Southern Pacific Uptown Yards A, B, C, D, and E, 1960

Picture W-3 shows the Southern Pacific's uptown yards A, B, C, D, and E. the camera was facing west when this picture was taken. To the right are the ice docks; further to the right and not seen here are the A and B yards. There is a track on either side of the docks, each of which holds about 100 cars. It is on these tracks that cars handling perishables are iced. A lookout must be maintained for me working in and about this area from both sides of the locomotive. These tracks also proceed through interlocking No. 47, the signal to which is displayed on the fireman's side and he must be there to observe it. Also cars roll out of the tracks and foul the lead from time and this condition is frequently observable only by the fireman. In addition, yard engines frequently work on the A and B yard leads at the same time. The cars in the center of the picture are the C yard classification tracks. It is on these tracks that trains are made up for departure. Tracks 17 through 28 all connect with one lead track and although switches are on the engineer's side, it is essential to have a fireman to maintain a lookout for the movement of other trains and yard engines and ground personnel. In the upper left hand portion of the picture are the D and E yard tracks and the rip tracks. The E yard lead track is curved and the crossover from E yard to D yard lead is observable from the fireman's side of the locomotive.