Robert D. Firth's SP Tracy, CA 1950's Photos

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All photos © David Firth unless otherwise noted.
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Photos 1 through 20 of 31 total   [Next (21 to 31)]

1/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:32:08 -0700
Subject: SP "Mountain class" #4353 with train #432 at Tracy, CA, 1954. This is a solid train of refrigerator cars - "reefers". The 1947 Southern Pacific Employee Timetable shows train #432 leaving Tracy about 9:30 a.m. down the West Side Line to Los Banos and Fresno. The reefers probably mean it's cantaloupe season. Taken from yard tower looking toward Fourth St. Photo by Robert D. Firth
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SPT-01-194nf.jpg    118909 bytes
2/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:32:08 -0700
Subject: Inspecting the PFE refrigerator cars. These were the old style ice bunkers indicated by the open roof hatches. The cars were painted orange. Photo by Robert D. Firth
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SPT-02-124nf.jpg    86017 bytes
3/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:32:08 -0700
Subject: Icing the cars with a portable conveyor truck. The ends of the cars were hollow and filled with blocks of ice. The cold air was circulated when the car was moving by a chain-driven fan connected to the axle. Since fiberglass insulation didn't exist yet, the cars were insulated with cork. During the summer larger rail yards such as Fresno hired football players from the local college who wanted to "stay in shape" during the off season. Photo by Robert D. Firth
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SPT-03-200nf.jpg    77519 bytes
4/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:32:08 -0700
Subject: Inspecting the other side of the train. The city water tank in the background is located behind West Park School, Tracy, CA. Photo by Robert D. Firth
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SPT-04-126nf.jpg    46624 bytes
5/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:45:44 -0700
Subject: Removing the oil-soaked wool "waste" from a friction-bearing journal. This person was a brakeman before he lost several fingers in a switching accident. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-05-131nf.jpg    97716 bytes
6/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:45:44 -0700
Subject: Oiling the journal boxes. After the wool "waste" is replaced with new, fresh oil is added. Friction-type bearings had to be bathed in oil or else they would overheat and melt the axle, as in "hotbox". As the years went by friction bearings were gradually replaced by roller bearings. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-06-182nf.jpg    94049 bytes
7/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:45:44 -0700
Subject: Cleaning brake parts. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-07-127nf.jpg    124293 bytes
8/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:45:44 -0700
Subject: A roundhouse "Grease Monkey" on his way to service a locomotive. Steam locomotives had to have all of their bearings greased about every 100-150 miles. Photo by Robert D. Firth
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SPT-08-155nf.jpg    61020 bytes
9/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:59:29 -0700
Subject: Turntable operator. Zoom in on the sign. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-09-154nf.jpg    70994 bytes
10/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:59:29 -0700
Subject: carpenter and his rolling tool box. He's working on a "bad-ordered" box car. Note the small axe in his hand. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-10-156nf.jpg    70876 bytes
11/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:59:29 -0700
Subject: Carpenters repairing boxcar interior. Note that they have only hand tools, no power tools. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-11-136nf.jpg    111215 bytes
12/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 07:59:29 -0700
Subject: Wheel replacement was one of the most common repairs in the old days. This was because the wheels were made of cast-iron in the Southern Pacific Sacramento Shops. Steel lasted longer but was more expensive. All freight cars at the time were equipped with friction bearings instead of roller bearings for the same reason. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-12-125nf.jpg    96338 bytes
13/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:14:21 -0700
Subject: Replacing wheels and / or axles. Note the lack of any power equipment. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-13-159nf.jpg    72457 bytes
14/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:14:21 -0700
Subject: Two of the new diesels have arrived in Tracy, CA in 1956 and get a ride on the turntable. This is SD-9 #5631. The roundhouse is in the background. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-14-192nf.jpg    92849 bytes
15/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:14:21 -0700
Subject: Karen Cole and David Firth standing next to Southern Pacific 2-10-2 #3670. This is 1957 and the "Steam-era" has ended. This engine and others at Tracy, CA are waiting to be towed "dead" to Oakland, CA and cut up for scrap. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-15-201nf.jpg    102627 bytes
16/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:14:21 -0700
Subject: Rotary kiln being shipped from the Best Fertilizer factory in Lathrop, CA to a customer in the east. The Lathrop plant had just installed a new kiln and had found a buyer for the old one. 1955. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-16-180nf.jpg    57309 bytes
17/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:33:53 -0700
Subject: Southern Pacific yard, Tracy, CA. 1954. This was located in the middle of downtown Tracy in the "bow-tie" area. In the lower half of the picture you can see the "C St." crossing. This was the only street that crossed the yard. Today, the C St. crossing has been removed and Central Ave. is where the tower used to stand. This view is looking east toward the Highway 50 overpass. Standing by the tower is train #53 "Sacramento Daylight" waiting to head to Lathrop for it's 4:00 p.m. meet with train #51 "San Joaquin Daylight". The two story building is the "clubhouse" where out-of-town train crews laid over. The passenger depot is between the clubhouse and tower. In 1960, this yard was closed and torn out and a smaller yard was built next to the highway overpass. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-17-175nf.jpg    73424 bytes
18/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:33:53 -0700
Subject: Machinist testing a bearing by tapping it with a hammer. He could tell by the sound it made what the condition of the bearing was. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-18-100nf.jpg    112887 bytes
19/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:43:49 -0700
Subject: Using a jack to replace a wheel bearing. The round object on the end of the car is a "pole pocket". Sometimes switch crews would save time by moving a car on an adjacent track by pushing it with a wooden pole inserted between the car and the switch engine. This was very dangerous but a few railroads did allow it. Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-19-111nf.jpg    94868 bytes
20/31
From: David Firth davef224_@_pacbell.net
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 08:33:53 -0700
Subject: Subject: Stationary engineer and his stationary boiler. This provided the roundhouse and other work stations with "house steam". Photo by Robert D. Firth.
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SPT-20-108nf.jpg    111069 bytes

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