A pair of steam locomotives are at work in the Chicago & North Western’s Proviso Yard near Chicago. Jack Delano visited the facility several times, in December of 1942 and again in April and May of 1943. This photograph’s date is uncertain but I’d judge it to be either December or April. Whatever the date, it’s obviously chilly as that switchman (barely visible near the end of a gondola) is bundled up, and the steamers have quite a bit of condensate in their exhaust.

The lead locomotive, #2570, is an Alco product of 1922 and is a “J” class 2-8-2 Mikado. I’m not able to identify the second machine, but it appears to be a similar locomotive. The switchmen must have been working with a long cut to need this much power!