CHAPTER XII.

CONCLUSION.

Telegraphic train dispatching came with the telegraph. The first attempts were very crude. As late as the year 1865, on one of our most important railroads, the plan was for any conductor to telegraph from a station where he might be, to the conductor of an opposing train at the next station, stating when he would leave, and where he would meet the other. When the two came to an understanding they went ahead.

The early orders, in the attempt to render them more secure, were often obscured by accumulated cautions as to how to run, and by general directions. To undertake now to give the historical facts of those early days would require more research than the author has been able to give, and might involve controversy into which he does not care to enter. It appears likely that methods nearly like the present "single order" were the earliest tried, and these seem to have been more widely used than the "duplicate." The latter was at least not long behind the other. It was originated and carefully worked up in several independent quarters, and from these it has been adopted by others. The author has never used any other method. Adopting it in 1863, it was in use for some years before he was aware that others were in the same path, who may have commenced at a still earlier date.

The closing paragraph of the first edition of this work was as follows:

"This method is growing in favor, and one object of the author will have been attained if this discussion shall aid in promoting its general adoption."

In preparing this second edition the fact has constantly appeared that the former words of recommendation related to points which are now realized facts on a majority of our railroads and that the method then urged has now reached the then desired position of "general adoption."

The author cannot take leave of his subject without a special word to railroad managers. No "system" has yet been devised, or ever will be, that will work itself. Rules cannot be given to men with the expectation that they will take them up, master their principles and operate them satisfactorily, especially in so important a matter as that under discussion, without careful instruction and intelligent supervision on the part of those who, from their official position, are responsible for the results. A superintendent who is not himself particularly informed respecting the rules and methods of his telegraph department, the character and capabilities of the men employed, and the manner in which their duties are performed, cannot expect to secure the advantages which the telegraph is capable of giving. Perhaps the first public intimation that anything is wrong may be a series of so-called "accidents" on his line. Investigation points to the carelessness of some operator or dispatcher as the cause. Deeper probing would perhaps discover that such carelessness was the natural consequence of lack of constant and painstaking supervision. Besides securing for such particular supervision a competent and trustworthy person whose special business it should be, the superintendent can never get away from the necessity of constantly impressing upon such official the responsibilities of his position, discussing with him the details of the work, and seeing, at least occasionally, with his own eyes, how it is performed.

The telegraph may be viewed as holding to the railroad a relation analogous to that of the nervous system to the body. From the center of authority and intelligence it carries information and instructions to every member. It keeps in motion the whole body, which, without this, would be in a measure lifeless. Its ceaseless and healthful activity is all-important; and as failure of the nervous energy is to the human frame, so to the railroad is a falling off in the vital force operating through the train wire. A tonic is needed and perhaps a change of doctors.

The author's duties for some time have not brought him into direct connection with the operation of trains, and he will probably never again be engaged in this department of railroad work.

His interest in it, however, is unabated, and his desire that the methods he has endeavored to set forth shall meet with enlarged usefulness, until better shall be found, has led him to this second effort to present what has been his study during the most of his business life, and now leads him to urge upon those now actively engaged in this work that the "price" of success, as of "liberty," is "eternal vigilance."

INDEX.

Abbreviations 94 "Accidents" resulting from lack of supervision 145 Acknowledgment of O K, Effect of 69 " " " Succession of 69 Acknowledging "Complete" 79 Acknowledging OK 50 Addressing Orders 62 Addresses of Orders, in order of Superiority 66 "Advance" Order 75 Annulling an Order 190 " " before train arrives 78 Annulling a Train 128

Blackboard, showing Extras 123 Blank for "19" order 132 " " "31" order 133

Clearance card, form 134 " " Use of 42 Clip, on engine 31, 83 Collision, Following train guard against 106 Combining Forms 98 "Complete," first to Superior train 82 " given by Dispatcher 54, 68 " write on Order 70 " acknowledgement of 79 " when given 70, 71, 79 Conclusion 143 Copies of Orders, How Keep 31, 83

Delivering Orders at Superintendent's Office 84 " " Methods of 51 " " without signatures 80 Direction of Trains, affecting rights 100, 136 Disabled Train, Orders to 54 Dispatcher, The 17 " Orders Should be Issued by 5 " transmitting Orders 35, 45 Double Track 140 Duplicate Order, described 9 " " Safe in Unskilled Hands 13 Duplicate, Orders in 82

Enginemen, Signatures of 53, 68, 71 Expiration of Orders 89 Explanatory Rules, needed 98 Extra Trains 120

Figures, Use of 93, 94 Fixed Methods, best 6 Fixed Signal 38, 90 Form A, Fixing Meeting points 101 Form B, Train running ahead 104 Form C, Reversing Rights 106 Form D, Right to all regular trains over given train 114 Form E, Time Orders 115 Form F, for Sections 117 Form G, Arranging Schedule 119 Form H, Extra Trains 120 Form J, Holding Order 127 Form K, Annulling a Train 128 Form L, Annulling an Order 130 Forms of Orders 97 " " Classification of 100

General Remarks 135

Holding effect of Order not signed for 57 Holding Order 127 Holding train after O K is acknowledged 57 " " by signals for time 42 " " when telegraph fails 57

Inferior Right, defined 64 Initials, Use of 94 Instructions, Not include in Orders 25

Language of Orders, simple 25

Manifold, The 33 " Orders to be written in 67 Meeting Order, Use and Advantage of 102 Meeting Point, Copy of Order for Operator at 66 " " Orders not Delivered at 86 Numbering Orders 31, 62 Numbering Switches vii, 137 Numbers for Trains 93

