Just south of Indianapolis is Beech Grove. They used to take photos of the various crews. Here is one of them. Larry Griffey Collection. I guess no one had an answer for the last chart I posted.
That's a large crew of just skilled craft. There doesn't appear to be a supervisor, manager, or office worker in the photo. We tend to forget how many people railroads employed. The railroad industry must have been the largest single employer 80-100 years ago.
I'll bet there's a foreman or two in that group. In trades like that, the supervisor generally works right along with his people. Speaking from my limited experience, my supervisors on the railroad ie. Road Foreman of Engines, were all qualified and card carrying engineers. I had worked with one of them several times before he was promoted to RFE. Most of the Trainmasters had been trainmen at one time. The few that weren't had experience in other class/crafts but had passed qualifying trainman's exams. Charlie Charlie
I'd bet on the back row, second from right. Due to appearance of dress, neat and not as soiled, the hat, the age. Been around a while, and has worked his way up from laborer.
Ken, you probably are correct, also possibly the second from right in the middle row. Either that, or he just arrived for the second shift and hasn't gotten dirty yet.
Lots of goggles, and it was long before OSHA. Grinders? Roger, I had no answer for your post on Feb. 8.
Cutting torches? Riveters? Hard to say. If I could go back in time, and visit with the shop men on my dad's side, (boilermakers, machinists), they'd know.
My guess would be an "air" gang were those responsible for the brake system on a car. I do know that when a car was being finally readied to go out into service, there was a finishing area where the brake systems were tested, adjusted, repaired if needed. This might be a crew intended for installing those components and so on?
High percentage of men with eye protection. Also open-air work facility. Possibly grinders or similar craft that doesn't require breathing protection...?
That's the biggest crew so far, but no indication as to their craft. They're too clean for anything other than bench work, and their super is even wearing a white shirt.
