In the fall of 1910, Engine No. 109 of the Pere Marquette Railway stood ready on the short “Sandusky run” in Michigan’s Thumb. The locomotive crew—Engineer Jed Campbell, Fireman Chas Cole, and Engine Watchman Jake Giester—posed in the cramped cab for this portrait. At the time, the Pere Marquette served Sandusky via a 7-mile branch from Carsonville, Michigan, hauling farm produce, mail, and passengers to connect with the main line. The men’s heavy work jackets, caps, and the neatly arranged oil cans hint at a day’s work on a modest but essential rural route.

The view looks directly at the locomotive’s backhead, the nerve center where all controls converged. Visible are the water sight glass to monitor boiler level, throttle and valve linkages to regulate steam, and tools of the trade such as oilers for constant lubrication. For crews like Campbell and Cole, the cab was a hot, noisy workspace, requiring constant attention to maintain steam pressure, manage speed, and keep the engine in top condition. Giester’s duties as engine watchman would have included cleaning, oiling, and inspecting the locomotive between trips, ensuring it was safe for the next run.

In an era before paved highways linked the Thumb’s towns, this daily run connected Sandusky to the outside world. It carried sugar beets to processing plants, delivered manufactured goods to rural merchants, and provided reliable passenger service in all seasons. For the people of Sanilac County, the sight of Engine No. 109 chuffing into town was a signal of commerce and connection, its small crew quietly sustaining the lifeline between farm and market.