He will take all of that stuff off the table once he hears couplers banging.

I was surprised to see that the brakeman's lamp is exactly the same as a Burlington Northern lamp that I have from the 80's. The only difference is that mine is made of orange plastic with clear plastic cage over the bulbs. Same bulb layout, same hoop handle, same shape and probably the same 6 volt lantern battery inside. These were used to signal the engineer from trackside like in the Jack Delano photos.

Nice contrast between the lamp still run on kerosene (or other liquid fuel) versus the signal lantern on the table corner being battery-powered. The lantern is on its guard/stand with the lens facing down; the ring is the carrying handle, if you were wondering. Everything looks pretty sturdy including the thermos that could *gasp* actually keep things hot or cold for a reasonable time.

Torbet’s cap is a genuine Stormy Kromer, still made to this day. In the early 1900s one George “Stormy” Kromer was driving steam locomotives for the CNW Railroad in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. His search for the perfect cap was futile, so he had his wife, Ida, make him one. Next thing you know his conductor wanted one, and the rest is history.

The kerosene lamp, the dark interior, the darkness outside, and the bored and/or pensive expression on the man's face all combine to produce an evocative picture. Photoshop out the blurry high-powered flashlight on the table, and it would be perfect.

John Allen Torbet was born in Iowa on 18th September 1901 the son of the Reverend Walter and Anna Lytle.
He married New Jersey born Helen Carver (1908-1996) around 1930 and they had 3 children.
The 1940 census has the family living at 225 Palm Drive, Piedmont CA where Jack was earning $1800 a year, working a 56 hour week.
He died in Butte County, CA in 1988