Trains Through Victorville

Victorville, California was a busy place in March of 1943 (and likely always) as Jack Delano found while he stretched his legs during his train’s servicing. The locomotive #5522 in view (I believe) is a Union Pacific 2-10-2, built by Baldwin in 1924. Originally leased to the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, the loco returned to the U.P. roster in 1943.

As in other photos we’ve seen previously, this locomotive is equipped with the tightly visored headlight as required by the wartime restrictions in effect for the western portion of the country. Note that the locomotive’s class lights are also visored, as are the marker lamps of the caboose in the foreground.

The fireman and the brakeman both seem to be watching intently from the cab for a signal from the rear of their train.

As I mentioned last week, the U.P. had trackage rights over the Santa Fe between San Bernardino and Daggett, California.

Trains Through Victorville