"Oiling Up Before the Start," Engineer Working on Michigan Central Railroad K Class Locomotive, circa 1905

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Artifact Overview

An engineman is seen oiling the side rods on a Michigan Central Railroad locomotive about 1905. The 4-4-2 Atlantic-type locomotive, with its tall driving wheels, was built to pull fast passenger trains on the Michigan Central's Detroit-Chicago mainline. But speed was relative. Even the fastest regularly scheduled trains might have averaged only 40 miles per hour in 1905.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1905

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

37.102.P.033378

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process
Toning (Photography)

Color

Brown

Dimensions

Height: 9.125 in
Width: 6.938 in

"Oiling Up Before the Start," Engineer Working on Michigan Central Railroad K Class Locomotive, circa 1905