Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-05-22
THE BOY OPERATOR.


five years old and not knowing dasl
from a dot, stands upon the com
pany's payroll as telegraph operator
at fifty dollars per month. How did
it come about?' you ask. Just witt q
few moments until my relief comes,
as we walk to the house for supper. ]
will give you the story"
The speaker was An old school friend
OF mine, whom had hunted up after
a long absense from my native city,
and found busily employed in the
train-dispatcher's Office OF the
Railroad, as chief operator. Upon
his instruments rested the cabinet
photograph OF a little boy, and my
remarking upon the smart appear.
ance of the little fellow elected the
above reply.
Here followed an introduction to
relief, p1easant.looking man OF twen-
ty-one or two. whose duty it was to
remain all night at the post my friend
was just vacatine, to whom was Civ
en- some general information rs to how
the trains were running upon his d.
vision, and what orders had been is
sued; then. with a pleasant good night
We were off.
"Now for the story" continued my
friend, as we emerged upon the street.
and turned our steps toward his
home.
zone year ago Twas discharged from
the very position now hold, forhav-
ing, as was charged, caused the wreck
OF two freighttrains at c., a small
station upon our line about thirty
miles east OF here.
"You must know that all regular
trains upon our road are run upon
schedule time, or, in other words, up
on that laid down in the time tables of
the company. But extras OF any sort,
or regular trains when off their sche-
dule time, must be- helped along by
Geographic orders, issued by, or in the
name OF, the train-dispatcher. This,
upon single track road, carrying so
much traffic as ours, is constantly,
occurring.
"As l might weary you by details, ii
entered into too minute an explana.
ton OF how this is done, will give
you the system in as few words as
possible.
"For an example: we will say the
regular crossing point for No. 4going
west and No. As going east is B..
Now all trains are reported by tele-
graph from each station as they pass.
We are on the lookout for these re-
ports, and before us is the trains sheet
upon which must be noted the time of
departure of each train from
any station. Thus we can tell, at
a glance, the position OF every train
upon the road. We will say these re-
ports show No. 35, going east, to be
thirty minutes late. Since No. 81
would be obliged to wait at the usual
crossing point for the laggard, we give
1t an order to proceed to c., ten
miles beyond, and cross No. 35 there,
thus keeping it on time while causing
no further delay to the delinquent.
OF course, it is necessary to notify
both trains OF the change in crossing
points, and right here is where my
trouble occurred.
"One day. sitting at my instru-
ments, busily employed as you saw
me few moments ago, l discovered
that freight No. 1O2 was losing time.
Soon it was thirty minutes behind,
and wishing to help along freight No.
IS, which usually crossed it at b, |
concluded to push it along to c.
for a crossing. Accordingly called
up D., the next station beyond the
usual GRO ssing. point, and upon re-
ceivine the response went ahead with
this order:
TT Conductor and Engineer No. G5:
log there.
GOD, HOBBS, Dispatcher
"4ne 49,. move was to protect
Them IN thus passing their usual cross.
ing point, by giving the same order to
No. 1O2 at A.
calling up A, I said in the CT.
2her used on such occasions: IA for
NO. Io2, which means. Put out blue
signal. to hold No. 1922 This blue
signal, a flag by day and lantern by
night, conspicuously displayed IN
front OF station. means telearaphic
orders, and by this 70 train is al.
lowed to pass. Instantly came back
the reply from the operator at A,
rs for 1922
Now every operators duty 10 to
put out the signal before replying with
10, which means: blue signal is dis.
played, and will hold the train You
see the use OF the cipher figures is a