The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-05
Does Not Agree with the Old Engineers.

Does Not Agree with the Old Engineers.
A train-dispatcher who feels evidently that
his toe has been stepped on, over the signature
of Robert" writes as follows
'In your issue of Feb. I notice an article in
reference to train -dispatchers laying trains on
side-tracks seemingly to show their authority.
and for which a number of engineers had de-
manded and received pay. Now the charge made
by the old engineer Is unjust and erroneous
What train dispatcher would be foolish enough
to tie up train on siding simply to show
his authority, and thereby expose himself to the
censure of his superintendent or trainmaster2
IF the odd engineer doesn't know it, L can tell
him that there is not train dispatcher in the
country who is not just anxious to move
trains with regularity and dispatch as the train
men themselves, and in some instances probably
more so. Let me ask the old engineer if he
ever 'bucked' or 'soldiered' on the much abused
IT. D.. thereby placing obstacles in the way of
the prompt movement of his train?
ut not infrequently occurs that traindis-
patcher, wishing to move a freight against pas
senger or delayed train, has the operator ask
how soon the train will be ready to go, or how
soon they can make given point, to which they
reply, ready in fve ten fifteen min
utes, when probably they are not
ready for twice that length of time
The t. d. figures the time given him, and, as
a result. they have not enough time to make the
station named by time given. and have to lay
back on siding, and the T. d. gets credit for the
delay. This is only of the many
instances that might be cited, but it will
suffice to give general idea. Suppose the train
men give dispatchers credit for the many times
the train sheet is doctored for their benefit; to
this add the difference between the time train
men say they will be ready and are really ready.
and think the old engineer and his colleagues
Will find the scales turn the other way.
II am willing to admit there are instances
where trains are delayed which Ito the train
men) seem unreasonable and uncalled for, but
they are not advised of all the circumstances,
and cannot tell what may have caused the delay;
they have only one train to get over the road
while the dispatcher has perhaps dozen or
fifteen under his control. There is an old say
ing among us railroad men that if we cannot
kick we cannot live. I am, therefore, disposed
spell of kicking, but think it should not all be
directed at the dispatchers. Why not give
the conductors and engineers rub, too7
Let me say to him land he knows it to be fact)
that dspatcher's reputation is made his
ability to figure close and get his trains over
the road good time, with close meeting
points. Therefore. his assertion about author
ity is all lost wind, and won't bear any argu-
ment whatever. Further, that the officials of
all roads have their argus eyes on the work of a
train dispatcher, and. if he does not prove eff
and migrate to more congenial chimes, and he
doesn't stand on the order of his going, but
goes"
No one will question that the position of train
dispatcher is one of the most important in rail-
way service, and that there are train dispatchers
competent to fill much higher positions; yet, in
all branches of service. the old engineer says,
there are some men who take advantage of their
position to make themselves disagreeable.