Purpose: Wheeled toolboxes assisted railroad mechanics by keeping the most often used small tools close to the work location. This reduced the need for the mechanic to walk to a tool storage area in the roundhouse, locate a specific tool, and walk back to the work area, returning the tool later. This toolbox is made of heavy gauge steel and was primarily used in the Southern Pacific Railroad roundhouse in San Luis Obispo.

Since it was portable and often used outside, this tool box has a curved lid to repel water and keep the tools inside the box dry. These tool boxes at times were rolled out of the round house onto the paved areas near the turntable. Here, locomotives were parked on the turntable radial tracks waiting for repairs. Several of these radial tracks, a.k.a. the Garden Tracks, were on the south end of the round house, not covered by the building. Occasionally the toolbox was also moved to the platforms in the depot area next to trains needing to be serviced. Here is a photo of a mechanics toolbox in use servicing Southern Pacific locomotives at San Luis Obispo in 1937.

Original Owner: Southern Pacific Railroad

Builder: Unknown. Most likely made by Southern Pacific Railroad workers between 1900 – 1950.

History: This wheeled tool box was donated to the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum in 2005 by Mr. Edward Glembotski. He acquired it from a former Southern Pacific Railroad employee. When the round house was demolished in 1959, the box was removed and eventually over the course of decades made its way to Mr. Glembotski’s house, which was only five blocks away from the round house site.

Railroad mechanic was historically a man’s job. However, during World War II women were hired and trained to perform various jobs working alongside men at the round house and depot to keep the locomotives repaired and running. This toolbox made it easier to transport multiple tools, saving time and effort and reducing labor time and cost.