Southern Pacific Alfalfa Yard, 1960

Picture W-2 was also taken in the Alfalfa yard but is looking eastward. In the immediate foreground is the "Little Flower" road crossing previously referred to. Inbound Texas and New Orleans (T. and N.O.) trains are yarded here and most of the Eastline westbound and Northline westbound trains depart from this yard. In the center of the picture you will notice a caboose which is standing on the westbound mainline, indicating that the train has proceeded into the yard against the current of traffic. Several tracks over from the caboose to the left you will notice a train made up with a carbody and keep type locomotive prepared to leave the yard and standing just in the clear of the switching lead track. When such trains move off the classification track onto and down the ladder track toward the grade crossing in the center of the picture, only the fireman would have a view of any other train movements approaching the ladder track from the right side of the train as you face the picture. Similarly, with switch engines headed west, the switch targets will be on the engineer's side and the switchmen will work and pass signals on the engineer's side. However, only the fireman on the left side of the engine will have a view of other train and yard movements to the east and further back in the picture and the fireman is therefore essential to maintain a lookout for any movements which might affect the train in that direction. In the lower left hand portion of the photograph is the crossover from the mainline into tracks 1 through 13. The engine which may be seen just below the tree and in back of the buildings in the left hand center portion of the photograph is on the lead connecting with tracks 14 through 26. You can readily see the curvature of these tracks. Even when the fireman is not taking signals, it is essential to have him aboard to maintain a lookout for other trains for other train movements and yard and switch-crew personnel who are moving on or about the tracks.