Keeping the home fires burning. It's the fall of 1944 and America is waging war against the forces of evil in both Europe and the Pacific. With much of its able-bodied young and middle-age male population serving overseas, America's industrial infrastructure, including its railroads, turn to its female population to keep the war machine at home on its relentless victory march. At a Norfolk & Western shop complex, a group of welders, machinists, hostlers and wipers take a moment at the end of their shift to pose with one of the machines in their care.
On August 16, 2015, Lerro Productions hosted a photo shoot at the Strasburg Railroad, to recreate scenes that played out during those dark years, when women filled many non-traditional roles. The ladies pictured here re-enacted not only scenes of engine service, but also industrial operations that supported them, such as welding, brazing, riveting, grinding....and yes, some tasteful pin-up scenes as well. These gals came from a mixture of backgrounds. Two are actually employees of the Strasburg Railroad's Mechanical Shops. Six others were from a WWII re-enactment group, and two were professional models. For the photographers who attended, it was a very enjoyable opportunity to create images of the two things we love the most!
