In the days before radio-equipped trains, the Santa Fe used "wigwags" on its waycars (Santa Fe parlence for a caboose) to let the conductor signal a "highball" to the engine crew. A neat aspect about this photo is that it shows the early (left waycar) and the late (right waycar) wigwag designs. More about wigwags here.

The round disks on the cupola were used to signal the engineer. Here's the details:

http://www.atsfrr.net/resources/Sandifer/WigWag/Index.htm

The Kromer Cap! I never knew the name of those. Thanks Casey and Gazzie.

The Kromer cap has nothing on the old denim octagon cap, which came in blue, white, black, or pinstripes. Truly the overwhelming favorite of America's railroaders.

Same reason that covers most male garments of the polka dot variety. You are secure in knowing no one will ever steal it or mistake it for their own. Exception being jockey gear.

I'm guessing that thing is a semaphore for signaling the engineer.

I've never read about them being standard issue. Maybe the man was a welder? Modern day welding hats come in polka dots and other loud patterns. My guess is that they were originally made at home from scrap cloth by the workers' wives.

Is there anything left of the Vaughn Railroad Yard? I was there in the mid-90's and saw some old rolling stock and what may have been dormitory cars for a work train. Went back in '04 and didn't see anything in the way of a yard, but didn't have much time to look around.

In steam days Vaughn, New Mexico was a crew change point. Today's BNSF trains sail right thru between Clovis on the east and Belen to the west. The target-like devices on the caboose cupolas were raised up as markers during unscheduled stops, so as to protect the rear of the train.

My dad worked for the B&O Railroad in Cumberland Maryland in the 1950's and he always wore those polka dot caps. His was dark blue with white dots. It's a Kromer Cap and you can still get them here.

In Kaukauna, Wisconsin, at the turn of the century, George Kromer, an engineer for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, decided that there was not available a single cap of quality materials and manufacture which suited the needs of railroad men. So he made one.

Kromer drew up the design and specifications. His wife, Ida, did the cutting and sewing. The cap had to be one-hundred percent cloth with a soft flexible visor. It had to cling to the head despite strong gusts of wind that plagued rail hands everywhere. Ida Kromer added her own touches., a sweatband of absorbent cloth and an outside band which could be pulled down over the ears. The Kromer cap was born.

and no one said it, so I will.
Trains are so cool!

Yeah I know bad pun, stretched too far. Anyway, what's with the polka-dotted hats? Was it for greater visibility of the yard workers from the engineer's compartment?