Nostalgia & History > Railroad Water

I did a Keyword search on the Denver Public Library and got the following picture,
 
http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm
 
Picture 1, “Call Number: Z-15940.  Title: Union Pacific 3304 (4-4-2).  Creator(s): High, H. E. (Harvey E.).  Summary: View of Union Pacific locomotive 3304 (4-4-2) as it takes on water at Ellsworth (Ellsworth County), Kansas. Shows a water tank.  Penciled on original negative envelope: ‘3-F2.’  Title derived from information typed on original negative envelope.  Typed on original negative envelope: ‘U.P. 3304, 4-4-2, taking water at Ellsworth, Kansas. March 1915.’  Physical Description: 1 glass negative; 13 x 18 cm. (5 x 7 in.).  Is Part Of C Photo Collection 293. H. E. High collection.  Source: gift; Richard Kindig.” 
 

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Picture 2, portion of picture 1 enlarged. 
 

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Picture 3, portion of picture 1 enlarged. 
 

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Not only does this first photo show the Ellsworth water tank but look close and behind it you will see a glimpse of the water softening tower as well.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Picture 4 is from the China Daily website,
 
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-05/27/content_20830653.htm
 
Picture 4, website picture 1, “An Indian commuter uses the train water pipes to bath at railway station in Allahabad, May 24, 2015. [Photo/IC]”  
 

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For anyone that is curious on the last item, 45 degree celsuis is 113 degrees fahrenheit.

Bob3985,
I have the same pic. with water softener in it, Can't see much for the smoke. upkpfan

Then conductor walking looks African American. Would that have been rare in Kansas during this time period vs being a porter or dining car steward?
 

Wow, she's a long-legged Atlantic! Made for speed... === === = === JLH

mococomike Wrote:
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> Then conductor walking looks African American.
> Would that have been rare in Kansas during this
> time period vs being a porter or dining car
> steward?
>  

That would not only have been rare, it would have been almost if not completely unknown, in Kansas or anywhere else in this country.  At the time African-Americans were limited to jobs as sleeping car porters, coach and lounge car attendants (if there were any on the train) and dining car cooks and waiters--not stewards, who were always white because they were in charge (the south also had African-American firemen--never engineers--although that was under attack).  This person's presence in what looks like a conductor's or brakeman's uniform raises questions that can't be answered without further inquiry.

I would not bet against him being a brakeman..there were a few African American trainmen and firemen, but very few. My great uncle fired on the Santa Fe in Arizona, Colorado, and  Kansas a little bit later on, but he knew of a few of them.