New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26
RUNNING THE FAST EXPRESS.
THE TRAIN DISPATCHER HAS MORE TO DO WITH
1T THAN THE ENGINEER.

THE TRAIN DISPATCHER HAS MORE TO DO WITH
1T THAN THE ENGINEER.
From ST. Nicholas
The eyes OF the engineer are on the clock and
timetable before him, and he keeps sharp
lookout ahead. For various reasons ne may fall
a few minutes behindhand at one point, but he
manages to make up the loss at another. He
has certain stops to make and he makes all
speed possible between them. But he Is not
master OF the road. At any moment a danger
signal along the line may confront him. He
may be ordered TO bring his train TO stand
still at small way station, and there receive
Geographic orders to run on a siding. He asks
questions. but oheys orders. Five minutes
later special may rush past him and then
the signals set again. warning the engineer
Of the express that he must make up for lost
time.
To understand this delay and the sudden
changes made in the timetable. II Will be neceS-
sary TO go back to headquarters and to watch
the general superintendent and the train dis
patcher Although many trains running on the
line are hundreds OF miles away, the exact posi-
ton Of every one. every second In the hour' 10
known and recorded. telegraph operator IS
working ndustriOusly in the office Of the train
dispatcher. receiving and sending orders. The
running orders of all the trains are directed
from this office. Each engineer has orders 10
make a certain run according to the time-t table,
unless other orders from headquarters interfere.
II an accident happens on the road the tram
dispatcher knows it almost as soon as the pas
srngers breakdown Of some local train on
the main line may upset adj the calculations OF
the day Immediately the expresses running
on that line must be stopped before collision
occurs. snowstorm may blockade tram on
th. northern branch OF the road, and thereby
make necessary a change in the regular sched-
ule -,
a train from the West Is half an hour behind
rerhaps and this ntcrfcres with the regular
running OF the other trains. Arrangements
must be made TO let trains pass without acct
dent The express trains nearly always nave
the right Of way A Western express may DE
behind time and start out five minutes ahead
OF some special express In TINS instance she
must give the special the right OF way. and she
is forced upon some siding. The special express
passes without losing a minute
There are nifty trains coming ana gong one
behind time. another ahead. probably. ana each
crowding out another The train dispatcher
has To regulate this tangle and keep things run
ming smoothly Thus il is that Tn" engineer or
p aver may suddenly find himself side-tracked
should the train dispatcher make a mistake
ar fail TO make ARRANGEMENTS for two fast-moV-
ING trains the block signal system would prop
ably prevent an accident The block towers are
connected hy telegraph lines and btH CODE en-
ohlc. the men to communicate directly with each
other They can stop 4 train At any moment 10y
means of their signals independent oi orders
from Headquarters Thus the engineer depends
entirely upon others ia keep the track clear ana
No merely runs his train rs near schedule tlihe
as possible and keeps his iron stced IN perfect
condition.