A work train is a non-revenue train used by the railroad for a specific purpose. Work trains perform inspections, track maintenance, maintenance of way, wreck cleanup, revenue collection and crew member transport.
Most of the cars in work train service are old rail cars that can’t be used in revenue service. These relics of a bygone era soldier on in work service for decades.
Photographic beginnings
My interest in photography started when I was asked to be the high school yearbook photographer during my junior and senior years. Yes, that’s me in the sideburns.
Source: Minneapolis Patrick Henry High School Yearbook 1970
In case you’re wondering, those two machines in front of us are typewriters. Feel free to Google what they do.
My first work car photo was taken in February of 1970. I decided to photograph the high school yearbook staff standing in two 1880s-era Soo Line work cars.
I still remember the bitter cold. The average Minneapolis temperature that February was 0 degrees!
Source: Minneapolis Patrick Henry High School Yearbook 1970
Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, Nevada
My latest work train picture was taken 50 years after that first picture. In February of this year, fellow photographer Jon Christofersen and I were at the Nevada Northern Winter Steam Photo Weekend. One of the highlights was photographing a period-correct steam era Nevada Northern work train.
The work train consisted of steam Engine #93, a Crain tender, steam wreaking Crain A, two supply boxcars, the caboose, and a crew car. The supply boxcars dated from 1912, while the crew car was from the late 1800s.
Jon and I were dropped off at several locations. The train then backed up and did several runbys for the photographers at each location. I remember being thankful that it was a balmy 40 degrees.
This is my favorite shot. The engine is working hard upgrade, and the track makes a nice S-curve. In addition, I had just been riding in the cab of #93. But that’s another story…
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus