Portrait of America. U.S. Railrads engage in all-out war effort. This U.S.

Portrait of America. U.S. Railrads engage in all-out war effort. This U.S. railroad worker, known as a brakeman, is preparing his supper in the crew car or 'caboose' attached to a transcontinental U.S. freight traing hauling war supplies over the western plains to a Pacific Coast port. the 'caboose' ore crew car contains living quarters, a stove, desks, and berths for the train crew who live on board and are responsible for the safe handling of the train enroute. This brakeman frequently inspects the train, helps couple and uncouple cars, and is ready to meet any emergency. U.S. railroads operate almost two million freight cars on 233,000 miles of track and transport a milllion troops every month. Train journeys may range from a few hundred miles to over 3,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific.