Surreal, color photos of railroad life in 1940s Chicago

Chicago and Northwestern [i.e. North Western] railroad locomotive shops, Chicago, Ill. 1942.

Mike Evans, a welder, at the rip tracks at Proviso yard of the C & NW RR [i.e. Chicago and North Western railroad], Chicago, Ill. 1943.

Illinois Central R.R., freight cars in South Water Street freight terminal, Chicago, Ill. 1943.

John L. Walter, conductor at Proviso yard of the C&NWRR [i.e. Chicago and North Western railroad]. Mr. Walter has been employed on the railroad for 45 years, 32 of them as conductor. The red nose and cheeks are due to the below zero weather outside. Chicago, Ill.

C & NW RR [i.e. Chicago and North Western railroad], putting the finishing touches on a rebuilt caboose at the rip tracks at Proviso yard, Chicago, Ill. 1943.

Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad conductor George E. Burton and engineer J.W. Edwards comparing time before pulling out of Corwith railroad yard for Chillicothe, Illinois; Chicago, Ill. 1943.

In the roundhouse at a Chicago and Northwestern [i.e. North Western] Railroad yard, Chicago, Ill. 1942.

Greasing a locomotive in the roundhouse at Proviso yard, C & NW RR [i.e. Chicago and North Western railroad’s], Chicago, Ill. 1942.

The yardmaster’s office at the receiving yard, North Proviso, C & NW RR, Chicago, Ill. 1942.