The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-08
FOR A SPECIAL TRAIN
Quick Action Is Necessary When
One Is Ordered.
WORK OF THE DISPATCHER.


Without Interfering With the Run
ming Time Of Other Fast Trains.
Suppose you wished to take a special
trip to any place on the map and the
hour of your sudden resolution was 2
a. m. The chances are against know
ing how TO make this mastery move
at such an unearthly hour. to say moth
ing of knowing how TO go about II
during the hours of business 1t is
easier than the initiated possibly may
believe. OF course the principal thing
is money, the thing that makes both
the mare and tho special train go.
The train dispatcher Is the official
who can start the train while his supe-
riors are asleep and when n wild eyed
man who has race against death to
make halfway across the continent
dashes into the station looking for q
train that will make the distance on It's
own schedule. What the chief dis.
patcher wants to be sure about Is the
identity of the applicant for the un-
usual privilege and in this connection
whether he is able to pay for spe-
clal
Five thousand dollars In bills will
make the dispatcher, feel very much
| like ordering out the train. A deposit
of that amount In his hands will un-
doubtedly bring the train out In few
| minutes after the order Ia given. Some
| times call on the telephone TO the
| residence Of well known citizen who
says he will be responsible for the cost
of the train win answer the require
ments of the dispatcher, or the check
of the applicant, If he is well known
citizen, is sufficient guarantee. II
can be made large enough to cover the
bill for the special.
In the case of wealthy man who
will let nothing stand IN the way of
accomplishing his purpose the cost OF
| the train is not previous consldera-
ton He simply wants to get TO GER
! tain point at certain time. Getting
there on time is the uppermost thought
In his mind. He PAGES restlessly up
and down the platform until the train
backs into the station or on to the sid
| ing where he is notified II may be wait
| Ing for him. Unless he stipulates that
a private car be used In the train he
will get Pullman all by himself or
those who accompany him. The use OF
a private car costs more. but Is pre-
| ferred by the wealthy patron. When
everything is ready for embarking the
work of the dispatcher has just begun
This official must put the special
through without intenupting seriously
the running time of other fast trains.
| 1t takes some tickllsh work. for the
| other trains must be "cut out" on side
| tracks Just before the special Is to
pass. In this way the schedules of the
other trains are not broken more than
few minutes. Tha special dashes
past on the right OF way, and the regu-
lar fast train follows 1t. Freight trains
using the same track are apt to lie on
the sidings longer than the passengers
because they cannot make distances
between sidings quick enough to cut
out In time TO give the special a clear
track.
The man who has paid his good
money for the right TO the track does
not expect TO be stopped en- route, and
II becomes the business of the railway
or railways over which he Is racing
against time TO afford him all the facil
tiles. Usually In case of such an ex
traordinary emergency the railway
takes great pride In making record
run and landing Its patron at his des
tinatlon I'm time to accomplish his pur
pose. The best engineers obtainablt
and a trustworthy conductor are plac
ed In charge of the equipment OF one
engine and one car, for the running Il
at rate OF speed not undertaken II
the passenger service.
Usually the extraordinary passenger
is required TO give the railway com
pany some form OF release from re
sponsibility for loss OF life or injury
from accident due to what might bt
regarded under ordinary circumstances
as reckless speed. but the man wht
is racing to see loved wife or daugh
ter or son Is always willing TO take
greater risk than at any other time II
his existence. But not only Is his owl
life, but the lives OF the train crew, IN
i jeopardy during wild race over th'
rails However, on such an occasion
the whole crew Is imbued with th'
excitement and heroic nature Of thu
fast mission and contribute In every
way to the fulfllment of the errand.
Thousands of dollars have been pait
lSby private citizens for Just such race
with death and sometimes where grea
financial crisis is at stake. The rail
way companies. despite the large homo
rarium received for undertaking sue!
Journeys, are loath TO accept n passen
ger on these conditions. The crisi
must be one tina; Involves remarkabl'
stress OF mind and money. Usual,
their acceptance OF such great respon
sibillty both to the single passenge
as well as thousands OF others wh'
may be using the tracks at the SAM
time is governed by n great deal o
sentiment.-St. Louis Republic.
|
A Mystery.