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Feed Me: 1943
January 1943. "Nelson, Illinois. Chicago and North Western Railroad freight en route from Clinton, Iowa, to Chicago. Stopping for coal and water to give passenger trains ... diesels that run under it today don't stop (though some may toot in tribute). Never ceases to amaze me. The powerhouse that ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/12/2024 - 2:49pm -

January 1943. "Nelson, Illinois. Chicago and North Western Railroad freight en route from Clinton, Iowa, to Chicago. Stopping for coal and water to give passenger trains the right of way." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Great shotThe wooden towers and skywalk look so Dickensian. Such an awesome pic. Still chuggin' (in model form)A limited production run of O scale models of CNW Baldwin 4-8-4 3016 was released back in 2012 for around $1400 a copy http://www.pwrs.ca/view_product.php?ProductID=200150 The wooden coaling tower at Nelson IL was eventually replaced with one of concrete, which still stands, but the diesels that run under it today don't stop (though some may toot in tribute). Never ceases to amaze me.The powerhouse that America was during those war years. CoalI think the global temperature rose a degree while I looked at this image. Passenger trains have right of way over freights?If only we could go back to that. I can't tell you how many times I've been delayed on Amtrak outside the Northeast Corridor because the train had to yield right of way to a freight train. C&NW at NelsonThis train appears to be eastbound. The junction with the C&NW's "SI" Line is back where the signals are in the distance. Going east, the train would likely take the Nachusa Cutoff to avoid the fairly stiff eastbound grade through Dixon. Nelson tower would be to the right behind the locomotive. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Marcella Hart: 1943
April 1943. Clinton, Iowa. "Mrs. Marcella Hart, mother of three, employed as a wiper at the ... the running boards to remove accumulations of cinders. May have even hosed down the deck of the cab during this busy time, although ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 4:43pm -

April 1943. Clinton, Iowa. "Mrs. Marcella Hart, mother of three, employed as a wiper at the roundhouse. Chicago & North Western R.R." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Blue and RedWonderful photo! I imagine Jack Delano saying something like, "Just as you are, ma'am, that's fine. Yep, grease and all, that's what I'm after." and her saying "You can have the grease, but there ain't no way you're taking that picture till I've put on my lipstick." Our momOur mom was a wiper, too. But it was mainly on our cabooses. And on really bad days, she probably looked a little like the hardworking lady in the photo. Sans overalls, of course. Marcella's tickerI'll bet there's a railroad pocket watch in her upper right coverall pocket attached to the denim shoelace. Some things don't change.I work on diesel locomotives in the Morris Park yard of the Long Island RR. The steam engines are gone, as are the wipers, but we still get just as filthy! WipersOK, thanks "Our Mom" for the mental images - but what does a wiper do in a locomotive sense? Good Manicure TooDespite her hard, dirty job, Mrs. Hart still has beautifully lacquered nails. Reminds me of the landlady in the first reel of "Swing Shift," who, as her young tenants are putting up her blackout curtains for her after Pearl Harbor, finally finishes with her nail file and announces to the room, "Well, this is one American who's going to die with perfect nails!" Re: WipersA wiper was essentially a '"ube tech" and cleaner, they went around and filled oil reservoirs on bearing-boxes and various pivot points then knocked off accumulated road grime. The Wiper's JobThe wiper's job was to wipe down or clean the boiler jacket -- no mean task on a big, modern engine. This was done with a handful of "waste" (a leftover from the textile mills, it was basically a wad of loose thread, used by the handful like a shop rag -- this is what she's holding in her right hand) and dipped in a light oil or kerosene (the red can). Wipers might also clean headlight, reverse lamp and class/marker lights, cab glass, and sweep down the running boards to remove accumulations of cinders. May have even hosed down the deck of the cab during this busy time, although firemen usually took care of that chore. Wipers Wipeoff dirt, grease, and any other gunk that gets on the locomotive. Railroads worked hard to keep their equipment looking good. If a wiper was good, he/she could move up to oiler, and learn how the various bearings should be lubricated. My dad started out his careeras a "callboy" on the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1920s. Very few people in those days had telephones. He went door to door to wake up operating personnel, like locomotive engineers and firemen, to call them to work. The prerequisite for the callboy job: you had to have a bicycle! His dad, my grandfather, was a "hogger"(locomotive engineer) with the CPR. He retired circa 1950. My dad progressed to an engine wiper, apprenticed as a steamfitter and received his journeyman's papers in 1936. He served in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve in WWII and went missing in action at sea 10 days before my birth in 1943. Just out of curiosityOldtimer, what ship was your father serving on when he was lost? This is my new nick here now, BrentMy father was serving on the HMCS Louisburg and Royal Canadian Naval Corvette of the Flower Class. They were on convoy duty running supplies and troops into North Africa for the campaign against Rommel. His ship was hit by an aerial torpedo and sunk very quickly. Being an "Engine Room Artificer" below decks, his chances of getting out alive were slim to none. Thanks for asking! http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/824.html (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads)
On Top of Old Steamy: 1943
Clinton, Iowa. April 1943. "Chicago & North Western Railroad. Women wipers ... are so great! I don't know what it is, the colors may not be exactly accurate, but there's just something about them that grabs ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 4:47pm -

