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December 1942. "Chicago, Illinois. Switching and classification freight yards. Engineer and fireman thawing out air compressors on a cold morning at a Chicago and North Western railyard." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size.
These two steam-powered compressors (steam cylinders on top, air cylinders on the bottom) supply compressed air to operate the air brakes; the air is stored in the riveted cylinder at the left edge of the photograph.
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