Picture of working men with train -engine with #165-E.P.& S.W douglas Arix July 10, 1919?

Question

I would like some info on this because one of the men was my Granfather. If anyone knows how I can get information maybe through the railroad. I would like to know.

Answer 1

I'm working on it.

I'm back with some information. The EP&SW's Western Division ran from El Paso to Tucson via Douglas, AZ. The EP&SW was incorporated on October 16, 1900 and encompased some other rail companies that were acquired.

The EP&SW included the former Arizona and South Eastern Railroad, which was incorporated on May 24, 1888, among others, but the A&SE was the first to service Douglas.

The Southern Pacific acquired the whole shootin' match on November 1, 1961.

These are the avenues to follow in your reasearch. SP has maintained extensive archives, which I am sure are still in existence, even though the SP wound up underneath the UP thumb. This is the best bet for results from a search.

I can refine this information with a little more information regarding the photograph in your possession. In additon to the number, which you have already provided, if visible the wheel configureation of the engine is a key feature to nail down more of this history.

What is important is the number of wheels on any leading trucks, the number of drive wheels, and the number of wheels on any trailing truck. As an example, a 2-6-2 would represent an engine with two small leading wheels, six drive wheels, and two small trailing wheels. This is important information as it will tell me the class of engine, (our example above is a "Praire" class) and will be a big help in my reasearch on your behalf. Over time older engines were sold off by some, acquired by others, and usually renumbered multiple times. My search by class will reveal more than that of the engine number alone.

If the additional information can be determined, and since the exact date is known, if information is stored somewhere on assignments for that date, even more information can be found, including names and craft of others in the photo.

Good luck.