O K sent and acknowledged 68, 60 Operator, The 21 Order, The, holds train after O K is acknowledged 71 " interposed to prevent Improper signal 42 " One movement in 62 Orders, remove from book 40, 41, 51 " functions, etc. 61 " held by Annulled train 128 " how long in force 29, 89 " including more than one transaction 26, 103 " in duplicate 62 " limited to express terms 29 " no erasures, etc 29 " not send too long in advance 86 " not to meeting point for delivery 86 " sent to superintendent daily 83 " to trains away from telegraph stations 84 " to be strictly construed 87, 110 " who issue 61

Paper for orders 30, 33 Passing, in same direction 104 Passing point in Form C, Leaving, before opposite train arrives 109 Pilot, relations to train 63 " to have orders 62 Position of signal, Normal 39 Precautions in issuing orders 4 Printed forms for orders 99

Reading Order aloud 53, 68, 70 Record, The 35 " of Orders 64 Regardless Order, superseded 107 Repeating Orders 48, 67, 60, 79 Responsibility, divided 77 Reversing rights 106 Rights reversed by Orders 65 Rights, Rules respecting 135 Rules 60 " construe strictly 87 Rules of Time Convention, when adopted 60 Rule 500 61 " 501 62 " 502 62 " 503 62 " 504 64 " 505 64 " 506 65 " 507 66 " 508 87 " 509 87 " 510 71 " 511 79 " 512 82 " 513 82 " 514 83 " 515 83 " 516 83 " 517 84 " 518 84 " 519 84 " 520 85 " 521 86 " 22 87 " 523 80 " 524 A 90 " 524 B 91 " 525 93 " 526 93 " 527 94 Running Ahead 104

Schedule, meaning of 61 Schedule time, made later 115 Sections, included in Order 85 " Meeting order for 103 " Order for 117 " ordered by yard dispatcher 118 " Rights of 117 Semaphore, for signal 38 Signal, The Train Order 37 " Fixed, for train orders 90 Signals, "31" and "19" 65 " for emergencies 90, 91, 93 " not shown at night 91, 93 " Operator's 83 " meaning "train order" 47 Signatures, of Enginemen 53, 68, 71 " for"19"order, not taken 79 " for orders, how taken and transmitted 53, 68, 70 " for Superior Train before "complete" for Inferior 71 " Object of 81 " transmission of 54 " with "19" order 81 Signs and Abbreviations 94 Simultaneous Transmission 47, 66 Single Order, described 8 " " fatal defect 10 Sound Operators, best 34 Special Train, Schedule for 119 Specimen Orders 28, 30 Succession, in repeating Order 49, 67 " in acknowledging "OK" 69 Superiority, Addresses in Order of 66 Superior Right, defined 64 Superseding an Order 130 Supervision, necessary 144 " of Operators 82 System, American 3 Systems, two in Use 7

Telegraphing, Careful habit in 49 Telegraph, failing 55 " effect on order 57, 71, 73, 82 " relation to railroad 145 Time Limit in Form C, objectionable 114 " of Train, Record and report 93 Time Orders 115 Time Table, Meaning of 61 Tracks, Orders for use of, in yards 84 Train Dispatching 1 Train of Superior right, when take siding 113 Train Order Blanks 132, 133 Train Orders, Forms of 97 Train Order Signal, Normal position of 92 Train Rule 107, how affects Orders 89 Train Rules, Knowledge of 65 Train Sheet 35 Trains, all regular, right over given train 114 " away from telegraph station, Orders for 84 " designated by Numbers 68 " Report time of 93 " to be governed strictly by Orders 87 Transmission, The 45 " First Steps in 65 " incomplete, how act 55 " Process after 67, 79 " simultaneous 47, 66

"Understanding," Use of 51

"Whenever practicable," in Rule 510 72 Wild Trains 122 "Wildcat" order 122 Work Train 120, 123 " " Working limits for 124 " " given right of track 107

Yards, Use of track in 84

WILLIAM P. HALL. Pres. A. W. HALL, Gen. Man. W. S. GILMORE, Treas. S. MARSH YOUNG. Gen. Agt.

SOLE MANUFACTURERS AND OWNERS OF

Several Forms and Systems of Thoroughly Tested Automatic Railroad Signals of Proven and Guaranteed Reliability.

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FOR WHICH THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS ARE MADE:

1st. That they are the ONLY RELIABLE AUTOMATIC RAILROAD SIGNALS in the market.

2d. That they are the only Automatic Signals that can he successfully operated on ALL CLASSES of roadbed.

3d. That they are the only Automatic Signals that INVARIABLY SIGNAL "DANGER" WHEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

4th. That they are cheaper to erect and maintain than any other signals that have given even approximately satisfactory service.

5th. That they have caused fewer unnecessary stops in proportion to the number of operations than any Automatic Signals in use at the present time.

6th. That they can be operated on either the Permissive or Absolute Block System.

7th. That they fully guard against the most common classes of railroad accidents.

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We are prepared to fully substantiate the above claims to any railroad official desiring such information.

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THE HALL SIGNAL COMPANY,

50 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. WESTERN OFFICE, - 340 THE ROOKERY, CHICAGO.

The E. S. Greeley & Co.,

5 and 7 Dey Street, New York,

MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTERS OF AND DEALERS IN

Telegraph and Telephone Supplies,

Railway Signals, Fire Alarms

AND

ELECTRICAL BELLS, Etc.,

AND ALL KINDS OF

ELECTRICAL MATERIALS

AND EXPERIMENTERS' SUPPLIES.

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Standard Electrical Measurement Apparatus,

MEDICAL and other BATTERIES,

BLASTING MACHINES, Etc.

* * * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Hyphenation was not standardized.

Transcriptions for the two reproduced forms which show handwritten orders are provided. As the author testifies, they are not very legible and the worse parts are marked [unclear]. One form has two symbols of a hand pointing which are displayed as [hand].