Women Workers Having Lunch

We’ve seen several photographs of the women that had taken jobs with the railroad during World War II. The Chicago and North Western had many ladies employed as engine wipers at their yard in Clinton, Iowa. Part of the locomotive service included a washing and wipe down, a very labor intensive job handled by this crew.

It’s lunch time and the women are having their meal and getting a bit of rest in their “lounge” area. In the high resolution photograph, it’s easy to see the grit, grease and grime on these lady’s hands, indications of their hard labor. The table is filled with lunch boxes, Thermos bottles and Mason jars. In the days before plastic wrap and Tupperware containers, wax paper served well to protect a sandwich. We’ve seen a couple of these ladies before; Mrs. Marcella Hart (the lady with the red bandana) and Mrs. Viola Sievers (third from left on the far row) climbing up on a steamer to do their job. Also identified in this image is Mrs. Elibia Siematter at right (in foreground).

Photograph by Jack Delano, April of 1943.

Women Workers Having Lunch