We’re in Amarillo, Texas in March of 1943, and Jack Delano has taken a bit of time to explore the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad yard there. He often sought out the yardmaster in the various yards he explored during his time photographing the railroads. And this visit was no exception, with Mr. Delano recording the Amarillo yardmaster at work.

Sitting behind the typically cluttered desk of a yardmaster, he is busy recording information in a ledger while talking on his candlestick scissor arm telephone. Also typical of a yardmaster’s office, he is surrounded by arch-boards filled with various forms, and with notices and pamphlets tacked on the walls.