going. I picture pidgin occuring during the laying of the railroad in the west when the Chinese and other minoriites were used as laborers. In order to talk to other workers or the bosses, a way of communicating had to be invented quickly. Therefore, pidgin would satisfy the requirements. Since the words did not necessarily survive, and there was no need for the language after the job was completed, the pidgin did not develop into a creole, or combination of two languages.