The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-08-28
Train Dispatching.

In the movement of trains much de-
pends on the train dispatcher, who fills
a most responsible and laborious posi-
ton. The latter day train dispatcher
sits at headquarters, and, with the aid
of O curious chart, is enabled to see ut a
Glance the exact whereabouts of every
train on the road at any minute OF the
day. He has the entire line before him
in a miniature. Dots and pegs of differ
ent size and shape indicate the different
trains in motion at the same time, and
from the chart and an elaborate time
card the train dispatcher is enabled to
direct operations by telegraph with as
much intelligence and absolute knowl-
edge as he could possibly have were he
ubiquitous, and able to give oral COM
mands in q hundred different places at
the same time. The train dispatcher is
supposed to know and does know the
size of each train. freight and passenger,
on his division, the speed and power OF
each engine, the grade of every rlile OF
the road, and where time can be made
up to the best advantage when trains ere
delayed. He usually works with The
superintendent or manager of the road,
though frequently he is put in charge
of his particular department and held
responsible for the proper management
of the duties assigned to him, being
given a great latitude and left wholly
unhampered.
The train dispatcher keeps a record of
the time each train starts from the. end
of the division, and from that moment
until it arrives at it's destination it is
constantly under his eye and guidance,
like chessmen in the hands of q sklllful
player. So long as trains move on time
he is not called upon to exercise his in
~eenuity much. It is when q train is
ditched or meets other unavoidable ac-
cidents that the dispatcher shows up to
advantage.
Here he finds q field for the exercise of
his full powers. In such emergencies
the regular time-card is of no earthly
account, and he is forced to improvise
one for the occasion. He is called upon
to decide which trains shall have the
right of way, where and how they shall
meet, where lie on the side track, and a
thousand and one matters that arise out
of emergency. On his presence of mind
and accuracy Of knowledge depend the
lives of hundreds of train men and pas
sengers, and thousands upon thousands
of dollars worth of property.
An illustration of his daily duties: Ten
trains all off of time and running by tele-
graphic orders issued by the train dis
patcher (such a thing not unfrequently
happens); put these trains on a stretch
of track sixty miles long, and designate
where the five going east will meet the
five going west. One of the five west
bound is a through passenger train with
no stops to make, and a run at o GER
tain rate of speed; another is a local
passenger, making all stops, and can run
at a certain rate of speed different from
the rest; another is a freight train with
a heavy load. One has o part of the
road to u wei where the grades are
not heavy, while another has large hills
to climb. All these things have to be
taken into consideration, plans formed
and e1cuted at once, and these trains
started and kept going without delay
and without acciIent.-Indianapohs
Ind.) NeWs.