Railpictures.ca - Wilfred J. O'Shell, Paul O'Shell collection Photo: All in a winters day work The section guys are out completing their daily winter chores. A freshly cleaned and filled lamp being set atop the switch stand, as the switch points and throw rod get a good clearing of accumulated snow. The hanging wires suggest a heavy wet snow has covered the area which will keep this 3-man crew and foreman quite busy on their territory this cold winter day. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

All in a winters day work
The section guys are out completing their daily winter chores. A freshly cleaned and filled lamp being set atop the switch stand, as the switch points and throw rod get a good clearing of accumulated snow.
The hanging wires suggest a heavy wet snow has covered the area which will keep this 3-man crew and foreman quite busy on their territory this cold winter day.

Caption: All in a winters day work
The section guys are out completing their daily winter chores. A freshly cleaned and filled lamp being set atop the switch stand, as the switch points and throw rod get a good clearing of accumulated snow.
The hanging wires suggest a heavy wet snow has covered the area which will keep this 3-man crew and foreman quite busy on their territory this cold winter day.

Photographer:	Wilfred J. O'Shell, Paul O'Shell collection [439] (more) (contact)
Date:	February 1960 (search)
Railway:	Canadian National (search)
Reporting Marks:	n/a (search)
Train Symbol:	n/a (search)
Subdivision/SNS:	Concord, Newmarket Sub. (search)
City/Town:	Concord (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=53641

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Photo ID: 52327

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7 Comments

First954

January 5, 2024 at 9:57 pm

WOW!!!!! Thanks for posting this wonderful winter photo Paul. No switch heaters 60 years ago, just hard working men keeping the railroad operational. This activity is captured so well. Not much protection provided by that speeder.
awmooney

January 6, 2024 at 6:42 am

Fascinating look at the past. All the switch stand lamps in yards must have taken a .lot of maintenance. Great shot, Paul.
Paul O'Shell

January 6, 2024 at 9:13 am

Thanks for the comments guys! My dad was the section foreman based out of Concord when he snapped this photo.
The canvas front on that old ‘one-lunger’ motor car provided just enough protection to keep one from freezing during track travel. The addition of fully enclosed cabs as standard equipment on inspection and section cars was still quite a few years away.
It was not too long after he took this shot that he was transferred to Hornepayne as Roadmaster. That’s when we learned what a long, cold, snowy winter was really like!
mercer

January 6, 2024 at 11:12 am

Wonderful scene, Paul.
Ahhnold – you should know all about the lamps, you have 4 or 5 in your garage.
awmooney

January 6, 2024 at 11:38 am

BEM’r: Sh-h-h-h-h-h !!!
Todd Steinman

January 6, 2024 at 3:14 pm

Beautiful reflection into history…!
Paul O'Shell

January 6, 2024 at 3:26 pm

Thanks Todd. 64 years ago next month! It’s sure shows railroading in a much different light than people see today. No fancy equipment, no safety gear, no radios, just good, hard working railway men. My dad would have been 31 when he snapped that pic.

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