I assume that the items hanging above the tracks are height detectors so tall cars won't crash into tunnels.
|
In that era, brakemen would ride atop cars, walking them turning hand brakes. Therefore tell-tales would be a safety item found at nearly all overpasses near yards, to provide a warning for employees.
|
The tell tales are something you don't see any more, for years you would see them on city streets in San Francisco where there where industrial sidings, often they would still be there after the tracks where gone, some lasted into the late 1990's
|
Here's another picture of tell-tales: http://railfan44.rrpicturearchives.net/editPicture.aspx?id=580214
|
I'm sure trains had air brakes by the 50's?
|
I think those tell tales are for the 17th St. bridge that the photographer is taking pictures from.
|
I see that the 70-ton hoppers are only about half full and the loads are more grey than black coal. The loads look like larger stones rather than ballast, so they must be hauling rip-rap rocks, not ballast.
Reynold De Jager
Puyallup, Wash
|