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April 1943. Clinton, Iowa. "Marcella Hart and Viola Sievers, wipers for the Chicago & North Western Railroad, cleaning one of the giant H-class locomotives." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. View full size.
I wonder if they fell in love with steam, as so many of us are. I helped wipe down N&W 611 a while back when it came to Danville IL and stopped overnight, it was a thrill for me to work on her and my way of thanking that beautiful loco for all the rides I had behind her.
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