The official facing the camera appears to be thinking "I hate it when things like this happens." Apparently the loco just lost that wheel. I wonder how, and why it and the brake shoe are beside the axle end indicating the loco wasn't moving at the time?
Oops. Got too hot, as a grease cellar was not properly packed? I see damage to the piston rod and seems to me altogether missing? Betcha that engineer needed to change his drawers!
I think that's a photo taken of an engineer class learning how to change a wheel in case of a flat. Those Frisco crews were well trained.
LMAO!! Yep, I agree Jim. It sure broke that axle right off huh? Looks like the shaft on the cross-head is broke up by the piston too. I wonder what happened first? One thing for sure is that Superintendent or Trainmaster looking at the camera is not happy. Everyone else seems to be looking at the locomotive. Nothing quite like a catastrophic failure to get everyones undivided attention, and summon many opinions as well as remedies for same. I remember a couple autoracks had derailed on the hump retarders and there was quite a mess to clean up, and a switchman stood behind the Trainmaster and said "well, you dont see that every day" Know you know the TV commercials that show the top of peoples heads, blowing off when they see someting? Yep thats what happened to the top of that TM's head it did.
Early precursor to the Copier Repairman showing up, and can't get to work until everyone gives their expert opinion on what's wrong with the machine.