Clinton, Iowa. April 1943. "Chicago & North Western Railroad. Women wipers at the roundhouse cleaning one of the giant H-class locomotives." In the red bandanna: Marcella Hart, seen here in a few other posts. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. What a job.That looks really time consuming! Nice cabooseCarry on. Gotta love those 4x5 Kodachromes!These wartime 4x5 Kodachromes are so great! I don't know what it is, the colors may not be exactly accurate, but there's just something about them that grabs me. Some special kind of beauty. And the subjects, of course, pure Americana of the mid-twentieth century, that's the icing on the cake. Keep 'em coming! "Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away!" An inspiring series of photosMy fellow Shorpyfiles might be interested to know that this particular series of photos inspired a re-enactment a few years ago at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan. You can see the photos in this gallery: http://steamspecials.com/image-gallery/?album=1&gallery=41 There are also several posted at railpictures.net. Thanks to Shorpy and Dave for finding and posting these. Toot CoutureThey wear HEELS to climb all over a locomotive? Seems a bit PRECARIOUS to me! Spectactular, transcendent Images!The series of 4x5 Kodachromes from the WWII era are inspiring and transcendent and truly original and beautiful. Kodachrome looks like life. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Women Wipers: 1943
May 1943. Clinton, Iowa. " Women wipers of the Chicago & North Western Railroad ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/02/2014 - 3:33pm -

May 1943. Clinton, Iowa. "Women wipers of the Chicago & North Western Railroad going out to work on an engine at the roundhouse." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. PerspectiveThis really gives the viewer an idea of just how monstrously big that engine was! TerrificJust terrific! More Big Boys!As this shows up while Union Pacific 4014 is in transit to Cheyenne Wyoming for restoration, it would be nice to see more photos of the Big Boys in their heyday - and more of the Women Wipers too! [Click the link in the caption. - Dave] Not to diminish the size... of a steam locomotive, but the women are farther away from the front of the locomotive than it seems; a man standing beside that steam cylinder would almost be as tall as the cylinder. Steam locomotives were large indeed. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Window Seat: 1943
May 1943. "Clinton, Iowa. Women wipers of the Chicago & North Western cleaning one of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/31/2016 - 12:44am -

May 1943. "Clinton, Iowa. Women wipers of the Chicago & North Western cleaning one of the giant freight locomotives." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. C&NW engineThis was a so-called "Northern" steam engine, with a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement. Another photo: http://abpr.railfan.net/july98/07-06-98/cxnw001.jpg A Twofer!A locomotive and a caboose, in the same picture. Her official RR job title - WIPERReally, look it up. Railroader's know. [Do they know when to use an apostrophe? - Dave] Comment envyLove the caboose comment! It only took me a second to get it (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Behemoth: 1943
January 1943. "Freight operations on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The crew, with exception of the fireman, chat while waiting for ... rebuilt on February 11, 1948, as Class H-1 and retired on May 13, 1953. That's that hat The guy second from left is wearing ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2014 - 9:40am -

January 1943. "Freight operations on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The crew, with exception of the fireman, chat while waiting for orders to pull out." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. It's a big one!Engine 3014, Class H 4-8-4, was built by Baldwin in September 1929 (Manufacturer's #61066). It was rebuilt on February 11, 1948, as Class H-1 and retired on May 13, 1953. That's that hatThe guy second from left is wearing the very functional Stormy Kromer hat. Still being made since 1903. UberbehemothThat's a pretty impressive looking photo, but a couple of years ago we visited the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, in Duluth, and saw the Mallet No. 227 that used to haul iron ore to Duluth and Twin Harbors. It's an articulated, 4-8-8-4 locomotive, similar to the Big Boy type built for Union Pacific. It's over 120' long and they have it set up so that every so often you can see how all of the component parts of the driving wheels worked together in harmony. It is truly a marvel of engineering. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
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