Shorpy has been on a Train Kick this year. Updated 3/2/2025

@Rich Melvin posted:

When testing on a slip track, the locomotive is chained to the track.

Even if the grease was worn away, there is no "grabbing" of the rail. If the grease wore away, it would be just like a wheel slip when out on the road. Once the wheels start to slip, the friction between the wheels and the rail is so great that there is actually a tiny pool of molten metal between the wheels and the rail. That's why an engineer has to react quickly and slam the throttle shut to stop a slip. Here's a good example, with yours truly at the throttle:

Drivers spinning without grease on a slip track would not grab the rail, but they would quickly wear a dip in the rails as the drivers ground away at the rail with no lube.

Gotcha.  Thanks!  I wish the photo showed more of what was happening.

March 1943. "San Bernardino, California. Trinidad Gutierrez (left) and Molly Alcanto, women 'suppliers' who work at the Santa Fe roundhouse. Their job is replacing lamps and oil cans on incoming locomotives. Mrs. Gutierrez has four children. Her husband is in the hospital after an injury at the Kaiser Fontana steel mill. Miss Alcanto's boyfriend is in the Army."

March 1943. "Gallup, New Mexico.

Marty, Thanks for posting. Seems pretty peaceful for March 1943, sort of the mid-point of World War II. Also, maybe there is a change of shift that there is a gathering of crew members by this locomotive. Nice looking coaling tower.

Tom

@MartyE posted:

Another one today...

"Topeka, Kansas. Part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad car building shops."

Is that a AT&SF GE 44 ton engine on the right behind the stack?

@MartyE posted:

LOL!  I was literally checking those out this morning when I posted.  Hershey wrappers still looks the same.  I think there are Planter's Peanuts in the last slot.

Each is 5 cents, that will not pay the taxes on a candy bar today,

Interesting Santa Fe extended smoke stack on the steamer. Also looks like war emergency gondolas (with wood sides) sitting near the coaling tower.

April 12, 1912. Atlanta, Georgia. "Southern Iron & Equipment Co. -- Locomotive SIECO 807. (West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company Locomotive 1; Dobbins, West Virginia. Climax Loco #534, 1904).

It's really neat to see these photos and imagine what life was like back then.  Thanks for posting! 

Marty,

  Another nice one, a part of railroading (at least for me) some of us would not know about. Thanks for posting.

Tom