Chapter XIV: 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.

----------

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.

----------

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

----------

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.

----------

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].