Chicago rail workers

Greasing the wheels of a Midwest transport hub

Alex Q. Arbuckle

1942-1943

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/MeeRNC1QGu9GSlWglToR2c3Fing=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F24%2Frailworkersfinal_1.jpg" caption="L. Logan, boilermaker at the roundhouse at the Proviso yards." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

Jack Delano joined the Farm Security Administration in 1940, inspired by the photographers who documented the conditions of poor laborers during the Great Depression.When the FSA was absorbed into the Office of War Information, the mission for the photographers shifted to documenting various facets of the war effort, from arms factories to the rise of women in the workforce.Under the direction of Roy Stryker, Delano was assigned to cover the might of American infrastructure around the railroad hub of Chicago, shooting on spectacular 4x5 color film.From November 1942 to April 1943, Delano documented the workers and workings of railroad yards around the city. He dutifully captured the immense locomotives and engines which represented American industry, but focused his passion on creating monumental portraits of the men laboring through soot, grime and the frigid Illinois winter.

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/I2vO8FWCJuOeIDu7t8MtfHH8dwc=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_22.jpg" caption="One of the yards of the Chicago and North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/dYzcW6j9l9HGZBRzSOuS9ZJO-cw=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_15.jpg" caption="A Santa Fe Railroad freight train prepares to leave for the West Coast from the Corwith yards in Chicago." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/nauxaIoCv0vPYGbT-0TelrO-THI=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F24%2Frailworkersfinal_4.jpg" caption="Roy Nelin, a box packer in the roundhouse at the Proviso yards of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/8zDQ6lb5TKRp31JHhbzulWxS0KA=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_4.jpg" caption="A welder at the Chicago & North Western Railroad locomotive shops, Chicago, Illinois." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/GtQmVrFboeqC6qVujIaBXjF7DUY=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_3.jpg" caption="Frederick Batt, brakeman on the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/HZ4KAYY5vyXHL2B2gEZIRyGTQ4U=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_5.jpg" caption="A worker in the roundhouse at Proviso yards." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/yyh1WAY6ndip098m159j7ud7hWE=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_6.jpg" caption="Greasing a locomotive in the roundhouse at Proviso yards." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/X_Ka7vpLFpZES6lAAn4nnANK8FI=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_10.jpg" caption="James Lynch, a roundhouse worker for the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/y_j-h7ismGgUVi7BVQzLR5canco=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_9.jpg" caption="William London, a 25-year employee of the Chicago & North Western Railroad, at the Proviso yards near Chicago, Illinois." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/B2l4yotNT9xFgoEpMPmAS2zqMIs=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_8.jpg" caption="John L. Walter, conductor at Proviso yard of the Chicago & North Western Railroad. Mr. Walter has been employed on the railroad for 45 years, 32 of them as conductor." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/s1pS1_HFBOf8WyGhnO_ZVMbTOdw=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F24%2Frailworkersfinal_5.jpg" caption="Daniel Anastazia, blacksmith's helper at the roundhouse of the Rock Island Railroad, Blue Island, Illinois." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/3moniuP04jrnMTA7pEXlysVVMo4=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_11.jpg" caption="Thomas Madrigal greasing a locomotive in the roundhouse, Rock Island Railroad, Blue Island, Illinois." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/IKO9t8FBcggttqgH4weWuOMY-mM=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2FColor_II.jpg" caption="Two employees at the roundhouse at Proviso yards." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/U1UvHThxJsdCQty0JKcD6DuA92M=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_13.jpg" caption="Greasing a locomotive at the 40th Street shops of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/8zxMOVMVWw6fD3GqePbNkh1Hsps=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_20.jpg" caption="A classification yard at the Proviso yards of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/wkwze1EE0Cmy0QMkHFa53gVeWHU=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_12.jpg" caption="John Kelseh at his forge in the blacksmith shop at the roundhouse, Rock Island Railroad, Blue Island, Illinois." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/xib82HnBTzTB0B63cH1K2DoI8q0=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_16.jpg" caption="A "hump master" operates a switch system to control the movement of locomotives through the yard." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/01vyNI_T-bCiZEeZDgLZTNz6J6U=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_18.jpg" caption="A young worker at the 40th Street shop of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/2LCykVlqK6e_y7TAP1rt9YLuAvk=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2FColor_III.jpg" caption="Men work on a locomotive at the 40th Street shop of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/HBgkvrPIfl6rhJDZWYsZ1LU5Zsk=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_23.jpg" caption="Men work on a locomotive at the 40th Street shop of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/4NbJvivmjp4lyAJHDhofe6toJ8Q=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_24.jpg" caption="A locomotive lubrication chart in the laboratory of the Chicago and North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/8TDkkkTLX27Lgt-xqD1hnSfn7HU=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F24%2Frailworkersfinal_3.jpg" caption="Mike Evans, a welder, at the rip tracks at the Proviso yards." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/yPF9_37HBZrn-vaNlmwki1-bqS0=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_26.jpg" caption="Conductor George E. Burton and engineer J.W. Edwards compare time before pulling out of the Corwith railroad yard." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/9QIKEwUu0puAb3TmZrgHgfqB2bk=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_27.jpg" caption="Locomotives lined up for coal, sand and water at the coaling station in the 40th Street yard of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/A2yiSqEc3ikIcBKOHhB5RCH7cEY=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_29.jpg" caption="A worker inspects the undercarriage of a locomotive." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/oDQhHo1Trn3oBN2S26bL0oIMQZ0=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_30.jpg" caption="A switchman at the Proviso yards of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/j_dOa_A7rCLzKYvS-9ofXbrw2HU=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_31.jpg" caption="A.S. Gerdee, a switchman at the Proviso yards of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/IfggtjJ5Dt3a1H_ZHZtiHbJlfeo=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_32.jpg" caption="The locomotive shop of the Chicago & North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/VepiOY-WWAuRSs8xyylNFewIJow=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_33.jpg" caption="Car inspector John Paulinski flags a train for inspection." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/1aVUKXmWcCVkJALQJ7HsgXsKGKE=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_34.jpg" caption="A section crew at work on a track of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad in Bensenville, Illinois." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/7yoQLifjUXoTVfQT6JzYsRGYjzk=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_36.jpg" caption="Daniel Senise throws a switch in an Indiana Harbor Belt Line Railroad yard." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/XGO9PHk0rc_yQ8gue_dsvO43w7s=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_21.jpg" caption="Joseph Klesken washes up after a day's work at the rip tracks at the Proviso yards." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/d7F61OitQ_8d4ARChqAyxX0XNZE=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F24%2Frailworkersfinal_2.jpg" caption="The roundhouse at a yard of the Chicago and North Western Railroad." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]

[img src="http://i.amz.mshcdn.com/6PTD9qCKOr3_DKtIsJ68fkYN1go=/fit-in/1440x1440/uploads%2F2016%2F6%2F23%2Frailworkers_28.jpg" caption="The Proviso yards at twilight." credit="Jack Delano/Library of Congress" alt=""]