The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-12-23
How Trains are Moved by Telegraph.

| Previous to that time, locomotive engi
neers and conductors were distrustfiIl, and
there are several instances on record OF
their positive refusal to obey telegraphic
orders, especially when their trains were
directed TO proceed beyond stations. To
meet and pass trains going in opposite di-
rections, except in cases where such orders
were plainly expressed in printed orders
upon their regular timetables In 1850,
however, when the Erie road had but a
| single track between Piermont and Elmira,
it was plainly demonstrated TO the super
| intendent (the late Charles MinOt) that
the telegraph would be a great assistance
to the road, and it became plainly evident
that the telegraphic service must eventu-
| ally be adopted uDOn all main trunk lines
| When the first telegraphic message was
| sent over the Erie wires a train filled with
western bound passengers was lying at
Turner's Station, awaiting the arrival of
an eastern bound train, which, by the
timetable, should meet and pass at that
point; but owing to an accident two num-
dred miles west, il could not possibly ar
rive until five or six hours later. Mr.
Mlnot was passenger upon the train
lying at Turner's He Immediately de-
| clded to test the accuracy Of the telegraph,
ana make beginning OF the plan of or
derlng trains to proceed TO points
further IN advance and not further
delay the stationary train when the track
was known to be clear as far as Port
Jervis, distace of one hundred and fifty
| miles further west. Orders were accord
ingly sent over the wire TO the station
| agent at Port Jervis to hold all easterlv-
bound trains until the arrival of the west
ern train. This order was given i'm order
to make all safe, and prevent collision in
case the former should arrive at Port J er-
Wis before the latter. An answer was i'm
mediately given by the station agent, an
nOuncing that he fully understood the or
der and would do as directed. All ap-
peared safe, and the engineer was ordered
to start west; but, to the astonishment Of
Mr.. Minot, he positively refused to move
the tram from Turner's upon any such ar
rangement. Mr.. AIinot Immediately
mounted the locomotive, pulled out the
throttle valve and ran the train himself,
assisted by the fireman, and reached Port
Jervis according to programme.
The ice was broken, and since that time
the telegraph has been acknowledged as
positive necessity on all long railroad lines
in this country. The form of giving the
necessary directions, however, has been
somewhat changed ; and now the conduct
ors and engineers OF each train who re-
ceiyed telegraphic directions are tele-
graphed the name of the particular point
at which they are to meet, and answers
are required from them TO ascertain
whether they understand orders, before
any movement is made.
The following is the form Of message re-
quired to be sent and received:
By telegraph from - station tocon-
ductor and engineer You will run 10
- station regardless Of train number
-. 81.
The numeral abbreviation means How
do you understands"
The answer to this dispatch must read
as follows:
30. Il understand I am tO) run TO
station regardless Of train mum
Der -. -EngiDeor.
-COnductOr.
Upon receiving the announcement from
the receiving operator that all is right, the
trains are started without further orders
All special orders for the movements of
trains are required TO be communicated in
writing, and extraordinary precautions are
taken against the possibility of misunder-
standing directions. Not more than one
person on division at the same time has
power TO issue train orders. The telegraph
operator is required TO read the messages
aloud, in the hearing of the conductor
and engineer addressed. Trains when in
motion must approach stopping places in
the supposition that another tram is there
to be met. Whenever a passenger train
receives orders to meet and pass freight
train at specific station, the conductor
must not leave the depot until notice is
received from the conductor that his train
is safe upon the side track, out Of the
way.
No orders are given to move slow
train in the same direction, on the time,
and ahead of IA faster train, unless il has
started-if passenger tTain-al least ten
minutes: and il freight. not less than
twenty-five minutes in advance Of the
time the faster train may be reasonably
expected to arrive at the station from
which the slow train is first started. In
cases where slow train is moved by
telegraph the following form of order Is
given TO the conductor OF said train:
To - Conductor and -EaglHesr:
You will run ahead of train No. :, to
station, conditioned as follows:
Should you from any cause be unable to
make y0ur running time, you must as
soon as you discover such To be the case
leave your flagman To warn the following
train in advance of which you are run
ming, and report your arrival at the next
station, 81.
In case of an accident where orders can
not be obtained by telegraph, the station
agent has power TO stop trains The
speed of livestock and freight trains is
restricted to eighteen miles an hour; and
extra freight trains, commonly called
4" wild cats" which have no time upon the
regular table, are not permitted 10 attain
a higher rate of speed than fifteen. Coal
trains time average twelve miles an hour
The latter cars being light, cannot be
kept upon the track at a high rate of
speed.
Many of these orders and forms were
original win Col +. c. McCullum, former
" superintendent of the Erie road, and
during the late war were in general use
while he was military superintendent of
all the railroads in the United States
Vast armies were moved in this way in
very successful manner.
4 chronometer in the principal depot Is
the standard time of the road, and the
time is telegraphed to all stations at pre-
ciselv twelve o'clock each day Fresh
engines and men are attached To all
trains at the end of each diNi-
sion.
The salaries Of division superintendents
average $40 o year; conductors and
engineers. 500 month; of baggage
masters, $50 a month; brakeman, $40
day; telegraphers, from 500 to l25
month; station agents, from $500 To
81 600 year.-NelO York Ecehiag Post.
A Cool Thief.