“I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad”
22” x 28” Oil on Canvas, 2007
John Jeppesen Collection
Extra 5125 west ascending the ruling 1.8 percent grade is about to pass extra 5131 east near mile post 119
on the east side of Bozeman Pass in Montana on a stormy summer night in 1948. The gigantic Z-7 and Z-8 4-
6-6-4s capable of handling long freights in mountainous territory or passenger trains when necessary
represent the most modern powerful articulated steam power on the Northern Pacific Railway. Two signal
maintenance men repairing a semaphore in the inclement and dangerous weather conditions can be seen in
the dimmed headlights of the passing trains. One of them dutifully pauses to check the trains for hot boxes
or other problems. A torrential, wind-blown rain is about to strike and drench them. The first line of the
famous railroad song proclaiming “I’ve been working on the railroad all the livelong day” says it all for these
railroaders.
22” x 28” Oil on Canvas, 2007
John Jeppesen Collection
Extra 5125 west ascending the ruling 1.8 percent grade is about to pass extra 5131 east near mile post 119
on the east side of Bozeman Pass in Montana on a stormy summer night in 1948. The gigantic Z-7 and Z-8 4-
6-6-4s capable of handling long freights in mountainous territory or passenger trains when necessary
represent the most modern powerful articulated steam power on the Northern Pacific Railway. Two signal
maintenance men repairing a semaphore in the inclement and dangerous weather conditions can be seen in
the dimmed headlights of the passing trains. One of them dutifully pauses to check the trains for hot boxes
or other problems. A torrential, wind-blown rain is about to strike and drench them. The first line of the
famous railroad song proclaiming “I’ve been working on the railroad all the livelong day” says it all for these
railroaders.
