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December 1942. Proviso Yard, Chicago & North Western R.R. "A train, or 'cut,' being pushed out of a receiving yard toward the hump. A brakeman rides each train to signal the engineer in the locomotive at the rear." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano, Office of War Information.
Look at the white diamonds on the tanker, looks a LOT like a DOT placard.
I didn't realize they already had the DOT hazardous materials placards back in 1942? I was under the impression that the placard system wasn't started until the early 60's.
[There was no DOT in the 1940s -- the Department of Transportation was established in 1966. The current system of hazmat placards, hinged in the middle with a four-digit number on them, goes back to the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act of 1975. In the 1940s, tank cars full of gasoline might have a DANGEROUS placard (below), with skull and crossbones. - Dave]
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