Working on a steam locomotive would be considered a “dirty job” by many. With the soot, grease and grime that is produced by these beasts, one will hardly leave work for home without evidence of another hard day’s work.

These workers are doing some repairs to the interior of one of the C&NW’s steamers, with a bit of welding going on. We’re at the North Western’s 40th Street shops near Chicago. Jack Delano spent considerable time investigating this facility back in December of 1942, and we’ve previously seen other photographs which he recorded there. This post has an overall view inside the shop. You can use the term “shop” in the search box at the upper right and get perhaps a half dozen links to other views at this facility.